With his friends at his side, Edge stepped through the gate leading to Trapper’s lodge.

  After spending so much time stuck in the Savage Garden, delving the Deep Gill-Grottos, and combating the Crimson Claws, part of him had been convinced he would never see this place again.

  But at long last, they were back, and it felt so fucking good to be home.

  The crew was wounded and weary, but they were alive and stronger than ever. The future was certain to be filled with challenges of every shape and size, but Edge refused to worry about it now. This was a night for celebration and homecoming—for enjoying the company of his closest friends and savoring the fact that Puppet Town was still standing.

  Before they did anything else, they needed to clean up and tend to their wounds beyond the combat first aid they’d received in the field.

  Trapper flipped on the magelights, and Blue walked over to her pen, munching on grass that had grown long in her absence. Everyone walked through the front door and threw their gear in a haphazard pile. One by one, they disappeared to wash up and change clothes, then came back looking remarkably refreshed.

  Edge spent a few minutes playing with Rue while waiting for his turn to take a shower. The golden fox was still sleepy, which he thought might be a consequence of his reservoir running dry, but the pup wanted to make sure everyone was all right. Rue was young, but he’d understood that his friends were heading into danger and was delighted to learn everything had turned out all right in the end.

  After letting the fox explore his bedroom, he put Rue into his pocket dimension and walked into the bathroom. He turned the faucet as hot as it would go, since the water couldn’t burn him thanks to Regulate Temperature, then scrubbed himself until the water ran clean. He watched bands of blood, mud, and ash mingle as they flowed down the drain, carrying the stress he’d been holding ever since setting foot inside the Savage Garden with it.

  While a lot of good people had died, his friends—no, his new family—was still alive. And for that, Edge was eternally grateful.

  He dried himself off with Repel Water, then changed into some clothes he’d bought from Ann before leaving for the dungeon. By now, he had been wearing his armor so long it felt strange not to have the protective layer of leather encasing his skin. He grinned while staring at his reflection in the mirror. He needed to get a haircut and shave the stubble covering his face, but he already felt renewed.

  Edge walked into the common area, where Trapper was blowing all the accumulated dust and dirt out of the lodge with Manipulate Air. He sat down at the table beside Riller and Jumo—vaguely guilty that his friends were injured and he felt great.

  Everyone else was covered in cuts, bruises, and blisters. Jumo’s arm was in a sling, and half of Trapper’s hair had been burned off by Blaze’s attacks. Violet was helping everyone mend with Traveler’s Boon, but it would be a while before they had fully recovered. Someone had brewed a pot of coffee, and he poured himself a cup to reduce his fatigue.

  I’ll pick up some medicine at the alchemists’ store, and the next time I get an opportunity to slot a healing skill, I’ll take it.

  For a while, no one said a word, soaking in the ambiance of the moment. Then Trapper walked into the kitchen with Violet at her side. While the women began preparing the crew’s first home-cooked meal in far too long, Edge, Sasha, and Riller set the table, then he walked to the sink and filled up a big pitcher of water.

  Not long after, the smell of something wonderful broke over his palate in a savory wave. Edge’s stomach growled when he learned the women had whipped up a heaping bowl of pasta and red sauce filled with vegetables and grilled meat.

  By the time he finished his first bowl, his left arm had fully regrown. Even though he’d been flaring Regeneration ever since losing the limb, he was surprised by how quickly it had been restored—a testament to the incredible growth he’d undergone since leaving for the dungeon.

  Everyone ate until they were ready to burst, drinking in the joy of each other’s company and this precious hour of peace. They moved on to drinking of another sort when Trapper rolled out a barrel of her special reserve—beer she had brewed herself and was saving for a rainy day.

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  Edge sipped it slowly, enjoying every delicious drop as everyone began chatting. They didn’t talk about the ordeal they’d survived or the troubles the future might bring. For the rest of the night, they simply lived in the moment—for no one is promised tomorrow.

  If tonight was fated to be his last, he was determined to make the most of it, cherishing the little things that made life worth living with every fiber of his being.

  He went to bed with a full belly and a full heart, able to sleep in peace without Conceal running for the first time in weeks. Tears ran down his cheeks as he realized that for the first time in his life, he was exactly where he wanted to be.

