The queen smiled with smug superiority. Tone as soft as silk, she said, “Tell me, my pet. Has the urge to kill me faded?”

There was no reason to lie, the answer probably stamped on his features. “Not. Even. A. Little.”

“Excellent.” Another slow smile. “Then get to work and win the war. Quickly! Your odds of success will shrink the moment the other combatants are found.”

More combatants, more obstacles in need of elimination. “I will win. You have my word.”

As her image faded from view, the beast roared and rammed against his skull with more force, loosening a single thought. Get to Nola. One day, she would become his enemy, his greatest foe, but that day was not today. Today, she was the answer to his problems, and he would protect her no matter the cost.

Incentivized, Bane sprinted down a long corridor. Rainbow fluorite glittered in the walls as bright rays of light filtered through a wide opening. Without his goggles, he was partially blinded. The moment he stepped outside, he would lose all sight. He didn’t care. Get to a private location, portal to the lair. Communicate with Nola.

He increased his speed, faster, faster, the desire to speak with her, to see and touch her, to hear her voice, growing stronger. Nothing would stop him—

He slammed into an invisible wall and ricocheted backward, toppling over a rock.

Trapped in another prison? No! Nothing and no one would keep him from the Terran princess.

Snarls rumbled in his chest as he leaped to his feet. The first thing he noticed? The wall wasn’t invisible. With his compromised vision, he’d missed the metal bars.

His snarls grew louder as he clawed and yanked. Damn it! They didn’t budge.

His ears twitched, and he frowned. What was that sound? Squeaking hinges? Must be. To the right, a section of rock lifted, revealing a large black screen with an image of Erik the Widow Maker—he was smiling.

“Hello, Bane. You remember me, I’m sure. Bad news. You are currently imprisoned in my mountain, with no way out. I’d apologize, but I’m not sorry. Since your incarceration, I’ve learned about your All War. A thousand times, I’ve been tempted to kill you, but lucky for you I recognize the greater threat. The High Council and their Enforcers. They must be stopped. Together, we can neutralize them. Think about it, and we’ll talk again soon.” The screen went blank.

Deep breath in, out. Help Erik, the one who’d frozen him? Even though he agreed with the male, no, just no. The High Council and Enforcers were a threat, yes, but Aveline’s defeat trumped everything.

Deciding to portal just beyond the bars, Bane brushed his thumb over his Rifters. He waited one minute, two, but nothing happened. So. Erik had somehow managed to deactivate the rings. How?