Like clockwork, Ceres was waiting at the Guild Hall by the time I arrived the next morning. After a few short words between us, I escorted her to the tavern where the rest of the girls were waiting.

Keke, Cannoli, Ravyn, and I sat in a booth in the far corner.

Ceres retrieved four pouches from her [Cat Pack] and set them on the table. “Before we begin, I received these from the Guild Hall for the four of you. I understand there can be no value on your saving Sorentina. However, please accept our gratitude.” She handed each of us a pouch.

“Bells!” Cannoli cried with glee. “Thank you, Ceres!”

Ceres shook her head. “Please, no need to thank me. It is a meager one thousand [Bells] per person, but it is what we could muster in our time of rebuilding.”

It was more than we’d made in Shulan for the tiger attack. “This is great! Seriously, thanks.”

Ravyn put the Bells away and sighed. She stroked Ball’s throat with one finger, avoiding Ceres’ gaze. “You can join us.”

Ceres’ face lit up, and she gasped in surprise. She cupped my hands in hers, looking frantically from me to Ravyn. “Oh! My deepest thanks to you both. I will work tirelessly to appease you, My Lord.”

I laughed nervously, trying to slip my fingers out of her tight grasp.

God damn, she’s strong.

Cannoli squeaked her excitement, and Buttons spun around on the table in a mirror of her happiness. Keke swirled a finger in her tea, watching the exchange with halfhearted interest.

I hope she’s alright with this.

“However,” Ravyn held a finger up and narrowed her eyes, “She can’t come with us to Venicia.”

At first, I was going to speak up on Ceres’ behalf. But, when I really thought about it, it made sense. “Ravyn’s right. Arriving back in Venicia with you in tow could complicate things and bring up a lot of questions we don’t want to be asked. Just the thought of going back to Venicia gives me enough anxiety.”

“I understand,” Ceres said. “It seems fate has destined it so, as I have matters in which I must attend to before I depart. Where must I wait to be reunited with My Lord?”

“Just Matt, please.”

Keke bit at the end of her fingernail. Cannoli bowed her head forward in thought, and Ravyn tapped one finger against the table.

“Hmm. That’s a good point. Are there any other ports on Shi Island?” Keke asked.

Ceres released my hands and turned to Keke. “There is. Shi Island has two opposing ports. There is one in Venicia and another in Anyona.”

“Then why don’t we meet up there? In Anyona?” Keke suggested.

“I would advise against that.”

“Why is that?” I asked, flexing my fingers to get the blood flowing back into them.

Ceres shook her head. “As far as we have gathered, the Defiled threat originated from Anyona. Thusly, it is the most infested. Our scouts have determined that not one soul has departed from that port in months.”

“If it’s not one thing, it’s another,” Ravyn mumbled.

There had to be something there still standing. “Do you know if the dock is still intact?”

“I admit, we do not know. It is unlikely, though, My Lord.” Ceres clasped one hand over another into a fist and placed them on the table. “My deepest apologies. I seem to have complicated your stay here.”

“No more than any other bitch on this island has so far,” grumbled Ravyn. With a sigh, she rested her chin on her palm and drummed her fingers across her cheek. “If we could just find out if the dock is still there, then there might just be a chance. All of us swimming out to Portia’s boat is not ideal.”

Cannoli twiddled her thumbs while Buttons played and launched peanut after peanut at her with his tail. Cannoli’s responses were slow and apathetic. Keke directed her gaze to some imperfection in the floor, and Ceres directed her attention to each girl as if looking for a lead to follow.

The five of us sat this way for some time. The silence was broken at last by a waitress approaching our table.

“So, who died?” she said in jest.

I admit, her sudden appearance startled me, and my knee jerked on reaction. A unified sigh escaped our throats, and the waitress frowned.

“Did I speak out of turn?”

I waved my hand. “No, just a rough day, sorry. I’ll just take a water.”

“I’ll have some tea,” said Cannoli.

“Hard pass,” said Ravyn.

“No, thank you,” said Ceres.

“More tea here, please,” said Keke.

The waitress shrugged and walked away, the blanket of silence surrounding us once more. Ceres tapped a single finger against the table, and then, finally, someone spoke.

