“I won’t kill a child,” he grated. “Pick someone else.” Pretty words. The woman could make him do anything, and they both knew it. Although, forcing him to anything, especially war, would be unwise. Unwilling and unmotivated representatives faced a higher likelihood of defeat.

Irritation twisted her features. “You refuse to win Terra?”

“I do.”

Aveline tsked-tsked. “Never has a male been so ungrateful for the life I have granted him. I suppose you need an incentive to leave, and a better incentive to return swiftly. Very well. I’m happy to provide one. No matter what transpires, you will not transform into your beast, Bane. That’s an order.”

She snapped her fingers. To the left of the dais, a pair of double doors opened. Micah entered, dragging a chained prisoner behind him. She wore a pale blue nightgown. One Bane recognized.

A roar exploded from him, echoing throughout the chamber. Meredith! Their gazes met, fury crackling in her golden irises—fury tinged with fear, and it gutted him.

Like him, she’d been raised a soldier. Fear had been beaten out of her. The fact that she felt it now...

Desperation launched him up the dais stairs.

Aveline’s eyes narrowed. “Stop. Kneel.”

Just. Like. That. Only a few steps from his destination, he stopped and dropped to his knees. Upon impact, his kneecaps cracked. Fury and fear burned through him, every panting breath flaying his lungs. He fought with every ounce of his considerable strength, but he could not stand.

Micah smiled, smug and superior, as he pushed Meredith to her knees in a mimic of Bane. The bastard had always enjoyed the suffering of others.

“My darling Micah,” Aveline said. “Be a dear, and make the girl bleed.”

“No!” Bane shouted, willing his beast to emerge despite the queen’s command. Alas, the beast refused to try; he might hate Aveline, but he bore Meredith no love, either, only tolerating her for sex. Sex, the fiend believed, could be found anywhere, anytime, by fair means or foul.

Micah slid his gaze to Bane. Smile widening, the bastard struck. Meredith’s head whipped to the side, her lip splitting. A crimson river trickled down her chin.

“No!” Bane strained so fiercely he dislocated both shoulders. Searing pain shot through him, but he didn’t care and didn’t halt.

“Whatever she wants—” His wife spit out a mouthful of blood, then lifted her head high. “Don’t you dare give it to her, Bane.”

Though his vision blurred, he met Aveline’s stare. “Do not do this. Please.” He told himself she wouldn’t dare. They no longer loved each other, true, but they had history. In this, she would capitulate. She must.

“You give me no choice,” she replied, as ruthless as ever. “I must remove your desire to remain here.”