They went, following the markings left in the dirt by the nightdemon’s claws as well as a healthy spatter of blood that Soraya did her best not to dwell on. Occasionally they heard distant screams and hisses, and thrice they came upon corpses that Soraya didn’t look at, each one a condemnation of the choices she’d made. How could trying to save the life of a good person be a wrong choice?

Shouts from up ahead alerted her that circumstances had changed, that the series of events that had led to the nightdemon’s latest killing spree were about to be twisted into an unexpected knot. They rounded a corner that led to a gap in the buildings—one of the roads leading out of the village toward the darkness of the forest.

Morg immediately began chattering and squirming inside his pouch.

There the nightdemon stood with its back to them, furry head haloed by the threads of moonslight that had uncoiled themselves from between the clouds. Beyond the creature, a roadblock had been established by a large contingent of Knightguard soldiers, no doubt following the orders of one Commander Destin. They were shouting at the nightdemon, goading it, throwing rocks that made it flinch back and hiss in their direction.

It was suicidal, like sending mere human soldiers to the frontlines to face an army of giants.

But then Soraya remembered what the commander had said earlier that very day, when Soraya had manipulated him with such ease it had surprised even her. And preparations must be made for further attacks. We’ve just received a shipment from the Four Kingdoms. Traps used to kill large creatures known as mamoothen. They must be positioned and set. There is no rest for the swift hand of justice.

“They want her to charge,” Soraya murmured, finally noticing the sack cloth littering the road between the creature and the soldiers, sack cloth that was no doubt hiding the traps of which Destin had spoken of.

“What?” Sunny asked, but Soraya was already running toward the creature, waving her hands and shouting, “Seela, don’t—”

Too late. Her warnings fell on deaf ears that heard only the rushing of violent blood. The nightdemon sprang forward, ready to maim, to kill, to tear anyone who dared get in her path limb from limb…

SNAP!

Soraya gasped at the ferocity of the hidden metal trap as it clamped shut around Seela’s leg, sharp teeth biting deep. The nightdemon squealed, the most pitiful sound she’d ever heard the creature utter. She began licking at the wound, straining to escape, flesh tearing and blood spilling forth freely. It was an awful, horrific scene to witness, especially as she began to gnaw at her own leg, a drastic attempt to thwart the trap’s unyielding jaw from its prey.