Page 58 of Fated for Dawn

Adrien shook his head, though his grin stayed in place. “I’m glad you pulled your head out of your ass, brother.”

Chad snickered.

Before anyone could say more, Zade stepped in, his voice cutting through the chatter. “Alright, lovebirds,” he drawled, his eyes narrowing with mock impatience. “Less chitchatting, more training. Unless you’d rather exchange love letters than practice.”

Chad groaned dramatically, “Oh, come on, Zade. Don’t ruin the moment.”

Zade lifted an eyebrow ever so slightly. “Moments won’t save your lives.”

The courtyard fell silent, the weight of his words pressing down on us. We all knew he was right. The past weeks had been a whirlwind of preparation, and every second counted. Yet, the waiting had made us restless, and small moments of levity were the only things keeping us sane.

“Zade’s right,” I said, breaking the tension. “We need to be ready.”

“What if we trained as a group, like last time?” Rafe suggested.

“Oh, that sounds like fun!” Raven chimed in.

Chad whooped, his eyes lighting up. “Yes! That was so awesome last time.”

“Alright,” Rafe began, stepping forward to take charge. “We’ll follow a similar strategy but incorporate more obstacles. First, let’s focus on basic formations and team coordination.” His gaze swept over the group, firm but encouraging. “We’re going to fight a goddess with powers beyond anything we’ve faced before. Mastering spells will be crucial, but not all of us are witches. For those who can’t wield spells, we’ll rely on Lucien’s potions, Adrien’s shields, and any other advantages we can create.” He gestured to the clearing. “But before we dive into that, we need to learn how to move as a unit. Timing and coordination could mean the difference between life and death. Any objection?”

Everybody shook their heads.

“Okay, then.” Rafe met his brother’s gaze. A small, knowing smile. “Zade, why don’t you take command of defensive strategy? We’ll need someone with your experience to assess our weaknesses and teach us how to shore them up.”

Zade crossed his arms, his jaw tightening with that familiar hint of exasperation as if he couldn’t believe he had to lower himself to this. Then his gaze swept over each one of us as though silently cataloging every weakness.

“Fine. But don’t expect me to coddle anyone.” He turned his attention to me, his eyes sharp. “And Evelyn, careful with that lightning of yours. I’d rather not get electrocuted by accident.”

I rolled my eyes, a grin spreading across my face. “Relax, Zade. I’ll save the lightning for the enemy. But if anyone deserves a little zap, well…”

A ghost of a smile flashed across his face before he returned to his usual guarded expression. “Just don’t make me regret participating in this.”

Rafe instructed us, “Evelyn and Raven, you’ll be at the center. Ryker and Viper, you’ll flank them on either side. Your speed and strength will be crucial in close-quarters combat. As for Chad, you’ll be our scout. Your hellhound form gives you enhanced senses and speed. Use them to alert us to any incoming threats.”

Chad gave a mock salute. “Got it. Scouting duty—my favorite.”

Rafe’s eyes swept over the group as he continued, “Like last time, I’ll provide aerial support. Lucien, your potions and spells will be our tactical advantage. Stay behind Evelyn, like before. Adrien, you should also stay back to conjure a shield if needed.”He paused, thinking for a moment before addressing Alister.“Alister, you’ll coordinate our movements from a protected position. Your centuries of combat experience are invaluable.”

Alister stepped forward, his eyes gleaming with determination. “I may be human now, but I’m far from helpless.”

“Alright then,” Rafe cut in, clapping his hands to command our focus and break the tension. “Let’s run through some drills.” With a wave of his hand, shimmering figures materialized around us—faceless, ethereal warriors armed with an array of weapons, ready to put us to the test.

My heart pounded with anticipation, and the fire built within me as I gripped my sword. Although this was only a drill, it felt like so much more—a chance to prove ourselves and prepare for the battle looming on the horizon.

“Let’s show Eris what we’re made of!” I called out.

“Ready?” Rafe called.

“Born ready!” Chad whooped, already shifting into his massive hellhound form.

I took a deep breath, feeling the fire crackling within me. “Let’s do this.”

Adrenaline surged through my veins, and I tightened my grip on my sword. The air buzzed with tension as we prepared for battle.

“Remember,” Rafe called out, his voice cutting through the chaos, “communicate and watch each other’s backs!”

I nodded, taking up my position in the center beside Raven. Ryker and Viper flanked us, their muscles bulging and ready to spring into action. Chad circled the perimeter in his massive hellhound form, nose to the ground, sniffing for threats.

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