Even as the male whaled on his face, Bane made no move to defend himself. Retaining a tight grip on Union’s legs, Bane purposely fell back and rolled, flipping over his opponent. The male expected the action and lashed out with lightning speed, stabbing him in the side—a countermove Bane anticipated.

He endured the newest flare of pain and blood loss with a cold grin, just to execute his next strike. As he unfolded to his feet, he slashed his sword up, up, raking the tip from Union’s groin to his sternum. The shallow slice didn’t nick an organ or bone; it delivered a paper-thin cut across his flesh, as hoped.

Bane’s grin widened. The wound would never heal. And, with every action the warrior made, the cut would deepen. Welcome to hell.

Union bellowed and jumped up, blood trickling from the cut. He must have lost the ability to power his illusion; the insectents vanished.

To force the male into motion, Bane swung his sword wildly. Union dove across the sand and—

No, no, not Union but his illusion. The real Union had rendered himself invisible—to anyone but Bane and his goggles—and now raced toward the ocean, hoping to swim away.

He thinks to escape me? To fight again another day? To threaten Nola another day?

As Bane’s control disintegrated, the beast roared and clawed, more determined than ever to break free. Soon, he would succeed.

Bane tossed his sword and goggles aside. Just in time. The transformation had already begun...

NOLA WATCHED THE brutal battle while undergoing a fight of her own. Her opponent? Fear.

She feared for Bane’s life as much as his future. Whether he admitted it or not, he cared for her...yet, she had a huge secret—Dark Nola.

The instant he learned about Dark Nola, he would go back to hating Nola, certain she would morph into a cold-blooded monster. He would consider her a too-risky investment.

To him, I’m a bad bet.

Her stomach flip-flopped as Bane transformed. Bones elongated, and green scales grew over his flesh. His teeth...

Oh, sweet mercy. He’d turned into a nightmarish Godzilla-type being with wings, and her mind threatened to shut down. Aliens, she could believe. Supernatural abilities, too. But this...

Knowing he could transform was one thing. Actually witnessing it was another thing entirely.

She’d seen his wings before, of course, but never the full monty, and she didn’t know whether to be awed or horrified by them.

Smoke curled from its—his—nostrils. He turned away from Union, who stood in place, daring him to attack, and centered his attention on the water. Why put his back to an enemy? So foolish!

The beast sprayed a stream of fire over the ocean’s surface. A man’s screams pierced the salt-and-blood-scented air. Nola frowned. The beast lunged, snatching—

The real Union.