Right now, he served both females. The moment he permanently aligned with Nolalee, pledging a blood oath to protect and obey her, his link to Aveline would dissolve completely. But Aveline would sense his loss. So, he could make no pledges until the bitch arrived to claim ownership of Terra.

Bane pushed his voice into Nolalee’s head.

—Return to me, princess.—

A demand. To his shock, she obeyed—dragging her feet. She looked him over, whispering, “I know you’re real. At least, I think you are. Maybe. But I don’t know who or what you are, or why you keep talking inside my head. Just...tell me what’s going on. I want to help.”

A command. A royal command. As a hybrid princess, she was powerful, yes, but too weak to fully control a warrior in his prime. After the Blood Rite, however...

“Or don’t tell me,” she said, still whispering. “You’re probably a delusion. Yeah, definitely a delusion.”

Shock had left her addled. Noted. He—

Tingles erupted at the ends of his fingers, frozen nerve endings coming back to life. New, sharper pains shot up his arms, radiating through his torso and down his legs. Even his toes tingled.

Hope warmed his blood and thawed his insides, adrenaline coursing to his muscles.

Must get the princess to safety. As Bane continued to rock and ram his body backward and forward with more force, the width of the cracks increased, and his hope sharpened into anticipation. Rock. Ram.

Any warriors outside the females’ sight lines fought their prisons, too. Those within their sight lines waited until the pair turned away, not wanting humans to know about the war, even now. They had no idea Bane communicated with Nolalee.

The first to escape would decide her fate.

“Are you thinking what I’m thinking?” Vale asked. “We’ll have the celebration dinner of the year!”

The two discussed folded napkins, middle fingers, fish and vomit before vanishing around the corner, leaving the “lady-boner figurines” behind, seemingly forgotten. Nolalee’s laugh drifted through the cavern, as sweet as a lullaby, and another growl rumbled in Bane’s chest. Before she vanished, she cast a final glance in Bane’s direction.

Soon enough, she’ll lose that sweetness. Never forget. Ram, ram!

Crackkkkk.

Already knotted muscles drew tighter as Bane scanned one ice pillar after another. Same cracks, no change. Same cracks, no change. Same—Nope.

He returned his gaze to the combatant who’d won four All Wars in his lifetime—Knox. There was a change. Thicker lines bisected his ice.

Knox was a fierce competitor, ruthless, merciless, with no sense of compassion. If the bastard gained his freedom, Bane would be a major target, guaranteed. No telling what the male would do to Nolalee.

Ram, ram.

Crack.

This time, a fissure sprouted over the pillar belonging to Zion, a three-time champion just as determined to take out Bane.