Page 37 of Fated for Dawn

I shrugged. “Can you blame her? I understand why she was so angry. Her whole life was a lie, and I was at the center of it.”

Lucien’s gaze softened. “You’re a better person than most, Evelyn.”

I laughed, though there was no humor in it. “No, I’m not. I just put myself in her shoes. How could she not be angry? I’m the reason she had almost no magic. My lineage was blessed, while hers was cursed. I’m why her mom went power-crazy, meddling with dark magic and Goddesses.” My hands ran through my hair, tugging at the ends. “And knowing her kids—her whole future lineage—would be powerless because of me? Hell, I’d be furious too.”

Lucien frowned. “But you didn’t choose any of that, Evelyn. You’re not responsible for Goddess Hecate’s actions.”

“No, but it doesn’t change the facts,” I replied, my voice quieter now.

“Lia did actively steal your powers,” Lucien said, his voice edged with frustration. “She knew that book was siphoning your magic.”

“Yes,” I agreed. “But she thought I knew. She thought I was in on it. She stopped when she realized I had no idea about the blessing or the curse.”

Lucien’s brows knit together.

I nodded, a sad smile tugging at my lips. “She wasn’t cruel. Did she make my life miserable for a while? Sure. But Lia wasn’t her mother. She was just…desperate. Her mom was relentless, always tearing her down for not having powers. And the whole time, Morgana knew it wasn’t Lia’s fault—it was the curse.”

I sighed, remembering all the good times we shared together.

“I knew Lia, the real Lia—not the one pretending to be the queen bee or acting like she had her shit together because she was too afraid of her mother to look weak. Lia is kind and good but lost her way for a while. Morgana created all that pressure, and Lia was drowning in it.”

“That’s pretty messed up,” Lucien said.

I stood, grabbing another book from the shelf. “So, are you going to help me figure out how to kick a goddess out of my best friend, or are you just going to stand there looking broody?”

Lucien’s lips twitched, almost forming a smile. “You’re impossible.”

“And yet, here you are,” I teased, handing him the book.

He took it, but he hesitated. His fingers brushed against mine, lingering longer than necessary.

His mouth opened—then closed. Something flickered in his eyes.

I swallowed, shifting on my feet. I’d been feeling…something more around Lucien.

Hecate had said I had five mates.But who was the fifth? If not Lucien then who?

Zade? No. I felt nothing warm or fuzzy toward him.

Viper?Hell no.

Could it have been Theo?

I studied Lucien, his eyes flickering to me every few minutes as he seemed hesitant.

Could it be—?

No.

I had asked. He had answered.

Still, a small voice whispered in my mind:What if he lied?

Before I could dwell on it further, Lucien cleared his throat. “Let’s get to work.”

15

Evelyn

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