Page 22 of Fated for Dawn

“Good—hold on to that!” Zadkiel’s hand tightened on my arm, and the shadows blurred around us as we shifted.

When we landed, my heart leaped. There he was—Alister. He stood just ahead, still and silent, frozen as I had been. Relief surged through me, but it was short-lived.

Because beside him, they stood.

The Gods.

Three figures loomed, their presence radiating power and authority so intense it was suffocating.

Zadkiel swore under his breath.

Shit. This can’t be good.

There was Hecate and a couple. I had heard enough stories to recognize them instantly. Their auras intertwined perfectly,radiating an otherworldly balance that only heightened their imposing presence.

Hades, the God of the Underworld, his face stern and unyielding, stood beside his Queen, Persephone, whose beauty was as alluring as it was terrifying.

“You’ve already failed us once, Zadkiel,” Hecate said, her voice cold. “And now you defy us by bringing Evelyn here?”

Zadkiel stepped forward, his posture rigid. “Lia was my charge. My responsibility.”

My head snapped to Zadkiel. “Your charge?”

Hecate’s eyes narrowed, her tone sharpening. “Yes, and you failed. You were assigned to her for less than a week before you lost her—”

“To a Goddess,” Zadkiel interrupted, his teeth clenched. “This is the first time I’ve ever failed. I need to make it right.”

My mind spun as I tried to keep up. Was Zadkiel saying he had beenLia’sguardian angel?

Hades stood in the shadows, arms crossed over his chest, eyes studying me as though weighing my soul. “The vampire belongs to me. He’s cheated death long enough. His soul is mine to keep.”

I swallowed hard, my voice faltering. “Please, I—”

“And what of Eris?” Hecate cut me off, her tone sharp, her gaze fixed on Hades. “Her actions are already unraveling the balance of all realms. The chaos she’s creating will drown the Shadow Realm in souls—overwhelming our gates before they can be sorted to the Underworld or Heaven. Can your domain sustain that overflow?”

Hades’s eyes flickered with something—frustration, calculation, or perhaps both. “Eris…” he muttered, his tone low and edged with venom. “You let this happen.” Hades’s voice dripped with accusation as he looked at Hecate. “This mortal’slineage has been meddled with for centuries. Your blessing started this mess.”

Hecate’s expression hardened, but her voice remained calm. “The blessing was meant as a kindness. I could not have foreseen how nature would counterbalance it. Nor could I have anticipated mortals like Morgana tampering with forces they do not understand—or Eris deciding it was time for everyone to remember her existence.”

“You chose me, Goddess. I didn’t ask for this. But I’ll fight. I’ll do whatever it takes to restore the balance,” I said to Hecate.

And I’ll clean up your mess.

Then I turned to Hades. “But I can’t do that without my mates. Withoutallof them. I need Alister.”

Hecate insisted, “You were chosen, Evelyn, because of your lineage. This blessing—this curse—can only be undone by you and Lia.”

“Perhaps we can be lenient, my love,” Persephone touched Hades’ arm gently. “This is not just about balance. If Eris continues to unleash Chaos, the devastation will ripple across every realm. It might even reach the Underworld. We won’t only be drowning in souls, but we might also have to deal with unwanted chaos.”

Hades exhaled sharply, his annoyance clear. “This…imbalance is Hecate’s concern. Why should I be dragged into it further?”

“Because you’ve worked very hard to establish order in your realm. Is one vampire worth keeping for the sake of principle when so much more is at stake? Besides…it’ll detract from our more intimate time together,” Persephone appealed with a seductive smile.

Hades grinned. “When you put it that way, my love, you have an excellent point.” His eyes flicked back to me, narrowing slightly as he considered. “She might fail.”

“I’ll do everything I can to win,” I assured him. But only if I can have Alister.”

Hades pondered for a moment, brow furrowing.

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