Doun glared at me from his seat. He had a piece of paper folded in his hand and I could tell he was annoyed. I glanced at Mira and she, too, wasn’t pleased with the situation.

  “Void,” Doun said without taking his eyes off me. “Lia tells me Oliver here has been living in our world for centuries in some sort of time loop. Is this true?”

  “It is,” Void mumbled from under the blankets. “I’ve experienced it…four? Yes, four times now. Can I have my clothes?”

  “It’s better we wait on that,” Mira cryptically said.

  “Why did we just do that?” I asked. I wanted to cover up but Void was hogging everything. I barely had a corner of the blanket to cover my waist and both Mira and Lia were staring at me.

  “Later,” Doun gruffly stated. “Why didn’t you mention this to us?”

  I felt a sense of terror coursing through me. This was it, Doun was going to boot me out of the house and forbid me to come around. Even though I was now the owner, I knew I’d respect his wishes. My panic spread and I started looking for my Heartstop dagger. I had to reset this loop. I couldn’t let this fall apart now over whatever this was.

  “It’s here,” Mira said. She held up the bandolier with the four Heartstop daggers I purchased from Exterminator’s Excitement in case everything went wrong.

  “If you’re worried about us doing something rash, that’s entirely up to your answer,” Doun added.

  Shit. I was busted and Mira held my only way out. Maybe I could bite through to my femoral artery. No, that’s silly, my teeth aren’t sharp enough.

  I decided to explain my side of things. I spent the next ten minutes pouring out all the relevant details and I even added in a few things I knew Doun and Mira never told me about this loop, such as details on Mira’s recipes and cooking techniques.

  “Why didn’t you tell us?” Mira asked. Her tone was gentle and understanding. I could even see Doun’s expression changed from hostile to comforting.

  “Because every time I tried, both of you kicked me out,” I started. “I was a stranger who arrived from a different plane of reality. You thought I was touched in the head and you didn’t want me anywhere around Void.”

  I felt tears forming in my eyes and I covered them with a hand to obscure them. Yes, I know, crying isn’t looked down on here, but I’m still a red-blooded Floridian no matter how long I’ve been here. “I couldn’t go through that. This has been my home. You two have done so much for me and I couldn’t lose it. That’s why I hid it.”

  I heard someone kneel down in front of me and a hand directed my head into another. I opened my eyes and saw Doun of all people pressing his forehead against mine.

  “That sounds like something we’d do,” Doun said softly as he kept his head pressed against mine. “But we know you now. We understand the value of home and family. You don’t need to hide this from us anymore, even if we lose our memory and you have to do this again.”

  I gave Doun a manly one-arm pat and pulled back. “Can I get my pants now?”

  “You’re going to have a rebound in a few minutes,” Mira responded.

  “What happened to us?” Void asked from under the covers.

  “Regvald’s Curse,” Mira responded.

  “I don’t know what that is,” Void said. I didn’t, either.

  “Understandable,” Doun said. He sat back in his chair and crossed a leg over the other. “An alchemist named Regvald developed an incredible decoction. A woman who took it would be ready for pregnancy. It was near guaranteed. To make it work, the desired partner had to also take the same potion from the same dose.”

  “It came with a side effect,” Mira continued. “Those who took the linked decoction became wildly passionate for each other and were obsessed until they finished their full consummation. After, memories of the pairing will always be amazing.”

  I thought about what Mira said and shuddered. “That sounds awful. What’s stopping people from sneaking it into someone’s drink?”

  “Nothing,” Doun explained. “It was first for sale 22 years ago and it only lasted on the market for three months. At first, the Kingdom didn’t care about the problem. Then it hit two of the noble houses. It was immediately banned and the dungeon where the main ingredient was found was sealed.”

  “Of course it was,” I grumbled. “It doesn’t matter until someone important is impacted.”

  Mira hummed in agreement. “This is why you never heard about it, Void. Most people have forgotten it ever existed.”

  “Then how did this stuff end up in our drinks?” I asked.

  “There were rumors a few doses survived on the black market. They’re very expensive. Now that I know what happened with Gully Jack,” Doun started before holding the paper out. “Here, can you read this? All I recognize is the Gully Jack name.”

  I took the paper and unfolded it. The text was written in Standard Vialinan with impressive calligraphy.

  My Dearest Oliver,

  I am quite upset at our parting. I gave you my secret, trusted you and opened up my heart. Then you threw it back at me and crushed it beneath your boot. All I wanted was someone I could trust, someone I voluntarily gave myself to. You were that man. I let you into my inner world, gave you my trust and revealed who I am.

