Page 16 of Fated for Dawn

It worked—suddenly, everyone was talking at once. Questions, excitement, and disbelief filled the air, their voices overlapping in a chaotic mix.

“So Lucien really invited you all to the mansion?” I asked, cutting through the noise.

“Yeah,” Adrien said, leaning back in his chair. “He thought it was important we knew what was truly going on. That we understood why you had disappeared.”

“The mansion is freaking amazing,” Raven added, her eyes sparkling. “I had no idea Alister lived in such a place. The library alone is to die for.”

Aurora, who had been quietly sipping her drink, chimed in, “And the art! Did you see that huge tapestry in the main hall? I could stare at it for hours.”

I smiled, imagining my friends wide-eyed and gawking in Alister’s opulent home. “So, they told you everything?”

Maggie, who had been silent, spoke up. “They told us about you and Alister being trapped in the Shadow Realm and the fight with Morgana.”

“We were so worried,” Adrien said. “The rumors were insane. Some people thought you’d run away; others said you were dead.”

“Or worse,” Felix muttered.

I raised an eyebrow. “Worse than dead?”

“They thought you’d joined Lia,” Raven explained, her tone serious. “That you had switched sides.”

At least they knew the real story, not just rumors and half-truths circulating around the Academy. As they updated me on everything I had missed, students whispered as they passed by, giving me mistrustful looks.

“Most people don’t believe the whole ‘Lia is possessed’ theory,” Adrien said, his voice hesitant. “They think it’s all her doing—she and her mother were just power-hungry, wanting to rule the world.”

“Everyone’s freaking out,” Raven continued with a sigh. “They’re blaming Morgana, Lia, and the whole Luminary Covenfor the magic going haywire. Though things have been a little less wonky the past few days.”

“Aside from all that craziness, what have you all been up to while I was busy being not dead?”

Adrien perked up. “Oh, you know, just the usual stuff. Homework, classes, and accidentally becoming a master shielder. No big deal.”

Raven snorted. “Look at Mr. Modest over here. Adrien’s been kicking butt with his shielding skills.”

I raised an eyebrow. “Oh really? Do tell.”

Adrien’s cheeks flushed. “It was an accident, I swear. I was just trying to figure out how to make my magic last longer, you know? With everything being so unstable lately. I started thinking outside the box, and then…boom! Super shield. Well, not exactly like that. It took months of trial and error, but now it’s pretty incredible.”

“He’s not exaggerating,” Felix chimed in. “This guy has serious potential. He could probably create a shield that can withstand a nuclear blast.”

I felt a surge of pride for my friend. “That’s amazing, Adrien. Seriously.”

He grinned at us. “Being Lucien’s little brother may have its challenges, but I’ve found my talent.”

I turned to Felix and Maggie. “What about you guys?”

Maggie grimaced. “My parents tried to pull me out of school. They’re freaked out about the whole magic instability thing, especially after what happened with the Luminary coven.”

“Mine too,” Felix said grimly.

Raven leaned closer, her eyes shining with excitement. “Guess who just joined the Verdant Coven?”

Aurora nudged her playfully. “We did!”

I blinked. “You did?”

Adrien beamed. “Yep, and I couldn’t be happier to have them.” He turned to me, his expression hopeful. “What about you, Evelyn? Would you consider joining our coven, too?”

My stomach twisted at the thought. Coven meetings, rituals, pledges…it all seemed so trivial now.

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