She blinked rapidly and gasped. She hadn’t tripped over a rock, but a body. A man. A human man. There were others, as well. A trail of bodies actually, each saturated in Vale’s new innate fragrance.

Sweat dampened Nola’s brow, her blood heating with...no, surely not. But, yeah. There could be no denying it. Her blood heated with sizzling arousal, as if she’d spent the past few hours making out with Bane.

Trembling, Nola checked one of the unconscious men for a pulse. Thin and reedy, but noticeable. Maybe the others were alive, too.

If these men had attacked her sister in the lavender field...if they’d helped bomb the house...they might have also hidden in the mountains, shooting at combatants during the assembly. Crimes committed under Erik’s command. For payment.

Payment made these men mercenaries. For the right price, mercenaries would attack Vale again and again. And not just Vale. Bane, Zion and Knox, too. Therefore, the mercenaries couldn’t be allowed to survive the day.

She eyed their chests, her mouth watering. Finally, she would have the pleasure of eating someone’s heart...

Reaching out...

A pained grunt stopped her, drawing her gaze up. Zion and Bane were on their feet, facing off, two snarling predators thirsty for blood. How could she have lost sight of them, even for a moment?

She straightened, taking stock. A veil of smoke protected Bane’s sensitive skin from the sun. He seemed to have grown several inches taller and several inches wider, his muscles bigger than ever. He wasn’t just enraged; he was rage.

And I am desire. Aching... He’d never looked so beautiful. Dark. Monstrous. Bloody. The shoulder wound had opened up again, crimson sluicing down his bare chest.

He pointed an accusing finger at Zion. “You don’t take her from me. You don’t keep her from me.”

“Do you wish to die?” Zion bellowed. “Stay with her, and that is the future awaiting you.”

“Everyone dies. I would rather die with her than live without her.” Bane kept his gaze on the other male as he angled his pointer at Nola. “If you come between us again, our truce is over. I’ll kill you without hesitation.” Bane turned his glare on her, snapping, “We do the Blood Rite today.”

She wobbled on her feet. This is truly happening?

Today? Another life-altering change. One she’d wanted. And yet... Too many changes, too fast. “You can’t be serious, Bane.”

His rage seemed to heat another hundred degrees. “When we first met, you agreed to do it when I believed the time was right. I do. You will keep your word.”

But... “What about Meredith? I can save her—”

“You can, yes, but you won’t,” he interjected. “Listen up, because I will not say this again, because it’s too painful. I don’t want you to go back.”