Colt wasn’t the only one escaping. Two warriors dragged an unconscious Erik, who left a trail of blood in their wake. Someone had amputated one of his feet.

“I got the foot,” real life Bane said. “Would have gotten more if a male—Pike—hadn’t focused on your sister.”

“Thank you,” she repeated. She owed him a debt she might not ever be able to repay.

No, not true. She could repay. With Aveline’s heart.

And she would.

Past Bane’s paralysis proved temporary, as he’d assured. He lumbered to a stand. “Go. Take him out, and win the bots.” He ducked, a blade narrowly missing him. Without missing a beat, he stabbed his attacker with a quick jab, jab to the throat. “I verge on turning. I must get to Nola.”

The images faded, real-life Bane lowering his hands and rolling to his back.

“I hate that you have to go through that every month.” She shuddered and snuggled closer, resting her cheek in the hollow of his neck, tracing her fingers around the scab left by Vale’s sword.

He kissed her brow. “I wish I’d made more progress. Wish I’d won more, done more. We’re running out of time. I...sense her, Nola. I sense Aveline. I suspect she’s done the unthinkable and come to Terra, but pray I’m wrong.”

Panic and urgency collided, tangling in her muscles. “We can’t wait, then. We must perform the Blood Rite.”

“No.” He shook his head, adamant. “No.”

“What if she wakes the hybrids?”

“She can create blocks, like yours. She won’t awaken the beasts until and unless she wants to. And she won’t want to until the end of the war.”

“We can’t wait,” Nola repeated, sitting up. “Let’s do the Blood Rite today. Now.”

“No,” he grated. Torment etched every line of his face. “You’ve been sick. I need your body at its strongest.”

“Tomorrow, then.”

He looked agonized. “Twice in my life, I’ve lost everything. As a younger male, I loved Aveline. We courted. I thought we would wed. Then she underwent the Blood Rite and became the monster who murdered the woman I did marry.”

“Do you still think I’ll change?” she asked. Croaked, really. “Do you still think I’ll become a monster?”

“Not even a little. But you are all I have, all I want, and I refuse—refuse!—to lose you, too. I told you I was keeping you, Nola Lee, and I meant it.”

Beautiful words, lovely sentiment. But, if Nola didn’t defeat Aveline, she and Bane would become a modern day Romeo and Juliet. Doomed.

CHAPTER TWENTY-EIGHT

How to love him and leave him

AS NOLA DRIFTED to sleep, Bane clutched her close.

—Bane!—Aveline’s voice boomed, making him jerk with shock and fury. —Stop whatever you are doing and come to me.—

Familiar words. This could not be happening.

—Now!—