  Yet you threw it away for some teenage harlot. Now I can’t form a family. Everyone who approaches is someone I know wants me for my power and wealth. You ruined my future and I will ruin yours.

  I hope your little bitch enjoys watching you root around in that wolf-clan companion of yours. Zelda is quite the spy. She’ll know the best time to strike and when your overly muscular guard carries your child? Priceless.

  Best yet? When you loop again and that child vanishes? Glorious. All those memories, nothing to show for it but pain.

  I’m still available, love. It’s not too late. I can have my family with my beloved. The Gully Jack always gets what she wants.

  Your darling fiancé,

  Lisa

  I crumpled the page in my hand and felt something I haven’t felt since I spent time pulling King Ormond off the side of his balcony to his death over and over again.

  Rage.

  Pure, blinding rage.

  I stood, not caring I wasn’t wearing anything. When I did, the blanket pulled away from Void. Then our eyes locked and my rage vanished.

  Void was looking quite good right now and she was looking at me like a fine piece of meat.

  “You two should head upstairs while you can,” Mira said. “It’s the rebound. Everyone who falls to Regvald’s Curse experiences it a second time a few minutes after the first ends.”

  I didn’t care much about whatever it is I just read. “Alright.”

  Void stood and gripped my hand. I gladly followed as she guided me upstairs and into our room where we enjoyed another round.

  Then it was over again. I was lying in bed with the covers thrown far across the room and Void gasping for air. My rage had instantly returned.

  I silently stood and began to dress. Mira had placed our clothing back in our room in anticipation of this.

  “Where are you going?” Void asked.

  “Out,” I replied tersely. My mind was only on Lisa. I had to end this. Keeping her alive after the cistern was a mistake, stability in the slums be damned.

  “Stop, we need to think about this,” Void pleaded. She had started to dress as well.

  “Nothing to think about,” I snarled. “What if Lisa knew the truth? That wouldn’t be you in bed. Maybe Lia? Or your mother? You heard Mira. One of them could have been carrying a baby, too. Lisa wanted to hit us where it would hurt the most. It was only by pure luck she failed.”

  “That’s why we need to—” Void started.

  I ignored her, strapped my armor, grabbed my bow and wore my rapier then went downstairs. Mira had left my Heartstop bandolier on the table and I retrieved it, too.

  A case of theft: this story is not rightfully on Amazon; if you spot it, report the violation.

  “Oliver! Stop!” Void cried out.

  Again, I ignored her and reached for the door. Then a scaly arm wrapped around my torso and pulled me back.

  “Tizek!” I roared. “Let me go! This is an order from your lord!”

  “No,” Tizek hissed in my ear. “I will not.”

  “You are my knight! Let me go so I can kill Lisa,” I growled.

  “I swore to protect my lord,” Tizek replied as he tightened his grip. I tried to get out but his Advancement 2 power impeded my motion. “I cannot allow you to come to harm.”

  I kept struggling against Tizek’s iron grip. I kicked out and tried to move toward the door.

  “Oliver? Please stop.” It was Lia’s voice and she sounded upset.

  “I can’t,” I spat. “If Lisa knew? That would have been us down there—”

  “It wasn’t!” Lia shouted. “Please, I don’t like seeing you like this.”

  Lia’s words instantly deflated my anger. What was I doing? I was acting rashly and I didn’t even have a cursed drink to blame.

  When I relaxed, Tizek released me. I turned back to the interior of the pub and I saw everyone. Tizek, Lia, Void, Mira and Doun were all looking at me with concern.

  I shifted to a booth next to the door, sat down and closed my eyes. I took some breaths to help my adrenaline flush from my system.

  Was I overreacting? No. Lisa just fired a shot at us and I knew she was crazy enough to escalate. We had to do something about it, but I knew we couldn’t. As good as Lia, Tizek and Void were and as weakened as Lisa was after the cistern battle, they’d stomp us and all I’d come out with is looping back to whatever my latest, unpredictable point was.

  I heard a clatter on the table in front of me and I opened my eyes. When I did, I saw Tizek pulling his hand away from a plate with a piece of Chantilly cake on it. He laid a fork down and looked at me expectantly.

  I stared at the cake for a bit and I felt a weight on my shoulders lift. I lifted the fork and looked up at Tizek. “Thanks, buddy.”

  “Move over.” Void tapped my side and she was waiting to slide in next to me with her own cake. I scooted over and Lia squeezed in on the end while Mira and Doun took the other side.

