Her thoughts momentarily blanked. What else had she meant to say? Oh, yeah. “You owe me, both of you. Bane, remember when you insulted me, tearing my self-esteem to shreds and injured my leg? Zion, remember when you tried to invade my mind?”

Bane winced ever so slightly, and Zion raised his chin, unrepentant.

“She’s mine, and I never share.” With a speed too fast for the human eyes to track, Bane clasped her wrist, yanked and spun her behind him, putting her chest against his back. He snagged a strong, muscular arm around her, holding her in place.

Those astonishing words...that unshakable assertion...warm shivers trekked down her spine. What a difference in him! His heart had already begun to heal. This was...this... I might have this thing in the bag.

Zion lifted his hands, palms up, and stepped back, his frosty fury reduced to a slight irritation. “I’m not sorry I took measures to ensure my safety, Nola. But I am sorry I betrayed your trust to do it.”

“Apology not accepted,” she told him, detaching from Bane and moving to his side. “What secrets did you unearth from my mind?” Had Zion learned about her alien heritage, or her connection to the Adwaewethian?

“None. You have some kind of block,” Zion said.

Truly? Neat! Bane had once said the same.

When she met his gaze, she got snared. Couldn’t look away, the rest of the world forgotten. Sizzling awareness crackled between them. Her belly quivered, the clawing need she’d lived with since finding him in the cave demanding its due.

“Princess?” Bane asked, his voice strained and huskier than usual. Did he feel it, too?

Focus. Deep breath in, out. Crap! His scent had intensified and now infused her cells. She could feel him inside her.

“My offer stands,” Zion told Bane. “Let’s work together to slay Erik and his acolytes.”

Bane looked between her and Zion, his eyes slitting. “Do you know who always loses the All War? Combatants foolish enough to trust the competition.”

“Do it anyway,” Nola said, forming a steeple with her hands. “Please.” What would convince someone like Bane? “We can take out more competitors, win more weapons and accomplish what we want to accomplish. If you hadn’t noticed, we’re kind of losing right now.” Wait. What if Zion planned to trick Bane?

No, no, no. Zion had secrets, sure, but at heart, he was a good man.

Bane stared at her, anger mounting. But he said, “I will do it. I will agree to a temporary truce.” He cast his attention to Zion, adding, “But you will do no harm to Nola. You will not try to read her thoughts. You will not touch her. You do, and I’ll end the truce with your heart in my palm.”