  Later that night, the door to his bedroom creaked open. Edge didn’t say anything when Sasha slipped beneath the covers and snuggled against his chest. They stayed that way for hours before one thing led to another and their lips touched… followed by a great deal more.

  After all the pain and fear he’d experienced, this tender moment of intimacy disarmed him completely. They made love slowly, devouring each other kiss by kiss until all that existed was the woman in his arms and the bed rocking beneath them.

  She usually left when they were done, but tonight, Sasha stayed with him—face nuzzled against his neck until they woke up well past dawn. When she got out of bed, they smiled while taking a lingering look at each other’s bodies. Her strawberry blond hair and ample curves backlit by the sunlight shining through the window was an image he would treasure for the rest of his life.

  They shared a final kiss then got dressed and joined the rest of the crew. These hours of calm had been a balm to his soul, and he was glad to be home again. But if he wanted Puppet Town to remain standing and the people he loved to live another day, Edge had no choice other than to pick up his weapons and continue his training before the next storm broke over their heads.

  Riller and Jumo were cooking breakfast—a skillet-fried vegetable medley wrapped with a thin layer of egg. It was one of the dishes Jumo used to eat back home and far spicier than anything that Violet made. Edge was handed a heaping portion that he gratefully devoured, eager to sample cuisine from another world.

  I doubt anyone would appreciate being subjected to my cooking, but I should pick up a tasty treat to share when I head into town. Maybe I can get some pointers from Violet and learn the basics sometime soon.

  After he caught Jumo grinning for the third time in ten minutes, he discovered the man had a date with Tessa that evening. When Edge inquired about the details, he learned the spark he had sensed between them in the Savage Garden had blossomed into something deeper during their weeks underground.

  Trapper had dinner plans with Dialla—although they were both so busy he wasn’t sure it qualified as a date. Either way, she was eager for a chance to spend some time together after being apart for so long.

  Riller was going drinking with the deputies at the Pioneer, planning to use his status as a war hero to find some company of his own. Violet was taking the morning off to refill her reservoir, then spending the rest of the day in Doc’s clinic, helping the settlement’s wounded recover with Traveler’s Boon.

  Edge wasn’t sure how he wanted to spend his first day back in town, although he planned to stop by the clinic and see how Mel was doing. I should put in a good word for One-Eye with Dialla and uphold my end of our bargain. He decided to do some shopping in the afternoon, but before he got to anything else, there was something he wanted to take care of first.

  Now that they were home, it was time for Rue and Blue to meet.

  He had held off introducing the beasts during the trip back to town, since Rue was asleep most of the time anyway. He’d had some concerns about letting them interact in such a chaotic environment, since the fox was so small and the dino was huge. One wrong step, and Blue would squish Rue flat. But here in the yard, it shouldn’t be too dangerous.

  It turned out his worries were completely unfounded.

  Blue’s eyes went wide when Edge pulled the golden fox out—so excited that she couldn’t stop bleating. Rue was curious too and started wriggling out of his arms with a boneless grace.

  When he set the fox down on a tree stump, the triceratops came right over, moving incredibly slowly. Ever so gently, she stuck her nose forward, and Rue reached out to touch her face, letting out an enthusiastic, “Rue! Ruerue!”

  Edge had never seen Blue be so cautious—each movement slow and deliberate. They seemed destined to be buddies, and both beasts were fascinated with each other. They ran off to play, with Blue making sure she knew exactly where Rue was before taking another step.

  “It’s good for her to make friends with another beast,” Violet said with a smile on her face.

  “Blue took Lucky’s death hard, and we haven’t had time to train a new beast with all the craziness of the last few months. She’ll die before she hurts him. I think she’s looking forward to being a mother when the time comes and this is good practice for her. It’s healthy for Rue to interact with other trained beasts. They can teach him how to behave in town and how to survive in the wild.”

  They watched the pair frolic through the yard until it was time for lunch. Rue was filthy and covered in grass, so after the fox finished eating, Edge carefully cleaned his fur using a brush Violet gave him. After that, the little bugger was ready for a nap, so he popped the pup into his pocket dimension, which he decided to call Rue’s den going forward, then bid Violet farewell. He grinned as he stepped through the gate and onto the street—eager to get on with his day.