Chapter 36

The month-long recuperation period in Aethel finally wound down, the familiar rhythm of the loop pulling Julian back toward the inevitable. He spent the final hours of that restart with Chloe Hayes, wandering through the Sunstone Festival. The air was thick with the scent of roasted meats and the bright, artificial cheer of a celebration Julian had seen a dozen times before. When the world blurred and reset, Julian opened his eyes to the familiar ceiling of his bedroom. The light was just...