His beautiful words tore her apart. But he didn’t comprehend the gravity of their situation. “Maybe you shouldn’t. I’m merging with my dark side, Bane. We’re becoming one.”

He did not react. “The only way to assuage your fears about this? Go through the Blood Rite. You’ll see I’m right.” He gave her a swift kiss. “All will be well, love. I will allow nothing less.”

This moody, broody sex machine had called her “love.” Tenderness welled despite her inner turmoil.

“All right.” A little excited, a lot afraid, she nodded. “I’ll do it. If anything happens to me—”

“Nothing will happen to you. Nothing!” His civility dissolving, he gripped her arms and shook her. “You won’t leave me again and you will survive.”

Another nod. She rasped, “I will survive.”

“I will help,” Zion said.

Bane glared at him, but offered no response. After another swift kiss to Nola’s lips, he opened a portal to a motel room with twin beds. Clean but generic furnishing. He’d already secured their backpacks, her gauntlets inside.

Eager to update Vale, she plopped onto a bed and typed a text. Everyone had seen Vale’s reaction over Nola’s death, giving it an aura of legitimacy, so, they could chat again. Right? Right.

Are you alive and well? YOU HAD BETTER BE ALIVE AND WELL! I’m with Bane and Zion, and we’re good. (Sorry my Banie scratched up your Knoxie, but he did it to save your man’s life). And yep, Bane is mine! I’m keeping him. We’re working together. For real. Equal partners and all that. We’d like to work with you and Knox. Erik made our safe houses hazard zones, so Team Zibanola has no place to stay.

Vale’s reply came within minutes: I’m the proud owner of an underground bunker. (Knox gave it to me. A makeup gift for being a douche at the farmhouse.) Come and stay with me. I miss you like a limb. But you gotta ditch the guys first. Sorry, not sorry. They’d be too eager to remove my head.

Nola: I can’t ditch ’em. Well, I can but I won’t. I love them, V. They’re part of my family.

She tried to type more. How she and Bane were a couple, how she’d soon rule a race of beast shape-shifters. Her fingers refused to work.

So. The stupid mutism stopped all communication. Good to know.

Vale: I think Knox has a 2nd safe house Erik doesn’t know about. No one does, since no one can see into his cribs. You guys want that one?