I woke up and smelled mint.

  Not the sharp kind that burns your nose. This was warm and sweet. Something large lay beside me, and it was that thing’s breath that carried the scent. The breathing was steady, deep, and familiar.

  I almost let myself drift back to sleep, comforted by the knowledge that Tucker was beside me. Then everything that had happened came rushing back in a flood of memories.

  I groaned. “I must be dead. There's no way you brushed your teeth without me begging you.”

  A low, rumbling laugh shook the bed. I cracked an eye open.

  A massive wolf-bear’s head was resting next to mine. Tucker’s snout was inches from my face. His fur was sticking up in every direction like Tucker lost a fight with a wind spell. His eyes blinked open, bright and amused.

  “Alice asked me to take a bath and brush my teeth," he relayed cheerfully in my mind.

  I stared incredulously at him. “I have to beg you to brush and bathe. Threaten you. Bribe you. And all Alice had to do was ask?”

  His jaws parted in a wide, toothy grin. “Yep, or I could not be around the baby she said. and as Elizabeth's self-appointed favorite uncle, I cannot have that.”

  I tried to sit up. “Hey, I am her uncle too, and I’ll be damned if I am not going to be her favorite.” I groaned as my body immediately protested the maneuver.

  Tucker looked at me unapologetically. “I said what I said.

  I smiled at my companion. “Looks like I have a new rival then.”

  Tucker sent back an “uh-huh.”

  I examined my body closer as the pain hit. It felt exactly like the time I passed out by the lake with no sunscreen, woke up the color of a boiled lobster, because I drank too many Bluemoon’s.

  “How long was I out?” I asked.

  “Just the night,” Tucker replied quickly. “Kaye told me to get her when you woke up. I am going to get her, I'll see you after.”

  I gave him a head pat as he got up. “You’re a good boy.” He smiled his toothy grin and padded out of the room his tail flicking side to side happily.

  The room settled into quiet. I took some time to take in my surroundings. I was in a large chamber with smooth stone walls the color of warm sand. The place was nice enough, but it looked too stripped down to the essentials. No decorations. No banners. No clutter. Just space and silence.

  A single crystal lantern hung from the ceiling, its light soft and steady, filling the room without casting harsh shadows. Someone had recently polished the floor as well.

  The only piece of furniture beside my bed was a wide table set against the far wall. A pitcher and a stack of folded cloths rested neatly on top of it.

  The bed I was lying in was surprisingly comfortable. A thick mattress. Clean sheets. Heavy blankets that smelled faintly of cedar.

  I shifted slowly, easing myself upright and propping a pillow against the headboard. Then I waited.

  A few minutes later, the door opened.

  Kaye stepped in. Relief flashed across her face, seeing me upright; followed by something that looked a lot like guilt.

  She pulled up a chair beside the bed and took a seat. Her fingers smoothed her robes in a nervous little motion.

  “How are you feeling?” she asked.

  I gave her a pointed look.

  She grimaced. “Right. Dumb question. I was hoping that legendary passive of yours would make it easier on you. Honestly, it did compared to what it would have been without it. But I know that form had to hurt, grandson, so I apologize for my part in it.”

  She paused before continuing. “That weapon spirit is very old. I was betting he would know the technique and that you would be able to execute it.”

  I tilted my head in acknowledgment of her explanation, but I still had several questions I wanted answered. “What would have happened to me if Ave hadn’t known it, Mimi?”

  She didn’t shy away from the question. Instead, she met my eyes. “I don’t know,” she said calmly. “But I believed in you and that you would find a way to win.”

  I gave her an incredulous look. “Surely you had more to go on than just that, I know were family but you had just met me.”

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  She winked at me. “Oh, most definitely. But let an old lady keep her secrets for now. We have a lot to discuss, and there are a few things I would like to talk about first.”

  I simply nodded, and she continued. “I have healed you physically,” she said. “But the soul is a different matter."

  She reached into her pocket and pulled out a small glass vial. The liquid inside was dark purple and was moving on its own in slow swirls.

  “This is distilled soul essence; it’s a reward from one of the sixth-floor instances” she explained. “Take one drop at a time until it is empty. It will help with the pain and the recovery. Go ahead and take a drop now so you can hear what I am about to say with a clear head.”

  The moment a single drop hit my tongue, coolness spread through me. The ache in my chest loosened, and I breathed out in relief. “Thank you.”

  “You are welcome,” she said, with real warmth in her voice.

  I settled back against the pillows. “Alright. Lay it on me. What would you like to discuss?”

  Kaye folded her hands in her lap, eyes steady on mine. “I can remain here for a few days,” she said. “While I am present, there will be no issues. No one will act openly move against you.”

  “And after that?” I asked.

  “The protection my presence provides leaves with me.”

  I nodded slowly. “I understand.”

