She fanned her cheeks and returned her gaze to his thighs, his knees. His legs stretched out in front of him and—

“Oh, Bane.” Her hand fluttered over her mouth. Only hours ago, he’d fought hulking warriors with unmatched skill and ferocity. Now, he was missing a foot. His leg ended in a bloody stump. “You poor baby,” she croaked, sympathy welling. The anguish he must be suffering. If she gave him the last pill in her pocket... He might have a bad reaction. Not human, remember?

Right. The pill might kill him. Never mind. The fact that she’d even considered sharing her last precious pill proved how much he meant to her, despite everything that had happened.

“Let me guess,” he grated, his voice as deep and husky as always. Despite his wounds, he eyed her up and down with slow, sexually charged precision, as if she were a virgin on an auction block and he planned to make the winning bid. “Zion told you my name.”

Breathless, she replied, “He did.” That look should frighten and intimidate her, yes? So why did Nola find him sexier now? “Why do I feel so good? How did I get here?”

“You don’t know?”

“Do you?” Ticktock. “Never mind. There’s only one topic that interests me. My sister, Vale. Knox has her. With your help, I can find her.”

He pursed his lips, an action born of anger. Even still, he just seemed sad and vulnerable, a sensation she knew well. An ember of kinship flourished. “I can’t even find a tourniquet right now,” he said.

“I can! I’ll take care of the tourniquet, and you’ll take care of Vale. Deal?” She didn’t wait for his response. She scanned the cave. Rock...dirt...crystal. Dead bodies. The guy in the middle wore a belt. Gonna have to do. She rushed over, saying, “Did you, uh, kill these guys?”

“Yes. Happily. They’re part of my decorating style,” he said, his tone dry.

Surely she would feel fearful now. Waiting...

Nope. She felt exhilarated. Finally making progress!

“Poor Bane. No one told you ‘macabre chic’ is out.” Pretending the corpses had gotten what they’d deserved—heck, maybe they had—she strained and maneuvered until she freed the strip of leather, then dashed back to Bane. Spices and musk teased her nose, fogged her head and heated her blood another degree. Great! Now tremors racked her. Sighing, she crouched beside him and slid the belt under his thigh as gently as possible.

“What happened to you?” she asked.

He hissed in pain and snapped, “You happened.”

“Me?” She looked left and right, hoping he’d used that harsh tone for someone else.

For some reason, he calmed when his gaze locked on her hair. He looked...enchanted. He reached out to sift a lock between his fingers. The jet-black strands complemented his golden skin tone.