Page 60 of The Tracker's Dawn: Sunderverse

Damien blinked and appeared taken aback.

“However,” Rosalina went on, “the judge is still out on you.”

Damien cleared his throat and raised an eyebrow. “Challenge accepted.”

The sexual tension between the two was almost palpable. Turning back on Rosalina, I winked to indicate I fully approved of her open approach. If there was anything this last couple of months had taught me it was that the best approach to life was to take it by the balls. You never know when your existence and its very fragile contents could be blown to pieces by black magic.

“Where’s Eric?” Damien glanced around the kitchen.

“His study,” Rosalina responded.

“We should get started. I think I found the right demon to summon in this new book my friend let me borrow.” He cracked his fingers, appearing excited about the prospect of summoning another demon despite the fact that the last one had whooped his ass.

I jumped to my feet, catching his excitement. “Let’s do it! We only have two more days.”

Damien headed out. “Is Knight here?”

“No, he said to go on without him. This pack business is keeping him busy. He is still signing documents with the estate lawyers, stuff to do with his inheritance, and learning the ropes about running the pack and the businesses they own.”

“I see.”

The three of us marched down the hall, our steps perfectly synchronized. Eric came out of his studio as he heard us pass.

“You look like three people with a mission,” he said, then joined us, and we all marched to the garage, where Damien refreshed the lines of the pentagram to ensure they all connected properly. Next, he erased Dregnar’s sigil and drew a new one.

“Light the candles, will you, Toni?”

I did as I was told, and in no time, he was ready to summon a demon named Velthgrek.

* * *

“THIS ONE ISonlya blood demon,” Damien said as he took his position at the south end of the pentagram. He inhaled a few deep breaths while Eric stood opposite him, I planted my feet on the east end, and Rosalina stepped up to the west cardinal point.

Damien cleared his throat and began. “From the depths of hell, I command you to come forth. The circle will bind you. The flames will charm you. Velthgrek, you are summoned.”

As soon as he finished the conjuration, the demon appeared in the middle of the pentagram. Velthgrek presented itself with six legs, one huge eye, shaggy hair, and a stubby tail that tried to wag but just looked pathetic. The thing resembled a dog but was the size of a bear. It didn’t give us any weird feelings or seem threatening in the least. It was strange-looking, but somewhat... adorable.

“Again, don’t let appearances fool you,” Damien warned.

A long, purple tongue rolled out of the creature as it began panting. Its saucer-sized eye blinked, giving it a goofy air.

“This is only what it wants you to see,” Damien said. “Isn’t it, Velthgrek?”

The creature nodded its big head, still panting.

Well, at least it wasn’t trying to deceive us or mess with our minds. A few moments passed. We all watched Damien carefully for any signs of strain. There were none. He nodded, pleased. Standing straighter and firmly planting his feet on the concrete floor, he said. “Toni, the box.”

I handed over the cube-shaped box he’d asked me to hold. It was just a regular cardboard box, taped shut from both sides and a hole carved on one side. It was only big enough to hold a coffee mug.

Damien took the box from my hand and immediately let go of it. It started to drop, but he twirled his fingers and stopped it in midair. Slowly, he moved his hand, guiding forward until it crossed above the lines of the pentagram.

Velthgrek’s legs shuffled in excitement as his eye followed the box’s trajectory.

“Stay,” Damien ordered as the demon made as if to jump towards it.

The creature whined like a sad puppy but obeyed.

Gently, the mage deposited the box in front of the Velthgrek. Its legs marched in place as it stared fixedly at the container as if it wanted to play.