  “There is a council,” she continued. “The heads of every major faction are part of it. I have no doubt that once Robert recovers, he will call a meeting of the Faction heads. Even with a healer and specialized potions, his recovery should still take a few days. So we have some time. After he tells them what happened, I have no doubt chaos will follow and you need to be ready.”

  Her gaze sharpened. “It’s not all doom and gloom. Vex is on our side, and a few factions are neutral. But there are others you will need to watch closely.”

  She shifted in her chair slightly. “Specifically the Hollow Dominion. They control a good portion of Floor Three, and their leader is an old monster. In terms of power, he is the mirror of the Shattered Blades patriarch.”

  “Unlike Jenson, who allowed his son Robert to take over the Faction, Caster has kept an iron grip on his people.”

  She leaned forward as she continued. “When the Factions know you exist and are actively recruiting… when they hear you are building something… they will act. Some may attempt to assassinate you. Others may request that you speak before the council, but it will just be a ruse so they can assassinate you there instead. Do not ever go to them,” she said quietly.

  There was steel in her voice now. “No matter what they promise, no matter what pressure they apply. Do not go to them, grandson. Your grandfather trusted them once.” Her voice cooled. “I will not let my grandson make the same mistake.”

  She straightened slightly, the earlier edge in her voice smoothing into cool authority. “I know you understand the stakes.”

  She let the silence linger for a moment before speaking again. “I will not telegraph when I leave,” she continued. “The Factions will remain wary of my presence for some time after Robert’s report. I can create a long-lasting illusion of myself that will mimic my System data perfectly.”

  She made a vague gesture. “But if a high-level Elite examines it closely, the illusion will not withstand scrutiny.”

  Her gaze held mine. “I hope that it will buy you some much-needed time to recover. Vex has agreed to assist you. Elites. Staff. Provisions. I have also provided her with more than sufficient funds to see you established properly and will provde you with credits you will need as well. You will not be standing alone. Nor will you lack resources.”

  Something tight in my chest finally eased. But I had another question I needed answered.

  “And Carson?” I asked.

  “I have him asleep and contained.”

  My jaw tightened thinking of what to do with the man.

  She saw the look in my eyes. “You have options,” she said.

  “Such as?”

  “The simplest is that you kill him.” She spoke without hesitation. “It removes the threat permanently.”

  Her expression did not change as she continued, “You could attempt to keep him and use him as leverage. However, outside of yourself and a handful of Vex’s elites, no one here could overpower him. You would be forced to dedicate valuable strength to guard duty at all times. In my judgment, it would be unwise to house him in this castle.”

  She paused briefly, measuring me.

  “There is a third option. I could take him to another floor. I scanned him. He has cleared up to the Fourth-Floor instances. I can remove him from this board entirely if you choose to spare Liz’s father.”

  She stood up and smiled as she placed a comforting hand on my shoulder. “You have a few days to decide.”

  I nodded once. “I’ll ask Alice and get her opinion; she is the wronged party here.”

  Kaye studied me for a moment, then inclined her head. “Sounds like a plan.”

  Silence settled between us.

  Then her expression softened.“That is enough for today. What do you say we go down to breakfast? We can speak more later.”

  I exhaled. “That sounds good.”

  The castle halls were high-arched and of old stone. Servants moved quietly along the walls, giving Kaye and me respectful distance.

  Bootsteps tapped against polished floors as we descended a sweeping staircase carved from pale marble.

  The scent of roasted meat and fresh bread met us before we reached the door.

  Inside, the dining hall was cavernous. Long wooden tables stretched across the room, most of them empty at this early hour. A few figures sat scattered along the edges, elites from Vex’s group wearing the Turtle Cloud insignia.

  At one large central table, I found my people.

  Balt was already eating. Guarding his plate with full cheeks as he turned his head left to right, trying to keep a wary eye out.

  Next to him, Tucker leaned casually almost too casually, reaching with his tongue with surgical precision toward a strip of bacon on his plate.

  Balt slapped the tongue away without looking up.

  “Stop drooling on my food, eat your own or I’ll skin you and use your pelt for a nice golden rug.”

  Tucker looked undeterred and unbothered by the threat as he searched for an opening.

  Before I could say anything, I heard my name from a familiar voice.“Riven!”

  Alice crossed the room at a near run. Liz in her arms.

  They hit me at the same time.

  I caught them both, arms wrapping tight.

  Alice buried her face against my chest. Liz was smiling the cutest baby smile I had ever seen.

  “I never doubted you would come for us,” Alice said into my shirt.

  My throat tightened.

  “I’m sorry it wasn’t sooner.”

  She pulled back just enough to look at me. “Can you tell me about it?”

  I smiled and scooped Liz up, giving Alice a break. Liz looked at me like who is this dude, but was all smiles when I held her close.

  “Let’s eat,” I said. “And I’ll tell you all about it.”

  Balt grunted in approval.

  Tucker was already reaching for his food again.

  And for the first time since I came to this world, at least for now, I felt at peace.

  End