Page 36 of Daemon Master

Adrian shook his head. “He just reclaimed his freedom. I won’t take it away from him again.”

He. Even in his agitation, Adrian realized this was the first time he’d allowed himself to think of Trailseeker in those terms.

“What if it tracks us back to camp and attacks while you’re asleep or training? The risk is too great.”

“Spirits take the risk! I willnotlet you kill him!”

The watcher growled, balling his hands into fists. “Fine! If you’re too weak to do what’s necessary, then we need to leave before it—”

He cut off as Trailseeker trembled, flexing one front paw and then the other. The daemon tossed his head from side to side as if to shake off the remaining paralysis like irritating water, then prowled forward in a low crouch.

Adrian sensed Heartrender channeling her aether. A moment later, an illusory duplicate of him appeared to his left. Trailseeker paused long enough to glance at it before turning back to the real Adrian. Apparently, the daemon knew enough to avoid Heartrender’s tricks. Spirits above, there had to besomethinghe could do to defuse the situation before it got any more out of hand.

As he stood frozen by indecision, Tremorfist barreled past him toward Trailseeker. Trailseeker flared aether to his legsand dodged nimbly to the side, leaping once more for Adrian. Before the enraged daemon reached him, a sudden surge of aether coursed through his flesh. Sending a silent thanks to Heartrender, he seized control of her gifted aether and hurled himself forward to meet Trailseeker head-on.

His shoulder slammed into Trailseeker’s belly, knocking the creature out of midair. He landed atop the fallen daemon and pounded at him with his fists. But even with Heartrender’s boost, his blows had little effect. If only he had a spirit-cursed idea how to throw a punch.

Trailseeker quickly recovered, raking claws over Adrian’s aether-hardened flesh while snapping at him with his fangs. Despite her lost aether, Heartrender tried to come to his aid, only for Trailseeker to snatch her out of midair and shake her like a rag doll. Thankfully, Trailseeker didn’t seem inclined to finish her. He tossed her to the side, where she fell limp in the dirt.

Pain exploded through their bond, making Adrian wince. Whoever had told him daemons didn’t experience pain had clearly been full of it. It might not be as sharp or long-lasting, but it was definitely there. Clenching his jaw, he strained with everything he had left to hold his own, but Heartrender’s gifted aether was already fading before the force of his former daemon’s fury.

Then, Seymour was there, pummeling his fists against Trailseeker’s skull. His blows landed with far more precision than Adrian’s, sending the daemon reeling back. “Bring it on, you spirit-cursed beast!” Seymour said, bobbing lightly on the balls of his feet.

Trailseeker growled and channeled more aether to hisBolster Body.He appeared ready to meet Seymour’s challenge when Tremorfist hurtled at him from behind with a bellowing roar. Trailseeker tried to turn, but Tremorfist’sStunning Howl, whileless effective so soon after the last, still caused his muscles to momentarily seize. Rather than knocking the paralyzed daemon aside, Tremorfist wrapped his massive forearms around him andsqueezed. Trailseeker yelped and wriggled, struggling ineffectively to break free.

Adrian heard something in his old daemon’s body crack. Trailseeker yowled in pain, falling limp. Only then did Tremorfist toss the daemon to the ground at his feet.

Shoving past Adrian, Seymour motioned to Tremorfist, his expression hard. “Finish it.”

Without stopping to think about what he was doing, Adrian threw himself between the two daemons, draping his body protectively over Trailseeker’s. “No!Let him go.”

“Your emotions are clouding your judgment,” Seymour said. “Let us do what you lack the stomach for.”

Adrian shook his head, his body trembling. Beneath him, Trailseeker shifted, flaring aether. Adrian scurried back, watching the daemon stagger weakly to his feet. He fixed Adrian with one last baleful glare. Then, he turned and fled into the forest.

Silence descended on the clearing.

Adrian collapsed to his knees and bowed his head. Heartrender nuzzled against his side. He drew her into a tight embrace, burying his face in the nape of her neck.

Seymour watched, his face impassive. For once, he had the decency to remain quiet.

“I should have freed him weeks ago,” Adrian whispered. “Right after we entered Overlin Forest. I…I should’ve treated him better.”

“You treated him better than most daemon masters would have,” Seymour replied gruffly.

“But not well enough! I was always so willing to sacrifice him. I told myself it was necessary, that he’d understand. But now…”

Seymour startled Adrian by resting a hand on his shoulder, squeezing lightly. Was the watcher actually trying tocomforthim? The notion sent a warm flutter through his chest.

Then, Seymour’s grip tightened, and he hauled Adrian to his feet. “You can’t change the past, only how you act in the future. Learn from this experience. Remember the price of hesitation. If you know what’s right, youmustact. If you don’t…”

“If you don’t, you’re left to live with your regret,” Adrian said softly.

He thought of his parents’ sacrifice beyond the Bulwark. They’d been willing to give their lives in defense of their fellow watchers and the League. Even if he now doubted the League deserving of their sacrifice, that didn’t make the gesture any less meaningful.

Then, there was Seymour. He’d risked his life and thrown away a promising career in the Watcher Division, all to protect someone he’d done nothing but ridicule for years. Perhaps more of his old friend remained than Adrian had thought. At the very least, Seymour lived by his convictions. That was more than Adrian could say.

He stared into the forest at the spot where Trailseeker had vanished. “So long, buddy,” he whispered. Blinking back tears, he turned to Seymour and gestured in the vague direction of their camp. “Let’s get out of here.”