Page 1 of Fated for Dawn

1

Evelyn

The cold swallowed me first—not the biting cold of winter, but something more unnatural, draining the warmth from my body. The air turned thick and oppressive, and the world dissolved into darkness.

Vertigo clouded my thoughts when I realized I was falling into the void. The sword was still pierced through my chest, and I could feel a body against my back—Alister’s. The notion that I wasn’t alone reassured me for a moment. Strong arms held me as I struggled to scream while falling.

I didn’t save him.

Despite the vision, I hadn’t been fast enough.

Yet, there was no more physical pain, only a terrifying numbness that bled from my chest.

As we kept free falling, I realized I couldn’t move or speak.

Only my vision remained.

How could this happen?

We’d won.

Morgana had been killed.

Her body had crumpled to the ground, and for one breathless second, I thought it was over. Until…she stood up—but it wasn’t Morgana anymore. It was something far more terrifying.

A god.

And those black flames…what exactly were they?

In my vision, those flames had torn through Chad and Ryker like they were made of paper, not powerful shifters who normally thrived on fire.

Fear, pain, and rage assaulted me, blurring my vision with tears. Yet I still couldn’t speak or even sob. We kept falling endlessly into the void, with Alister skewered behind me and his arms around me being the only warmth and safety in that somber and cold place.

My thoughts halted when I felt my feet touch the ground. Yet, I remained frozen and couldn’t feel Alister move, either.

I could only assume we were dead if we ended up in the Shadow Realm.

We had to be.

My sword had gone straight through my chest, and Alister… A sword alone wouldn’t have been enough to kill a vampire, even through the heart. But those black flames?

What about the others?

Before everything went dark, I witnessed what could only be the goddess leaving Morgana’s body.

My other mates should be alive, right?

The darkness shifted, alive and whispering, its edges thinning and dimming just enough to reveal faint shapes watching us. Among them, I saw her—Goddess Hecate, her silhouette sharp against the void.

The others were just as imposing, radiating a majesty that made me wonder if they were gods, too.

I strained to listen, but it was like I was underwater. Their voices were muffled and distant, urgent but indecipherable.

The figures flickered, and only one remained. Goddess Hecate’s gaze locked onto mine as she approached us—unreadable.

Then her gaze focused on Alister.

Something shifted behind me, a sudden weight lifting. Until, with a flick of her wrist, Hecate dragged Alister’s frozen form forward. His body hit the ground as she released him from the spell, and I could only stare in horror, every instinct screaming to go to him.

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