“Here’s what I think,” Ravyn began. Ball jumped onto the table from Ravyn’s shoulder. “If we’re still insistent on having Ceres join our group, then she can’t come with us into Venicia. Are we all agreed on that?”

We nodded in unison.

“Great. Ceres stays here, the rest of us go back to Badyron and pick up another [Dispel] scroll from Esmerelda, then make our way back to Venicia. If we’re asked why we left, we tell them we wanted to explore the island. Does everyone get that?”

We all nodded once more.

Ravyn continued. “We infiltrate the school during the dead of night. We rescue our man. Once we’re out, then we use the [Dispel] scrolls. Do we all remember why?”

Cannoli’s hand shot into the air. “To avoid suspicion!”

A rare smile crossed Ravyn’s lips. “You remember. Very good. We wanna play the role of idiots, so we’re going to use the Enchantments to our advantage. Ball here,” she said as she scratched at his neck, “got us a layout of the building. We will lead the charge since Matt and I have seen where this guy’s imprisoned, and we are not Enchanted. Depending on how it looks, we may need a distraction.” Ravyn looked at Keke. “Can you handle it?”

Keke smirked. “You bet I can.”

“What if he fights back?” I asked. “I doubt they’d leave him alone in the room, so we might have more people to deal with.”

Ravyn put a finger to her lips and looked up at the ceiling.

“It’s still four against two, though,” said Cannoli.

“Three, if I need to cause a distraction,” Keke corrected.

“You might need to stay behind in the guest house, Cannoli. We still don’t know his Level, either,” Ravyn pondered aloud. “For all we know, he’s been maxed out for some time. He could easily turn the tables if we don’t get the jump on him.”

“What if we drugged him?” It was meant to be a thought, but somehow it gained a voice. I froze, scared of the judgmental stares I might receive.

“That might be a good idea.” Ravyn shrugged.

“What? That’s horrible!” Cannoli said, standing up in protest. At that moment, our waitress returned wearing a scowl.

“Here’s your water and tea.” The waitress put down each glass at the center of the table, looking at all of us in turn. She raised a particularly large eyebrow when her stare met mine, then walked away, glancing behind her shoulder a couple of times on her exit.

When she was out of earshot, I continued. “I’m just saying. Ravyn’s right. We have no idea what level he might be. He could kill us for all we know. If we’re going in there, then we need to be prepared to take him down if push comes to shove.”

Keke folded her arms in thought. “How long has he been here?”

Ceres shook her head. “I cannot say. However, if the rumors are to be believed, then at least three years.”

Three years of Experience, Levels, and who knows how many catgirls he’s banged.

This plan was starting to sound more akin to a suicide run than a rescue mission. “I’m going with the drug idea, like it or hate it.”

Cannoli frowned somewhere between sad and angry. She sat back down, puffing out her cheeks and crossing her arms. “I don’t like it.”

Ravyn reached across the table for one of Cannoli’s hands.

Well, that’s new.

Cannoli dipped her hand into Ravyn’s with a bit of apprehension.

Ravyn smiled. “I know. I’m sorry, Cannoli. But it has to be done. You don’t want anything bad to happen to us, right?”

“No,” Cannoli whispered.

“We have to get him out of there, one way or another. This can’t go on,” Ravyn reasoned, “it’s not right.”

“I understand.”

Ravyn and Cannoli let go of each other’s hands, Ravyn pulling back to sit upright. Ravyn’s cheeks were furiously red, and I’m proud to say that I knew better than to poke fun at her.

“So.” Ravyn cleared her throat. “I’m sure Esmerelda has something like that in her wares. So we drug the dumbass, throw him over Matt’s shoulder, and vacate. Get it?”

“If I may.” Ceres raised a hand to speak.

“Of course.” We’re all going to have to get used to this.

“Drugging would require the consumption of a tonic or tainted food or drink, would it not?” Ceres clasped her hands together. “How will you achieve this?”

Ravyn and I exchanged looks, and I chewed my tongue in thought. Who wouldn’t accept a drugged cake from strangers, am I right?

“You could coat an arrow with it,” Keke suggested.

“You want to drug him and shoot him?” Cannoli squealed.

