Viktor led Nadia to their room and sat at the desk while Nadia stared at him. “Well? You promised you’d tell me your plan. What are we doing?”

Viktor smirked and tapped his lap. “Come here. I don’t feel comfortable with you so far away.”

Nadia raised an eyebrow but quickly sat on his lap, wrapping her arms around his neck as she leaned her head against his shoulder. “Is this better?”

Viktor hugged her and nodded. “Much. I’ve given this a lot of thought, but it’s not set in stone. If you have any ideas, you must share them at once.”

“I need to hear what you have first. But I like the way you’re acting. Is the loop giving you any trouble?”

“I’m getting better at ignoring it,” Viktor confessed and kissed the top of Nadia’s head. “But I think this is the best way to move forward. Father Lena isn’t stupid. If he isn’t already suspicious, he soon will be.”

“Mhm, I can see that happening. But you said we can’t kill Father Lena. Did something happen to change your mind?”

“We’re not going to kill Father Lena. We can’t. I doubt the army combined with the other Cleric leaders would be enough…” Viktor looked out the window and muttered. “So, that leaves us one option to ensure your survival.”

“Which is?” Nadia tried to look at Viktor’s face, but he kept staring at the window.

“We’re going to wait and see how long it takes for Zum to demand another tribute, then we’ll give him and… leave everything else behind.”

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“What does that mean, Viktor? You love your work as a Death Cleric. I can’t imagine you turning to necromancy.”

Viktor chuckled. “You know me well. I’m not going to become a necromancer. I hate them too much to ever consider such a thing. But we can’t stay here, either. If Father Lena hasn’t figured out it was us that night, then he will once we strike again. So, we need to have a place to go once we’re done.”

“Do you have somewhere in mind?”

Viktor nodded, kissing Nadia’s forehead, and whispered. “We’re going to find some of Zum’s followers and use them for information. I doubt we’ll get much, but it’s bound to be easier than relying on Forgemaster Ivan and Father Lena.”

Nadia hummed, snuggling closer as she grinned. “That… sounds like a wonderful idea. But how are we going to find some of Zum’s followers? I’ve never met any, and I doubt they’ll take us at our word and reveal everything. And they definitely won’t tell us how to stop him.”

“We won’t need them to tell us that. We’ll wait and see how long this cycle takes, then crush Zum with Death’s help once he arrives!” Viktor caressed Nadia’s cheek and smiled. “And then we’ll go wherever we want and live the rest of our lives in peace. We’ll never be able to return here, but I promise you’ll never be alone. Will you still stay with me, Nadia?”

Nadia chuckled. “You ask the silliest things sometimes, Viktor. I shouldn’t need to keep reminding you of my love.” She kissed him softly, cupping both sides of his face so he couldn’t look away and smirked. “You’re finally ready now. Once we do this. No one will be able to stop you. Not the other clerics, the loop, or Zum himself. I can’t wait to see what you’ll do next, my love. How much farther are we going to go?!”

“I have no idea.” Viktor kissed her back, feeling something pulse in time with his heart. It didn’t feel like the loop trying to warp him. It was new. Viktor kissed Nadia, picking her up and carrying her to the bed as the pulse gradually filled his ears. He didn’t think about the irony of his situation.

Nadia’s safety meant everything, and nothing would change that.