  Tizek turned and stared back at the table where there were two more slice of cake. His mouth watered slightly as he looked at it then back at us with disappointment in his eyes.

  “Go ahead and get another one,” I said.

  “Thank you, my lord!” Tizek yipped happily. Instead of taking a plate, he picked up the box and brought it back where he dropped it on the table and pushed into Doun’s side in the booth bench seat.

  I picked up a fork and dipped the tines into the soft cake. The moist, firm piece pulled apart and I took a piece of blue albenberry with it. The bite was excellent. It was balanced and the frosting didn’t clash with the cake and fruit. Every part was divine. It didn’t matter if it was because the bakery was good or if it was who I ate it with.

  “Thank you all for making this normal,” I said after swallowing.

  Mira gave me a gentle smile. “Our celebration was interrupted.”

  I noticed she had a piece of frosting stuck to her fur on the side of her mouth. I made a motion on the side of my face. “You have a little…”

  Doun looked at Mira and pulled her into him where he licked the frosting away. Mira giggled at the attention.

  “Dad!” Void exclaimed.

  “No one is in here,” Doun snorted.

  “You can put some on your face if you’re jealous,” Mira added with a mischievous grin.

  Void hung her head in embarrassment and pressed her hand against her face. I took the opportunity to dab a little frosting on her cheek. “Oops, clumsy me,” I said before darting in and kissing it back off.

  Void couldn’t help but giggle, too.

  Then I felt something begin to weigh me down again. “I hope it wasn’t bad for you. I didn’t mean to force myself—”

  “Stop,” Void interrupted me. “We were cursed. You didn’t do anything to feel ashamed of. Besides, when I think back on it…”

  I knew what she meant. When I thought back on it, all my mind could recall was incredible, muscle melting pleasure. It must be one of the parts of the cursed drink.

  “Is the part about the world ending true?” Doun asked.

  I knew this was coming. He only learned the truth…some time ago. I didn’t check the time to see how long Void and I were getting it on upstairs.

  I pulled another bite of cake with my fork and, this time, it had a slice of red eluberry in it. Still amazing. “It is. The last loop was changed when we defeated a cult group beneath the abandoned mall in the slums. I had to call on Gully Jack to gain her people to fight back, which is why she’s obsessed with me. It was the night we came back all beat up.”

  I spared a glance at Lia and Tizek while Doun and Mira processed my words. Tizek had another fist full of cake in his mouth while he also tried to lick his fingers. Lia was carefully picking through fruit while she stared at the table.

  Mira broke the silence. “I’d like to help.”

  “I as well,” Doun added. “What can we do?”

  “Right now?” I said. “Nothing. Just go about your day.”

  Mira and Doun looked at each other then back to me. Doun tapped the table with one of his long claws. “Nothing? The world is going to end and we should just serve drinks and food?”

  “Yes,” I replied. “We have no idea what or when the next event is. It makes no sense to stress over it, right?”

  “I don’t know if I can…” Mira began and trailed off.

  “We have to. Take it from your elder, it makes no sense to stress over this,” I said. I was, of course, being a bit of a hypocrite after my antics over the past 30-some years.

  I could tell Mira and Doun picked up on my hypocrisy. “We’ll try. What do you plan to do now?” Doun asked.

  Void took a bite of her cake then responded. “I think we should heal Oliver somehow. I was thinking we should go down to the Mage’s College and see if we can get in with Oliver’s status.”

  “What about meeting Willem?” Mira asked.

  I ate the rest of my cake and crossed my arms. “We can split our effort. Before you do that, Void? I think you need to go down to the Registrar and get the Stewart Seal attached to you.”

  “But we haven’t officially married yet,” Void replied.

  “I think you should do it anyway. That’s just a formality. It should make it easier for you to do things when I’m not around,” I said. Then I quickly added an amendment. “Not that I don’t want to spend as much time around you as possible.”

  Void took my hand in hers and squeezed. “Thanks. Though you should have asked me if I wanted that as our family crest.”

  I pulled my hand away and put it to my chest. “Who are you and what did you do to Void? I thought you’d have better artistic sensibilities. You are a big fan of Stephon and Irene, after all.” Void’s eyes bugged out of her head when I said that.

  “Who are Stephon and Irene?” Mira asked.

  “It’s—” I started.

  “Don’t answer th—” Void tried to interrupt.

  “—a porn book Void really loves,” I finished.

  Void’s head thudded hard against he table, barely missing her cake dish. I could see Doun trying to hold his laughter in while Mira grinned at my antics.

  “I’m going now,” Void quickly said. Lia slid out of the booth to let Void exit.

