Page 100 of Daemon Master

Adrian was so surprised by the sudden turn in conversation that it took him a moment to find his voice. “Y-yes.” He cleared his throat. “Until recently, in fact. The true bond gave me the strength I needed to overcome my flawed aether channels.”

Jasper nodded, his expression sympathetic. “It is the unfortunate plight of too many—more than you might think—to be born weak or different. To lack the power to stand on their own.” Adrian stiffened, and Jasper made a conciliatory gesture. “Forgive me. I meant no offense. Being weak is no reason for shame. I myself have long struggled to master my aether.”

“Really?” Adrian asked doubtfully. “As one of the leading scholars from the Seeker Division, I find that hard to believe.”

Though he hadn’t meant it as a compliment, Jasper seemed to take it that way, beaming at him. “Serenity Corp selected me for my drive and intellect, not my aetheric strength. Assess mewith your aethersense if you like—I’ll drop my shroud to make it easy.”

Wary of a trap, Adrian did as the seeker suggested and saw at once he was telling the truth. His aether was below Adrian’s or even Freya’s. Was he purposefully weakening his aura as Adrian had against Kali? Maybe…yet Adrian didn’t think so.

After a pause, Jasper continued, his voice soft but passionate. “It was my own difficulties with channeling, in fact, that inspired my experiments. I want to create a world where anyone can harness the power of a daemon, regardless of personal strength. A world of equals.”

“Unless you’re a daemon,” Adrian said.

Jasper nodded solemnly. “Indeed. Unless you’re a daemon.” He gave Adrian a curious look. “I’ve been meaning to ask where your concern for daemonkind comes from. Did they not slaughter your parents? You have more reason to loathe them than many in the League.”

Adrian could feel old wounds reopening within him. “Some daemons did, sure. But it wouldn’t be fair to hold them all accountable for the actions of a few. Besides, knowing what I know now, it’s easy to imagine why they fight us. I can’t blame them for defending themselves.”

Jasper snorted. “Do you honestly believe that drivel? Ofcourseyou can blame them. We all have reasons for doing what we do. That doesn’t excuse our actions, nor their consequences. Your parents deserved better.”

Hot rage set Adrian’s skin ablaze. “What doyouknow about my parents?”

“Quite a lot, actually. I pulled their records once I discovered your identity. I was curious to learn about the heroes that birthed a traitor.” Jasper hadn’t said the words with so much as a hint of malice. Even so, Adrian winced at the familiar flush ofshame. Jasper either didn’t notice or didn’t care. “I can tell you more about them, if you’d like.”

The question hung between them. Adrian let out a shaky breath when he realized he’d been holding it in.Didhe want that? All he’d ever received was the Watcher Division’s official report, along with his parents’ commendations. It did an adequate job capturing the facts, but not thefeelingof it—what it was actually like to be there.

He nodded mutely, then cleared his throat and added, “Please.”

Jasper gave him a pitying look that immediately set him on edge. Had he played into the seeker’s hands? “I thought you might. You’ve heard the official report, of course. But the reality is somewhat different. Your parents were part of a scouting expedition beyond the Bulwark to monitor movement along the border. The area was supposed to be clear, only a few hours’ travel from the wall. But they stumbled on a pack of shrouded daemons lying in wait.”

The seeker’s words, delivered in a no-nonsense clip, riveted him. He couldn’t blink or look away, afraid to so much as breathe in case he missed something.

“They tried to withdraw,” Jasper continued. “But in the chaos, the other watchers left your parents behind.”

“That’s not what happened!” Adrian sat up straighter on his cot. “My parents stayed behind so the rest of their squad could escape!”

“Not according to the watchers who served with them. Your parents simply got lost in the shuffle. Once the rest of the squad realized what had happened, they tried to go back. But by the time they returned with reinforcements to disperse the daemon hordes, it was too late.”

“No.” Adrian’s hands clenched at the coarse sheets spread over his cot. His pulse pounded hotly in his temples. “You’re wrong. My parents were heroes.”

“Your parents were casualties of war. Nothing more, nothing less.”

Adrian surged to his feet and loomed over Jasper. The seeker didn’t appear worried. He studied Adrian with a faint hint of regret, as if sorry to be the bearer of bad news. The muscle in his jaw ticking, Adrian fought the urge to order his daemons to attack. Their emotions through his bonds suggested they were more than willing. No matter how shortsighted it was, he might’ve done it anyway had an image of Leda’s charred corpse not flickered before his eyes.

He sucked in a breath and spun away, afraid if he looked at the seeker any longer, he wouldn’t be able to stop himself. “Serenity Corp claims otherwise,” he said, his voice tight.

“Of course, they do. The truth doesn’t make for a very flattering story, does it? So, Serenity Corp twisted the tale into a noble sacrifice when, in reality, there was nothingnobleabout it.”

“Shut up!”He whirled toward Jasper, his body trembling with emotion.

Jasper ignored the outburst, a hard glint in his eyes while sorrow twisted his features. “I’m sorry, Adrian, but your parents died alone and afraid, abandoned by their comrades. Accept this, and it’ll make everything else easier.”

Adrian sank onto his cot, the fury draining out of him as quickly as it had come. “Why are you telling me all this? What’s your game?”

Jasper’s face was solemn. “No games, Adrian. I’ve always found it best to be honest, so here’s the honest truth—it’s not enough. Despite Serenity Corp’s best efforts, more daemons slip past the Bulwark every year, and more watchers diepointless deaths in defense of the League, just like your parents. Your dream of peace between humankind and daemonkind is beautiful, but it’s just that—a dream. The only way this ends is with our extermination…or with theirs.”

Adrian remained silent, his head bowed, while Jasper took his chair and left. Curling up on his sleeping mat, he resolved to get what rest he could. For the longest time, however, sleep eluded him. His thoughts churned with memories of his parents. Of Freya and Seymour. Of Elana and the rest of the Enclave.

His vision blurred, and he soon found quiet tears streaming down his cheeks. Jasper was wrong. Adrian’s efforts, his parents’ sacrifice—it couldn’t all be meaningless. Itcouldn’t!He’d find another way to change the world—a better way. He had to.