Again, he’d staked a claim on her. Again, warm shivers trekked down her spine. Her blood transformed into champagne, her head fogging, pleasure making her giddy.

Zion growled, all I’m so fierce, I only ever do what I want. But like Bane, he snapped, “Very well. We have ourselves a temporary truce.” He slid his gaze to Nola. “I’ll do as promised and pass the cell phone to Vale. I’ll even attempt to recruit her and Knox to our cause—again.”

“Thank you,” she said.

“I have no doubt Knox will try to kill me again.”

“You’ll both be fine, I’m sure of it.” Desperate to see her sister, she said, “I’ll go with you and—”

“You will not,” Bane roared at the same time Zion said, “I cannot convince other combatants you are dead if you are seen alive. You must stay with Bane.”

“Ah. A fake death. Wise.” Bane inclined his head, his version of a nod. “I will hide her before another combatant finds us. Be careful when you portal in. Or not. I will be setting traps.”

Exasperated, she bit out, “Do I get a say about any of this?”

“No,” they replied in unison.

Rather than lather-up about their caveman tactics, she grinned, smug. “Look at you two. Already working together. Am I a good bromance matchmaker, or what?”

Bane rolled his eyes, yet his enlarged pupils suggested her courage had surprised—and delighted—him. She preened.

Zion blew her a kiss, then told Bane, “Show me how good you are at hiding and setting those traps, and I’ll show you how good I am at tracking and avoiding trouble.” The words were half brag, half threat.

“You’re on,” Bane said.

Zion smiled and traced a thumb over his Rifters, a portal opening in her bedroom. Judging by the mountainous background with wisps of cotton floating on a warm breeze, the portal led back to Colorado.

The wind gusted into her room, strong enough to rattle the pieces of shattered glass on her floor.

He walked through and spun to face them. Thoughtful, he peered from Nola to Bane until the portal closed.

Alone with Bane. His wicked scent filled her nose, and his heat seared her skin. His staggering intensity lit her up inside. Would he kiss her? Would she let him?

He prowled closer to her, the unhurried action languidly sensual. His magnificent eyes gleamed with hunger. “What the beast did to you...” He lifted his chin and squared his shoulders. “I’m sorry, dove.”

Dove. This might be the third time he’d used the endearment, and she wasn’t sure what it was supposed to mean. “You were aware in beast form?”

“I was.” He massaged the back of his neck. “He hates you, but he is also unwillingly intrigued by you. You could have issued a command. He wanted you to. When you didn’t, you surprised and confused him.”