The male sensed him and turned. Too late. Bane reached him, batted the gun away from Nola and shoved the dagger into his temple. No hesitation. The bastard jolted and squeezed off a shot, the blast deafening. Thankfully, both bullet and man hit the ground.

Bane aimed and fired off the final shot—in the male’s face. Brain tissue and blood sprayed.

Nola wrapped her arms around her middle and stared down at the dead body. Tremors racked her.

He’d thought her terrified before. Here, now, she looked broken, and the sight was doing strange things to Bane’s chest. It felt like someone had cracked open his ribs and strapped a barbed wire around his heart. Maybe she won’t turn out like other queens, after all.

A few feet away, a gun cocked. Cursing, he threw an arm around Nola, yanked her against him and spun.

A bullet tore through his back, in one side, out the other. The pain proved intense but manageable. Though he yearned to punish the shooter, he wouldn’t risk Nola’s life.

Lifting her into his arms, he raced into a thicket of trees. As he ran, satisfaction filled him. Finally! He had the princess in his possession. Once he evaded the army, he would open a rift to his lair. Soon, she would be safe and surrounded by his things...

One step closer to my goal. After he convinced Nola to work with him, he would return to Colorado, alone, and rescue Vale. All would be well.

Footsteps echoed behind him. Faster.

“Thank you,” she whispered, embracing him. Tremors still racked her. “For everything.”

The barbed wire tightened, and he winced. For centuries, he’d yearned to see Aveline ruled by terror. Since a royal was a royal, he should enjoy Nola’s suffering, too. One day, one day soon, she would deserve this. But...

He experienced no enjoyment. He wanted to raze this world and present the remains at her feet, wanted to vow he would forever protect her from feeling this way again. Ridiculous!

Bane rushed around trees and boulders, leaped over gnarled roots. Sharp branches sliced at his upper body, deepest in his biceps.

Nola mewled, and he cursed. Already failing at my task. He’d let the branches slice her, too.

He waited for a volley of complaints...

Odd. Aveline had complained even before her change.

Pleasantly surprised, he readjusted Nola’s position against him, pressing her face into the hollow of his neck. Her soft curves molded to his muscular frame, the simple action somehow battering through his defenses, leaving him bare.

He hardened, painfully so. Neglected body, that’s all. Teeth gritted, he asked, “Better?” Would her nearness always affect him so strongly?

“Yes, thank you,” she whispered, remaining lax. “Bane? Heal quickly.”