Page 21 of Fated for Dawn

I heard the sound of Zadkiel’s blade slicing through the air, followed by the unearthly screech of something dissolving. I opened my eyes, too unnerved by the sounds.

A shadow lunged at us, its form twisting as it reached out with claw-like tendrils. Zadkiel moved instantly, his angelic blade slashing through it, but more shadows surged forward, their hunger palpable.

Zadkiel stepped in front of me, his blade a blur of light as he cut them down.

“Evelyn!” he shouted over the chaos. “Don’t stop—focus on Alister!”

I squeezed my eyes shut, blocking out the sounds of the fight. I poured everything into finding him—his touch, voice, and how he made me feel safe.

The shadows pressed closer, suffocating, but I clung to the connection. I prayed the guardian hadn’t sensed our intrusion yet.

Zadkiel’s grunts and the shrieks of the shadows blended into a nightmarish cacophony.

Then, suddenly, the fighting stopped. Voices cut through my concentration.

It took me a moment to realize Zadkiel was speaking to someone.

My eyes snapped open.

It was the guardian.

“Zadkiel,” the guardian rumbled, crossing his massive arms. “Bold of you to trespass here.”

He was huge. The shadows had peeled back, revealing his true form—an angel easily matching Zadkiel’s impressive height but broader. His body was a solid wall of muscle. Midnight-black wings arched from his shoulders, starkly contrasting his deep bronze skin.

The guardian’s unsettling gaze flicked to me with something like curiosity. “She’s a persistent one.”

I stood frozen, struggling to process what was happening. Zadkiel had lowered his blade, his stance deceptively relaxed. Yet, he still stepped forward, positioning himself between me and the guardian. “Azrael. It’s been a while.”

Wait. Theykneweach other?

“We served together,” Zadkiel said, a hint of regret coloring his words. “Before Azrael fell.”

The dark angel’s lip curled. “Fell or saw the truth? Matter of perspective, brother.”

“And now here you are doing penance,” Zadkiel reminded him.

Azrael nodded. “And you, still playing errand boy for the higher-ups.”

“And you’re still guarding this wasteland,” Zadkiel shot back. “How the mighty have fallen.”

My gaze darted between them. “Hate to break this riveting conversation, but we need to retrieve Alister.”

Azrael’s dark eyes shifted back to me. “Ah, your vampire mate,” he said flatly as if the words carried no weight.

I lifted my chin. “I’m not leaving without him.”

“So I gathered,” he replied, his wings rustling as he stepped aside. “Go on, then. They’re expecting you.”

“They?” I asked, but Azrael vanished into the shadows before I could get an answer.

“Focus,” Zadkiel said hurriedly, gripping my shoulder. “We don’t have time. Concentrate on Alister.”

I nodded, swallowing my unease. I closed my eyes and reached out with everything I had, focusing on him.

Then I felt it. A spark. A whisper of something uniquelyAlister.

My eyes flew open, hope surging through me. “Zadkiel! I think I found him!”

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