Page 48 of Fated for Dawn

“Evelyn? Can you hear me?” Rafe’s worried voice cut through the fog in my brain.

I blinked, my vision slowly coming into focus. Rafe and Zade were crouched over me, their faces etched with concern.

Well, Rafe looked concerned. Zade just looked mildly annoyed.

“What happened?” I croaked, trying to sit up. A wave of dizziness hit me, and I slumped back down.

“You channeled lightning,” Zade informed me. “And then promptly passed out.”

I looked around, finally noticing the scorched circle of grass surrounding us. Small wisps of smoke curled up from the blackened earth.“Did I…did I do that?”

Rafe nodded with a wide smile. “You did. It was quite impressive. Before you blacked out, that is.”

I groaned, annoyance flooding through me. “Great. I finally unlock a cool power, and I can’t even handle it.”

“You did handle it,” Zade countered, his tone begrudgingly approving. “Most people would have been fried to a crisp. You absorbed it.”

“I…absorbed it?” I looked down at my hands, half-expecting to see sparks dancing across my skin. Everything looked normal, but I could still feel the low-level buzz beneath the surface, waiting to be tapped.

Rafe nodded. “You did well for your first attempt.”

Zade snorted. “If by ‘well’ you mean ‘nearly electrocuted us all,’ then sure.”

I shot him a glare, but no real heat was behind it. As much as I hated to admit it, he had a point. I needed to get better control if I was going to stand a chance against Eris.

“Okay, let’s try again,” I said. “If this new power can help us take down Eris, I will master it, no matter what!”

Rafe helped me to my feet. “Remember to center yourself first. Feel the earth beneath you.”

I nodded before I closed my eyes and visualized roots anchoring me to the ground. The electric energy buzzing through me calmed, becoming more manageable.

“Now, call the lightning slowly,” Zade instructed. “Let it build, but don’t force it.”

Opening my eyes, I raised my hand to the sky as storm clouds gathered, crackling with electricity. Lightning struck me again. This time, I stayed conscious. The spark danced acrossmy fingers, and though I flinched involuntarily, it didn’t hurt. It felt…natural.

“Good,” Rafe encouraged. “You’re doing it.”

The electrical current arced between my fingers, wild and eager to be unleashed.

“Now, aim at the target,” Zade directed, gesturing at a tree. “Release it slowly.”

I took a deep breath and focused. The lightning shot forward in a jagged line, striking a large marble statue on the other side of the courtyard with a deafening crack. Sparks flew, and the marble split, glowing hot before cooling.

“Oops!”

“Again,” Zade ordered.

We repeated the process, but each attempt was draining.

“Your stance is off,” Zade critiqued. “You’re not bracing properly.”

I tried not to roll my eyes.

What stance works when you’re throwing lightning? And aren’t angels supposed to be all serene and celestial? Zade was the opposite of Rafe.

I adjusted my feet, mimicking Zade’s demonstration. My legs felt like jelly, but I tried to endure despite my energy draining fast.

Rafe’s voice broke the tension. “What if she had a conduit?”

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