Only minutes ago, he’d confessed the truth to Nola: he wanted a release without a relationship. But he’d lied to her, too. Every time they conversed, he grew to like and admire her a little more, and crave her a lot more. Part of him already...cared about her.

Can’t lose her. Not today. Rip out Union’s heart, and all will be well.

Having researched the combatants, Bane knew this particular male enjoyed bruising and breaking the fairer sex. A crime Bane could not abide.

Nola, in this bastard’s crosshairs. My future queen in danger...

More adrenaline fortified his muscles with strength. At the same time, beams of sunlight scorched him, allowing the strength to drain away. Though he could breathe fire and walk through literal flames, he would forever melt in daylight, those harsh sunrays causing some kind of chemical reaction deep inside him. No matter. He’d trained for this.

Union charged across the beach as well, and they met in the middle, crashing together. In unison, they swung their swords. Clang. Whoosh. Clang. Metal hit metal with crushing might, vibrations rushing up his arms, cracking bone; those cracks turned his bones into tuning forks, unearthing more and more fury. The wound in Bane’s shoulder opened up and lengthened, flesh and muscle tearing.

Roars echoed inside his head, loud and long. The beast wanted blood, wanted to drink every drop and feast on Union’s remains. Soon...

Never! But the farther away from Nola he got, the more he had to struggle to maintain control. If he unleashed the beast, the belt would be destroyed.

Must have that belt! After he won the war, Nola would be able to activate any weapons he retained. She could wear the belt and double her strength the day she met Aveline.

Clang, whoosh, clang. Bane lunged, swung, slashed and blocked, then blocked again, intermittent grunts, groans and growls peppering the silence. Never before had he fought Union one-on-one. Now he could say with utmost certainty that the belt did its job. Every time their swords clanged, a multitude of damage occurred in Bane’s body. Muscles tore and bones cracked worse.

All the while, those insect-rodent illusions inched closer. He wondered if he’d been foolish to dismiss the critters. What if they could cause genuine harm?

Not much was known about Union’s ability, his people relatively new to the alliance.

Amid a whirlwind of violence, Bane alternated between swinging his sword and swiping with his claws. During a swipe, Union blocked and twisted his blade to sheer off three of his fingertips, severing an artery in the process. Streams of crimson spurted in a continuous rush, propelling the beast to new levels of malice.

Pain is simply weakness leaving my body. Pain is simply—

Screw it. Pain is a bitch.