The waitress looked over to our table, the color draining from her face. Ceres laid a hand on Cannoli’s shoulder, and Cannoli clapped her hands over her mouth.

“Cannoli,” Keke hissed.

“Sorry!” Came Cannoli’s muffled apology.

“Ara ara! Maybe Esmerelda has something else we can use in her shop. Let’s not discount it quite yet, but we can continue to plan on our ride back. We still have time,” Ravyn hissed.

“What’s our escape plan?” asked Keke. “I get the feeling that getting in will be the easy part. It’s the escape I’m worried about. I don’t want Matt to carry all the burden.”

“He won’t,” Ravyn said defensively. “I want to put Matt and the other man in as little danger as possible.”

“Then how?” Keke said once more.

After our first venture around the mansion, it’d be reasonable to assume that just about every maid within a mile of the school would be on high alert for some time—especially with our absence. Even if Keke or Cannoli could distract the maids, it was only a matter of time until they realized it was a ruse. By then, their first mode of operation would likely be to see if their man was safe. Then everything afterward would be a mess.

Ball Gag and Buttons walked circles around the table, glaring and competing with one another. Occasionally, Buttons would scoop up a peanut and chuck it in Ball’s direction. Our feathered friend had some incredible agility, blocking each of the shells with his wing with minimal effort.

Buttons turned red with frustration, with little puffs of black smoke rising from his mouth. I couldn’t help but smile at our animal mascots. And then it hit me.

[Displace]! What if they swapped with Ball and Buttons?

“I have an idea!” I said, standing up and slamming my palms against the table.

Buttons hissed and ran the length of Cannoli’s arm before nestling around her neck. Ball flapped his wings, squawking and retreating to the edge of the table.

“What in the hell, what in the hell, squawwwwk!”

“What bright idea occurred to you so suddenly?” Ravyn said, not bothering to hide her irritation.

“What if you used [Displace]?” I replied.

Ravyn sighed. “And then what? Bally flies around back so I can [Displace] him again? Then some maid puts an arrow through his skull?”

I shook my head. “No, no, no. Well, yes, Ball too. Ack, I mean, here. What about Buttons?” I said, pointing to the little blazard who had yet to be accounted for.

Ravyn frowned. “I can tell Bally what to do with ease. Buttons seems to do whatever he likes.”

“Not true!” Cannoli exclaimed. “I’ve taught him lots of tricks! I could teach him to help us here, too!” Cannoli raised her arms and balled them into fists as she shook them.

I love how enthusiastic you are to prove his worth.

“This isn’t going to work.” Ravyn shuffled one leg over another.

I put my fingers to my lips, the simple peck she’d delivered the previous night resurfacing to my thoughts. Ravyn seemed to have caught my glance and, as her stare locked with mine, a knowing smile crossed her features. “Sorry to burst your bubble, boy, but I need line of sight. That room doesn’t have a single goddamned window in it.”

Well, I tried.

I seated myself and looked up at the ceiling in defeat. “Well, I’m open to other ideas.” The sensation of a heel rubbed against my shin, and from across the table Keke was smiling at me. Our encounter in Venicia called goosebumps to my arms, and I shivered.

“This is a fucking nightmare,” Ravyn said, breaking me away from my daydream. “Our skill sets are too narrow to make much of a plan here. I say we go to Esmerelda’s, then work out a plan from there depending on what we can buy. She may have some scrolls that could help us.”

“I regret that I cannot be of much help.” Ceres put a gloved hand over her chest. “Pray forgive me for my limited usefulness.”

“You’re just barely coming into this. No apology necessary.” I waved a dismissive hand. “For the time being, why don’t we meet back in Sorentina once we have him. We’ll call on you through the Guild Hall.”

“Be prepared to leave at a moment’s notice,” Keke added.

“Of course.” Ceres shuffled over to one end of the booth and stood up, bowing at the waist. “I will attend Sorentina's restorations and the last of my necessary errands for the time being. I await your return with fervor, My Lord.”

There’s no getting that out of your vocabulary, is there?

Ceres left, and the rest of us tended to our drinks with little to talk about.

God, I hope Esmerelda’s shop can help us out.