  “Void?” Lia said when Void stood up. “Congratulations on the babies. I’m sorry I didn’t say anything earlier.”

  “Thank you,” Void said, her voice shifting from shame to happiness in an instant. She pulled Lia into a hug. “I’m excited to see them.”

  I followed behind Void. “Tizek? Mind keeping Void company?”

  “Why, my lord?” Tizek asked. He was licking the last atoms of frosting from the plate as he spoke.

  “You know where the Registrar is and it’ll speed things up,” I replied. Then I leaned in to Void’s side. “I’d also like to have some time with Lia. She’s been really quiet.”

  Void nodded in agreement and gestured to Tizek. “Come on, let’s hit the Registrar and check the Mage’s College. I’ll get some of Alvin’s roasted chestnuts for you on the way.”

  That was the magic word. Tizek immediately forgot he was my knight and decided to follow his lady around. The pair exited the pub, which made me happy because I had a different motive. Lia was still struggling with her recent kill and Lisa was out and about. I felt more comfortable when Tizek was there to back-up Void since I was the weakest of the bunch. There were three lives to keep safe now.

  “Doun? Mira? I’m going to head down to Willem’s place. Mind telling me how to get there?” I asked.

  “Head right outside then go down to Swordhollow and go right. Hit Wall Street and turn left. You’ll find his place five houses down on the right,” Doun explained.

  One of the things I liked about the middle and upper class districts of Leoren was the concentric design of the city, making it very easy to navigate. The slums and laborer’s quarters? Those places were a messy maze of buildings.

  This Wall Street, much like the famous one, was where the walls to Leoren used to be. They even still had the old city gates standing in different directions, though they were now halfway between the palace at the center of the city and the outskirts. The city had grown too fast to justify rebuilding them every couple of years.

  And, no, there are no trade houses on Wall Street. Those are found, ironically, on Charity Way.

  I was about to ask Lia to accompany me to Willem’s place when the door opened again. I thought Void or Tizek forgot something but when I turned, I saw a young otter-clan woman in a Royal courier’s uniform holding a tied leather sack.

  Her eyes landed on me and she gave me a crisp bow. “Apologies for the intrusion, Baron, but I have a message from Crown Prince Johann.”

  I sighed. Johann did say he was going to contact me about feeding him information. I didn’t think it would be this fast considering his position in society. He must think of me as very important, which scared me a little because of my ability and the fact he had a spy in the cistern watching me.

  I put my hand out and the courier delivered a letter and dropped the sack into my other hand. I heard it clink with coins, which confused me. I knew I fined the two Royal Guards 4 silver each, but it wouldn’t have been delivered this fast. They barely had enough time to get back to the palace.

  After I took the letter and sack, the courier stared at me.

  “What?” I asked.

  She coughed and held out a hand.

  Before I could say anything, Mira marched over and flicked her bar towel at the woman. “Shoo! We know you were already paid! Don’t try and scam our new Baron!”

  Mira managed to put the fear in the woman and, after bowing and mumbling an apology, she rushed off.

  I chuckled at Mira. I could always count on her to pinch her copper Sovereigns.

  “What’s it say?” Doun asked after we were back safely in private. I made sure to lock the door before reading the letter.

  I opened the envelope after breaking the Royal Seal. It glowed with a faint red light and it went out when the envelope was unsealed. It was far more elegant than wax.

  The words on the page were written in High Vialinan. Whoever the calligrapher the Prince dictated this letter to had unbelievably beautiful handwriting. The flourishes almost elevated it into its own form of text beyond High Vialinan.

  Now that I knew Doun and Mira knew the truth about me, I had no qualms about reading the complex text out loud.

  Baron Oliver Stewart:

  I am pleased to formally welcome you as the newest Noble Household of the Grand Kingdom of Vialina. As the first new Noble House in 337 years, I expect great things from you. Based on your reputation, I know asking you to not embarrass yourself is an impossible task. Instead, I ask you continue being yourself. The shield of Nobility will ensure you are protected from any faux pas you may perform.

  I do, however, ask of you to be yourself. I would love to see the stuffy nobles upended by someone as genuine and interesting as yourself. Even after gaining your rank, you’ve done amusing things like kiss your fiancé while rolling on the ground in public and running through the streets with your bare hind end exposed. I look forward to your future eccentricities.

  Included with this letter is your first monthly stipend. As a Baron, you will be granted funds to hire your necessary staff to operate your household. With four platinum a month, you should be able to afford a sufficient House Guard contingent, House Accountant, House Seneschal, House Advocate and simple servant staff for your personal residence.

