Page 34 of Daemon Master

“I thought I’d feel the bond’s lack more keenly…but I don’t.”

Adrian quested within his own aether and realized it was the same for him. While there was a definite hole where his connection to Trailseeker had been, he could hardly sense it. The loss paled even further compared to the depth of his remaining bond with Heartrender.

“It means we’re doing the right thing,” he said, projecting more confidence than he felt. “We’re restoring things to their natural order.”

Seymour grunted and raised a hand. Tremorfist manifested a moment later.

Adrian eyed the daemon. “You’re certain you don’t want to wait?”

Seymour shook his head. “If I’m doing this, I want todoit. No half measures, no excuses.”

Shame tore at Adrian as he remembered his own hesitation to free Trailseeker. Seymour was right—better to rip the bandage off than leave the wound to fester. Muffling his protests, he watched as Seymour freed his second daemon.

Tremorfist collapsed beside the others. Together, Adrian and Seymour retreated to the trees nearby and set up watch. They didn’t want a wild daemon to stumble upon their charges while they were helpless. A little over an hour passed before their daemons began to stir.

“How long do you think their bondsickness will last?” Seymour asked, studying the fallen daemons.

“The worst of it fades in a couple hours, but I’d wager it’ll be a day or two before they’re completely themselves. We shouldn’t linger in case they become aggressive when they wake.”

A frown tugged at Seymour’s lips. “Perhaps we should ensure they don’t wander off.”

“No.” Adrian gave a firm shake of his head. “That would defeat the entire point. The true bond requires free will. It has to be their choice to stay.”

Seymour crossed his arms and scowled. The gesture proved far less intimidating without his golden armor. Or maybe Adrian had simply grown to recognize his former friend beneath his gruff exterior. With the golden sunlight glimmering in his dark hair and accentuating the sculpted line of his jaw, Seymour appeared every bit the stern yet handsome warrior.

“Fine,” the watcher said, snapping Adrian out of his reverie. “We’ll give them two days to be sure the bondsickness has faded. Then, we’ll return and see what this day has cost us.”

With one last backward glance at Trailseeker, Adrian nodded and followed Seymour into the trees.Two days, he thought silently at his freed daemon.I’ll come back for you in two days.

The next forty-eight hours passed in a painful crawl. All Adrian could think about while he trained was Trailseeker lying alone in the woods. When at last it was time for Seymour and him to return, he vibrated with anxious energy. Trailseeker’s bondsickness should’ve faded by now, but how would his daemon react to its freedom? Would it welcome Adrian’s return…or rue it?

At least, he wouldn’t need to wait long for an answer. Seymour called a halt as they neared the clearing. They both quested out with their aethersense.

Adrian spoke first, his stomach sinking. “I only sense one daemon.”

“Tremorfist,” Seymour said. “I recognize the aura.” He hesitated, glancing at Adrian. “No sign of Trailseeker or Willowrush.”

Adrian nodded mutely, staring at the ground as he kicked at a pile of leaves. He’d known the risks of releasing his daemon. Yet, he’d still hoped Trailseeker wouldn’t abandon him.

“They could be shrouded,” Seymour suggested half-heartedly.

“Yeah. Maybe.” He was so wrapped up in his morose thoughts he almost missed Seymour stepping into the clearing. “Wait! Tremorfist might attack you on sight.”

“Nonsense,” Seymour said as he vanished through the trees. “Let me handle this.”

Adrian stood there a moment, staring at the spot where the watcher had been. Then, cursing softly under his breath, he hastily summoned Heartrender and dashed after him.

Sure enough, the first thing he saw when he entered the clearing was Tremorfist towering over Seymour. The daemon pounded its chest and roared. Adrian’s muscles froze as theStunning Howlwashed over him. He could only watch helplessly as Tremorfist raised its massive fists above Seymour’s head.

The watcher struggled to throw off his own paralysis, and his muscles twitched back to wakefulness. Rather than retreat, however, he craned his neck up to meet Tremorfist’s eyes. Then, to Adrian’s utter astonishment, he pounded his unarmored chest and screamed right back. Time seemed to slow as the watcher and daemon stared one another down.

Tremorfist jerked into action right as Adrian finally broke free from theStunning Howl. He ordered Heartrender forward, but even as he did, Tremorfist brought its hands down and—

Adrian blinked, certain he must be misinterpreting the scene. But no. The daemon hadprostrateditself before the watcher.

Seymour chuckled, placing a hand on Tremorfist’s muscular back. “Stop that, you big brute. We’re equal partners now, remember? Or, at least, we will be.” He turned to Adrian, still grinning. “I could use some help from someone who understands how this spirit-cursed true bond business works.”

“Sure,” Adrian said dazedly. “Of course.”