Page 11 of Fated for Dawn

Evelyn

Silence filled the gym, broken only by my measured breaths. Seated on the mat, legs crossed, I shut my eyes, delving deep for that wellspring of power. It slipped through my grasp like a silvery fish wriggling away from wet fingers—a frustrating and futile pursuit.

Come on, come on.

I needed to access the Shadow Realm and somehow get Alister back. My heart ached at the thought of him trapped there, alone and possibly suffering. He’d sacrificed himself for me. I couldn’t leave him behind; I wouldn’t. The guilt chomped at me, threatening to consume what little focus I had left.

“Any luck?” Rafe’s gentle voice broke through my concentration, his presence unnoticed until then.

I opened my eyes with a frustrated sigh. “Nothing,” I said, shaking my head. “It feels like the more I reach for it, the further it slips away.”

Rafe lowered himself onto the mat beside me, his eyes filled with concern. “Maybe we need to try a different approach.”

“I’m open to suggestions.”

Every second wasted was another second Alister spent in that place.

“Let’s try visualization,” Rafe offered after a moment’s thought. “Picture the branch of your lineage as a door in your mind. See every detail—the wood grain, the handle, the frame. Make it as real as possible.”

I took a deep breath and closed my eyes, trying to clear the clutter of my thoughts.

A door, I told myself.

It’s just a door. How hard can that be?

Slowly, an image began to form in my mind: a tall, dark, imposing wooden door with intricate carvings with eerie skulls etched into it, like something out of a medieval castle. The handle was a twisted piece of iron, worn smooth from centuries of use.

Really? Of all the doors my brain could conjure, this is the one? Why not a cheerful pink door with a unicorn etched into it? Maybe some glitter? Something that says, “Welcome traveler,” instead of “Abandon all hope, ye who enter here.”

I took another breath to steady myself.

“Now, imagine placing your hand on the handle,” Rafe guided softly. “Feel the texture and the temperature. Take your time.”

In my mind, my hand reached out, fingers brushing against the cool metal. A shiver ran through me as I gripped it, half expecting it to burn or shock me with some kind of magical static.

“Turn the handle slowly,” Rafe continued, his voice almost hypnotic. “Hear the click, feel the resistance. Let the door swing open.”

With bated breath, I turned the handle and felt it yield with a click that reverberated in my mind like thunder. The door swung open, and a rush of cold air swirled around me, revealing chilling shadows dancing before me.

“Step through,” Rafe said, his tone urging but still gentle.

I took an imaginary step forward, and for a fleeting moment, I felt a flicker of something real—a tug, like I was being pulled through a veil. Then the largest motherfucking shadow I’ve ever seen reached out, yanking me back with a force that made my head spin.

A chill seeped into my bones as if I’d been plunged into icy water. I opened my eyes, heart pounding, and found myself back on the mat, disoriented.

“I did it, Rafe!” I said, breathless. “I reached the Shadow Realm. I felt it… Before a shadow kicked me out.”

Rafe’s face lit up. “That’s incredible, Evelyn. The Shadow Realm is a place the living aren’t meant to tread. It makes sense that it would resist you. But this is a start.”

“A start isn’t enough,” I muttered, my mind racing. “We don’t have time for baby steps.”

“Evelyn, you’re dealing with accessing another plane. That in itself is incredibly difficult, and you’ve already come so far in just a few hours.” Rafe took my hand in his, squeezing it reassuringly. “Trust me, you’re getting there. We’ll get Alister back.”

* * *

By Sunday morning, I was a complete wreck. I hadn’t slept, and the toll was evident. Dark circles ringed my eyes, giving me a haunted look, and my hands wouldn’t stop their constant, nervous shaking.

I paced the gym floor, my mind racing with worries aboutAlister, while I glanced at my angel mate, who stood by the doorway with crossed arms.

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