As he led her through it, emerging on the other side, she gasped out, “Slowing him down is better than nothing.”

The smile she’d displayed moments ago flashed through his mind. Cold, merciless and mighty. Magnificent. She’d impressed the hell out of him. Now, she refused to run, displaying zero fears, exactly what he’d thought he’d wanted from the sickly girl he’d first met, and he feared for her life.

Swooping down with preternatural speed, Micah unleashed another stream of fire. Shit! Nowhere to go. Bane enfolded Nola in his wings, the flames dancing over him.

If she wouldn’t go on her own, he’d have to portal her. But where would he send her, without stumbling upon Erik’s bombs? Or Micah following?

Mind racing, Bane crafted a new plan. Portal Micah. Micah would portal right back, yes, but by then, Nola would be hidden away. Yes!

Bane rubbed the Rifters, opening a portal to shark-infested waters. His favorite combatant dumping spot. The other male hadn’t noticed—yet.

“Do not release my hand. Understand?” Bane said as he linked his fingers with Nola’s. He didn’t wait for her reply, just led her into a sprint back to the RV, around it, through it. The beast chased them.

Ten seconds...thirty...fifty. Now! Bane ushered the beast in the direction of the portal. Of course, Micah noticed it then and stopped midair. Too late. During their trek, Bane had gotten his hands on a crossbow and shot off a round of arrows, nailing the beast in the eye, sending him wheeling back. He vanished in the portal—water splashing.

Whoosh. The portal closed.

Any moment, the bastard would return. Bane had to send Nola somewhere he’d never been, a place he’d only seen in a photo. Like...the photo of young Nola, with her bright smile.

“What’s the plan?” Nola asked.

“This.” With no time to spare, he opened a portal to the playground and prodded her inside.

A snarling, soaking wet Micah hurried through a portal of his own, spotted the other portal and tried to zoom through it.

Bane shot into the air and blocked with a swing of his sword—a sword he then tossed into the portal, followed by his goggles and the chains. “Keep them safe,” he shouted at Nola.

She had landed on a plot of grass and now leaped up, her furious gaze locked on Bane. “Don’t you dare take this away from me!” One step, two, she rushed forward.

The sight of her, so determined, so fierce, nearly felled him. “I’ll be your hand of vengeance, princess.”

“Bane!” The portal closed before she reached it, her rage-darkened face the last thing he saw.

Send Micah to his grave, go to Nola.