Page 52 of Fated for Dawn

“Or scaring people into submission,” I added, smirking. “Intimidation is basically his love language.”

We were far from ready, but at least we were a little more prepared.

19

Evelyn

The air was thick with the smell of ozone as I swung my sword in a wide arc. The blade cut through the air with a satisfying whoosh, channeling lightning. I felt alive, my heart pounding as I focused on the target Rafe had conjured for our training session. When it hit the mark, it exploded in a shower of sparks.

Rafe stood a few feet away, a look of concentration on his face.

“Nice one, Evelyn!” Chad whooped from the sidelines. “You’re like Thor, but way hotter.”

I let out a soft laugh. “You’re such a charmer.”

After a grueling week of training, it felt incredible to see real progress. I still couldn’t use my core magic since it was tied to my life force, but my lineage powers were compensating well. The fire abilities had always been my strongest, and now they felt almost second nature. My wings were finally cooperating,allowing me to maneuver with some grace. My sword fighting skills had improved drastically.

Accessing the Shadow Realm might be easier now that I knew the guardian, but it wasn’t a skill I was eager to use again. The seer ability was rare—unreliable. It came when it wanted, slipping through my grasp the moment I tried to chase it. I could only hope another vision would come soon. The lightning was still unpredictable—raw and wild—but I was starting to get the hang of it. Yet, even as I practiced, it felt like I was barely scratching the surface—like there was a deeper well of power just out of reach.

My thoughts drifted to the other abilities I hadn’t even touched yet. I wondered if I would regret not accessing them sooner if I would need them in the battles to come. Zade was adamant that it was better to focus on mastering a few abilities rather than juggling many I couldn’t control.

Though I felt the dread of Eris’s impending attack, we’d had some time to get ready. The uncertainty of the wait was the hardest part.

A part of me wished we’d launched an immediate offensive, storming the Luminary mansion and engaging them directly. Waiting for the enemy to strike felt unsettling. We were giving them time to build up their strength, plan, and scheme. It left me feeling restless and anxious. Each passing moment felt like a missed opportunity.

Zade had insisted we weren’t ready, and I secretly agreed. To rush in unprepared would be suicidal; we needed every edge we could find. However, I was tormented by the thought of Lia, trapped and used as a puppet by Eris. How much longer could she endure? How long until she was lost to us forever?

I pushed those thoughts aside and focused on the present. My muscles were tight, fatigued, and sore from constantly channeling lightning. Each session with Rafe and Zade left memore confident—and more lethal—but also more aware of just how far I still had to go. The lightning was unpredictable, a wild animal that I was slowly taming, but it took everything I had to control it.

It was the weekend, and I was practicing when Chad and Lucien arrived to offer their assessment.

“Your form is improving,” Lucien said, his voice softer than I expected. His arms were crossed, but not in his usual, judgmental way—it was almost…contemplative. “You’ve come a long way, Evelyn. Your movements are sharper and more precise. You’re doing great.”

I froze mid-swing, lowering the blade as I turned to stare at him. “Wait…what?”

Lucien raised an eyebrow. “What?”

“Did you just compliment me?” I asked, wiping the sweat from my brow. “Like…an actual compliment?”

He rolled his eyes, though the corners of his mouth quirked up ever so slightly. “I’m just stating facts.”

“No, no, hold on. I need a moment to process this,” I said, placing a hand over my chest in mock shock. “Lucien just said something nice to me. Someone write this down.”

He sighed. “Evelyn, you’re insufferable.”

“Take a break,” Zade suggested. “You’ve earned it.”

Still somewhat in shock, I sheathed my sword, the leather hissing as the metal slid home. My whole body tingled from the electricity, like I’d just stepped out of a hot shower.

“Here, I made more cookies for you,” Lucien said, passing me a jar of freshly cooked goodness.

Guess the groveling is in full effect today.

I eyed the jar before taking it, my fingers brushing his. Then, I practically inhaled three cookies whole. A girl’s gotta keep her sugar intake up with all this training—pretty sure I burned off three cookies just by blinking.

A disturbingly friendly Ryker and Alister ambled into the courtyard. It still caught me off guard to see Alister so… human. So different. But the warmth in his eyes always made my heart soar.

“Well, well, if it isn’t the new dynamic duo,” Chad called out.

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