He could be a prisoner of his past no longer. He’d made mistakes, yes, and had earned punishments, but an eternal sentence wasn’t necessary.

The time had come to pardon himself. To let go and say goodbye to his wife at long last. Only then could he truly embrace a future with Nola. And he yearned for a future with her. Before she entered his life, he’d had nothing but a heart brimming with hate.

Knowing Zion waited outside the door, but unwilling to part with his queen, Bane said, “I have a confession. Several, in fact. After we deal with Zion, I will eat my dessert. But we won’t deal with Zion until I’ve told you that you’ve already changed the past. When you revisited the memory of your parents’ death, Aveline noticed you. She compared you to Jayne, a former queen able to manipulate memories and change the past. In order to do so, however, she had to perform a human sacrifice. I think you must do the same, because I believe you come from Jayne’s line.”

Nola blanched. “Are you saying I can time-travel in corporal form if I murder someone?”

He held her gaze and nodded.

She sputtered for a bit before grating, “Who? Why? How?”

“Who—anyone. Why—blood is life, life is power. How—any way you wish.”

She stumbled back. “Now I really don’t understand. A single measly murder, and you can have your wife back. Like, I can think of a ton of people who deserve to serve as a sacrifice.”

Measly murder? “When I said I wanted you, only you, I meant it.”

Confusion drew a crease between her brows. “But why?”

Had he insulted her so many times, in so many ways, his compliments hadn’t registered? The guilt... “Dove, you are the most beautiful female I’ve ever beheld. The strongest, the bravest. The sweetest, and the wittiest. I could pluck you from a crowd of millions.”

Eyes wide again, pupils expanding, she stared up at him. Steam enveloped her in a dreamy haze, and Bane edged closer.

“But,” he added, “Meredith wouldn’t want a murder committed in cold-blood to bring her back. She believed in battle, honor and consequences.”

“Who said anything about cold-blooded? I could do it during the heat of battle, just the way she prefers. Heck, I could even use Aveline when she shows up.”

The whole time she spoke, he shook his head with savage determination and yes, growing fury. He’d made a decision, and he wouldn’t reverse it. Why did Nola continue to insist on this?

Ready to be rid of me?

Could he blame her if so? No. But he grappled with his temper, anyway.

Before he left this bathroom, he would cement their relationship.