  Knowing you, you will balk at expending these funds on such things. You may save the resources and purchase a residence, but I suggest you choose wisely. I suspect you are going to purchase your current accommodation to leverage the tax benefit for your future in-laws. While I wouldn’t have advised this – the revenue source is hardly sufficient to improve your standing among the Nobility – I know this is something you care little for.

  The other expenses, however, are necessary. You find yourself in a dangerous position, I’m afraid. Hiring your Guard, Accountant, Seneschal and Advocate are the bare minimum to protect you against threats physical, financial and legal.

  I wish to meet this evening at Emily’s Grand Fare for a meal and a conversation. Please feel free to invite your future Baroninne, Guard Captain and young female companion.

  I know you’ll do well in your role as our newest Baron and expect big things from you.

  Crown Prince Johann

  P.S. – If you’ve read this far, you’ve confirmed my suspicions that you are not as you seem. This letter was intentionally written in High Vialinan, so I know none of your circle are capable of reading it. All of your summoned peers lack literacy in our world and the most advanced learner, Aurelie, is only able to read Low Vialinan at the level of a toddler. To be able to fluently read this letter proves you are something different.

  Don’t feign ignorance. There is an enchantment on this parchment which analyzes your eye motions and knows you have read the text to full comprehension.

  See you this evening.

  “Well, damn,” I muttered. “This is not good.”

  “The Crown Prince has a reputation for being crafty, not like the Royal Bastard, Grand Creator save him,” Mira frowned. “It’s not a surprise he noticed your behavior.”

  “No,” I replied, “Not that. Something worse.”

  “What’s worse than the Prince knowing?” Lia asked from behind her butterfly mask. She was adjusting it to ensure it was covering her peach fuzz face.

  I groaned. “The clothing I ordered for this very situation isn’t ready yet. I’ll have to go in my purple suit.”

  Both Mira and Doun rolled their eyes while Lia choked back a laugh.

  “You’re feeling better after your incident,” Doun stated.

  “A little. The cake and talk helped. I figure you two would be far more scarred after what you witnessed,” I replied.

  “You weren’t too bad to look at,” Mira said with an evil grin on her face.

  “Not going to work,” Doun replied. He pinched her hind end for good measure. Mira yelped happily at the playful interaction.

  “Alright, Lia? Want to head out to Willem’s place? It should be good for you to get some exercise and fresh air,” I said.

  Lia nodded. “I like that idea. And I want to talk some more.”

  “Great. Mira? Doun? It’s been fun, but I have to—” I started when a terrible thought came to mind.

  It was about Zelda, the agent Lisa sent to set this whole thing off. The arrangement felt overly coincidental. Convenient even. Zelda just happened to show up looking for a job the same day Doun got a message saying Juliette quit. She even happened to be hanging around when Doun put the help wanted sign out.

  I felt my adrenaline surge back and fear hit my stomach. “Doun! Do you know where Juliette lives?”

  “Why? She quit,” Doun replied.

  “Because I think Gully Jack did something to her. I need to make sure she’s alright,” I rapidly spat out as my fear grew.

  “I’ll go with you,” Doun said as his demeanor changed.

  “No,” I replied. “Stay here. Someone needs to inform Void and I don’t want to leave this place unguarded right now or have anyone go out alone.”

  Doun and Mira’s expressions became serious. Mira ran to the stairs. “I’ll get our old armor and weapons out.”

  “Juliette’s in the laborer’s quarters on Falvel Road between Granite and Smithson,” Doun barked as he moved toward the bar.

  I turned to Lia. “Sorry about this. We may run into a fight if you go. Do you want to come with me or stay here? Doun or Mira can come back me up.”

  Lia looked at the floor and dug a foot into the wood. “No, I have to go with you. I need to help. Let me get my sword and armor.”

  This was bad. My anger was beginning to flare again and I had to put a lid on it. All this would do was galvanize my focus on Lisa to get her out of the picture before tackling the bigger threat. Hopefully Willem, who was coordinating the Anti-Slavery League, would have an idea on what to do.

  Lia finally came downstairs dressed to fight followed closely by Mira. Mira was wearing a thick wooden breastplate and had a barbed whip in her hand. The towel thing made a whole lot more sense now. As we left the pub, I took a glance at the alleyway to see if Hespeth and the others were there.

  The four were absent. It made sense. The Royal Guards were here recently and they weren’t going to be around. I had a few words for them the next time we crossed paths.

  For now, Lia and I jogged in the direction of Juliette’s place. We had to make sure Lisa didn’t do anything to her.