"If there is, we haven't found it yet. And not for a lack of powerful people." Vax has met a few he thinks could lift curses in their own worlds, but nothing has proven effective here, if they've tried at all. "And not for a lack of trying."

Even his own stupid misadventure had been, in the end, an experiment to see if something happening to the Duchess could free them. It just hadn't worked out. Probably because the only plan he had was wing it.

Gods, there is so much he should probably tell her before she finds out from someone else. He just doesn't want to do it right now.

"I missed you."

He's already said it, but it's worth repeating.