When two layers of air peeled back a few yards off, she tensed. A new threat? Or Zion? As Nola jumped to her feet and unsheathed Bane’s sword, Drogo hopped to an upright position and roared at volume “earsplitting.”

Tall, dark and stalwart, Zion stepped through the portal. Warm relief cascaded over her, only to chill when he spotted her and the beast. The color drained from his cheeks. “Move away from the beast, Nola, and I will—”

Drogo leaped between them and roared with more aggression, dotting Zion’s upper half with spittle.

“No!” She raced between the two, extending her arms. “Please, don’t hurt each other. We’re allies, remember? We guard each other’s back—not stab!”

Zion glanced between her and the beast, his eyes widening. He didn’t make a move against Drogo, and Drogo didn’t make a move against him. The beast did enfold her with an arm, flatten his claws against her belly, gentle so gentle, and tug her against him. A possessive action that shouted, She’s mine, and I would rather kill you than share.

Dude. I tamed a beast who usually despises royals. Me. Pleasure blended with more feminine power, rushing straight to her head. Delicious.

“You came,” she said to Zion. “Thank you.”

He kept his gaze glued to Drogo, the bigger threat. “There’s a tracker in Bane’s boots. Erik had planted them on a corpse, in a cave, where he once trapped you. That’s how combatants have located Bane at every turn.” He switched his attention to Nola. “You’ll be pleased to know I passed the phone to Vale.”

Oh, thank goodness! Now, when Zion and Bane informed everyone about Nola’s “death,” Vale would ultimately conclude Nola lived.

“More combatants are on their way,” Zion finished. “I would have been here sooner, but I had to stop others from arriving first.”

Nola told Bane, “You should throw the boots into a portal that leads to a seriously dangerous place.” Any combatants chasing Bane deserved what they got.

Through their bond, he told her, —Go with Z. I must dispose of the body, so that your people do not launch an investigation or learn aliens walk among them.—

I don’t want to leave you, she replied. Wait. Bane’s voice had whispered through her mind, not Drogo’s. Bane had remained at the helm, despite the transformation? She grew in might, and so did he. Because they were connected, the queen and her chosen warrior.

Drogo-Bane nuzzled the back of her neck. —Do it anyway. When I finish, I’ll come to you. Be ready, for I plan to finish what we started.—

CHAPTER TWENTY-FOUR

How to kick a third wheel to the curb