Zion cracked a bundle of pecans and peeled a banana, then offered both to her. She took a bite of the fruit and moaned with bliss. The sweetness! So much better than canned fish and chili. She all but shoveled the remaining banana into her mouth, then started on the nuts. Once she’d swallowed the last one, guilt set in. Here she was, enjoying a tasty snack. Meanwhile, she had no idea if her sister was in danger.

“Doubt isn’t good enough,” she finally said.

“Well, it’ll have to work for the time being. I’m part of the hundred and third All War. An immortal combatant fighting to rule your world.”

Immortal. All War. Rule the whole dang world. Forget having an open mind. Forget the wild things she’d seen. He was lying. He must be.

But...I kind of believe him. “What’s an All War?”

“A fight to the death.”

And? “Please expound.”

He thought for a moment, sighed. “There are thirty-nine worlds in the All War Alliance. Correction. There were thirty-nine worlds before a viking froze us in the arctic. I’m unsure how many new ones were found over the centuries. Anyway. To prevent other-world armies from invading and destroying newly discovered territories, one representative from each world is sent to battle the other representatives—to the death.”

The food she’d consumed turned into lead in her stomach. So, Zion believed himself to be an extraterrestrial alien? Meaning, GG was an extraterrestrial alien. No way, no how. But...

Maybe? Nola doubted any other explanation would make sense, either. If Zion had told the truth, if the All War was real and a group of warriors truly hoped to win control of Earth 300 meets Highlander style, the future was bleak for all humans, not just her, and...and...

She couldn’t deal with this right now. Hysteria teased the edges of her mind.

Wrapping her arms around her middle, she said, “Do you know where Knox took Vale?”

“To his base camp, no doubt. Unfortunately, I have never glimpsed it, so I cannot escort you there.”

“I don’t understand.” What did seeing a camp have to do with anything?

Zion tapped the trio of crystal rings he wore. “These are Rifters. They open a portal anywhere I’ve preciously visited or seen in photographs.”

Rifters. Portals. Everything he said painted a very un-mortal-y picture. “Escort me somewhere I can get survival gear, then. Maybe a pharmacy, too. Definitely a pharmacy. Then return me to the arctic.”

He blinked rapidly. “You know you cannot find her, yes? You are too weak, and you lack the proper training and tools.” Cruel words—true words—spoken in a gentle tone. “What is your sickness?”

“None of your business.” She wasn’t physically strong, but so what? She had a heart of steel! “Is your planet medically advanced? Can you cure certain diseases?”