He considered his next move. There were no rules against fighting in public, but a single skirmish would cause major problems. The more mortals who learned about the All War, the higher the likelihood other humans would become combatants.

Then I’ll kill them, too. One way or another, Nola would be in Bane’s possession before the sun set. He gave chase, reworking his plan along the way. A snatch and go was no longer possible. If he killed Zion, he could win and activate the magic wand—if he found it. Nola would have no one else to turn to; she’d have to choose Bane.

A dick move? Yes. Did he care? No. I’ll just disregard the prickle in my chest.

When the couple disappeared around a corner, Bane increased his pace. He followed. Already halfway down the street, Zion lifted Nola to cradle her against his chest.

Growls reverberated in the back of Bane’s throat, and they were not courtesy of the beast. My princess. Mine!

She glanced over the male’s shoulder, clearly searching for something. Or someone.

Does she sense me?

Her gaze skittered over Bane, then zoomed back and widened.

Awareness seized him, heat sizzling under his skin, maddening him. Maddening the beast, too.

She shook her head and mouthed, “No.”

Another layer of calm got chiseled away. No, don’t let her get away? No, don’t hesitate to murder Zion? No, he shouldn’t resist her appeal any longer?

The muscles in Zion’s upper back went rigid as he carried Nola around another corner. Oh, yes. The male definitely knew Bane nipped at his heels.

Very well. No need for secrecy.

As claws sprouted from his nail beds, Bane increased his speed. Approaching the corner...

The fine hairs on the back of his neck stood at attention. Zion would take precautions. He’d probably set Nola down. He might be manipulating energy in some way or another even now. His specialty, made possible by the diamond-like objects embedded in his skin. The type of energy didn’t matter. Electrons, muons, taurine, quarks, gluons, time, space.

Somersaulting around the building, Bane shot out his legs—

Contact! His boots slammed into Zion’s middle, the warrior stumbling backward.

Bane’s momentum propelled him to his feet. He took stock. All around, Terrans had been halted midaction. If not for the mystical wards tattooed on Bane’s nape, he would have been forced to halt, too.

Where was Nola? She had to be close. The beast had lapsed into silence. Where... There! She sat on the sidewalk, leaning against a building. Her head lolled forward, a pained moan slipping out.

Why hadn’t she strengthened with Bane’s nearness? Unless the block to keep him out of her head also affected her body?

His jaw hardened. “Give me the girl, and I’ll let you live. Today, anyway.”