Step, step, running now. Finally, Nola slammed into Micah—

No, she slammed inside Micah and stayed put.

She’d possessed his body? Did she have control? Could she force him to clasp a dagger and stab himself to death? Maybe, maybe not, but she was expelled before she found out.

Scowling, he wheeled around, his gaze darting wildly. “What just happened?” he demanded. He’d sensed her presence, hadn’t he?

Eager, all but foaming at the mouth, Nola tried to jump back inside him...and ended up flat on her back, her world going dark.

She heard Aveline say, “There was a girl. A royal with long black hair, dark eyes and pale skin. Go. Find her before she finds you. Kill her.”

“Who is she?” Micah asked.

“Who isn’t as important as when.”

She knows I time-traveled?

“Nola!”

Bane’s voice. She blinked open her eyes to spy a panting, sweating Bane above her. She was panting and sweating, too, her heartbeat erratic.

Her brow furrowed with confusion. They were on the floor of the RV, as naked as jaybirds. “I—I don’t understand.”

“As mist, you threw yourself against a wall. You should have gone through it, but you bounced back, as if tethered to the room. When you tried to take another run at it, I stepped in front of you. You didn’t bounce back, but you did injure me, despite your intangibility.” Cuts marred his face, blood dripping. “Were you able to prevent the accident?”

The awfulness of everything she’d witnessed returned in a rush, shattering her heart into a million pieces too small to ever be put back together.

There was so much to unpack. Later. Right now, the figurative blade Bane had sunk into her chest twisted. Pain flared, and a ragged moan escaped. How much could one girl endure before she waved the white flag?

“There’s a warrior. Micah,” she said, and Bane stiffened. “He’s coming for me.” His mistake. When he finds me, he dies.

She didn’t dismiss the murderous thought. No, she let it hang out and settle in, getting comfortable. Yes. I’ll kill him the same way he killed my mother.

“I’ll protect you from Micah,” Bane said, teeth clenched.

“I don’t... I don’t want your help.” The man who’d asked his lover to save his dead wife didn’t get to play knight in shining armor. Vengeance is mine! She pushed and pushed, more and more frantic. “Get off me. Now!”

Finally he eased back. Brows drawn tight with concern, he said, “Dove, please tell me what’s wrong. Did something happen?”

Share her deepest hurts with her one-night stand? No, thanks.

Fresh tears welled and fell, his image blurring. Voice as broken as her heart, she said, “Don’t call me dove. Don’t call me anything! Just...get away from me. Please, just get away.”