Shouted a curse. The combatant named Petra had just twirled past him, stabbing the tip of her sword through his left foot. Excruciating pain exploded inside him, but he knew the worst was yet to come. Her sword possessed an insidious skill he abhorred. Whatever the blade touched, it could recreate, causing a tower to grow in its place. Since the tip had gone through muscle and bone, hitting ice, a tower of ice grew around his foot—over his foot—quickly forming a waist-high wall.

Pinned in place. Every bone from his toes to his ankle had been crushed into powder.

And Petra wasn’t done. She returned, swinging the sword again—aiming for his throat. He ducked, the metal lodging in the wall of ice. Ignore the searing agony. He leaned his upper half over the ledge and punched her rib cage. Those ribs broke, as he’d hoped, the bone shards cutting into her heart. She clutched her chest and stumbled backward, slipped on a pool of blood and tripped over an unconscious body.

Do not deliver the deathblow. Walk away.

Nola, where was Nola? Bane scanned, finding her quickly. A warrior—Slade—shook a trident in front of her face and shouted, “Where is he?”

Who was “he”? Erik? Bane beat and kicked at the ice wall with all his strength. Stars winked through his vision, and fresh rivers of blood poured from his wounds. “Hurt her, and I’ll make you regret it,” he snarled. Get to her. Must get to her.

Slade paid him no heed. “Where is he?”

With a shriek, Vale raced over and leaped onto Slade’s back, reaching around to hammer her fists into his eyes. But her punches had no effect.

Can’t get to Nola until I get free. Think, think!

Bane watched as Knox slid across the distance, swung a sword up, up, and sliced through Slade’s wrist. The hand and the trident plopped to the ground. No time to rejoice. End one battle, and another started. At least Nola remained safe—for the moment.

But all too soon, the world began to fade in and out. Stay awake and aware. Fight! Get to her, damn you.

“You’re coming with me.” As Knox dragged Vale away, she struggled against his hold, desperately trying to return to Nola.

Zion snatched up the princess, once again hefting her against his chest, then motoring forward, plowing into Knox and making a play for Vale. That piece of shit thinks to abscond with both women?

When Ronan inserted himself in the middle of the clash, Nola was able to wiggle free of Zion, and Vale was able to strike at Knox. Freed at last, the two females sprinted from the chamber.

Bane had seen no evidence of a wound, yet Nola limped, her face contorted with abject pain. Must follow her!