Page 61 of Fated for Dawn

“Don’t go, little witch!” Chad’s voice called from behind me.

Halting and glancing at my surroundings, I offered Chad a reassuring smile. “I have to. It’ll be okay.”

Eris tilted her head as if assessing what was happening around us. “Come now, my dear,” she said, her tone gentle yet laced with mockery, like a parent humoring a stubborn child. “After everything you’ve been through, surely you’re not afraid to greet an old friend?”

I sneered at her. “You’re not my friend. You’re just wearing her face.”

Eris’s smile widened. “Oh, but I am so much more than that, Evelyn. This face and body are merely tools, vessels for a potential your friend could never have imagined.”

She swept her gaze over the gathered crowd.

Raising a hand theatrically, she rambled, “You might have heard rumors about me. Now that I stand before you, I invite those bold enough to seize it.” She gestured toward her small army of Elders and shifters.“My subjects have become more powerful, younger, and faster through their devotion to me. That same power is yours—if you are brave enough to take it.” Her voice rang out, unwavering. “A new era is upon us—one of true power, unshackled from petty laws and the limits of this world. No more hiding in the shadows. No more pretending we are equal to humans. It is time to rule as we were meant to.”

I nearly rolled my eyes as I inhaled sharply.

Of course, she expected us to worship her. In her mind, we weren’t just beneath her—we existed to kneel.

Guess she didn’t really see me as a threat.

Raising her arms in a grand, sweeping gesture, she continued, “I am Goddess Eris, your new ruler. Embrace me, and I will grant you power beyond imagination.”

Still, this was an academy. What did she expect the students to do—raise their hands and ask if they needed parental consent?

Once again, I scanned the crowd. Some students stood frozen, wide-eyed with fear, while others whispered in hushed, uncertain tones. Even a few law enforcement guards had stalled in their efforts to herd students to safety, too captivated by the chaos unfolding before them.

I had no idea if I should attack her or let her finish her recruitment speech.

What’s the protocol for these things?

“Did you come here to fight me or to talk?” I called, making sure my voice carried over the hushed tension.

Eris smirked. “Did you know I was coming?”

I shrugged, inspecting my nails. “Maybe.”

Her lips curled in distaste. “Yet you come to face me alone. Do you not see the might of my army?”

I tilted my head, deliberately unimpressed. “I see you brought a bit of backup. Does that mean you’re not as powerful as you claim?”

A flicker of irritation crossed her face. “You are but an ant before a mountain,” she sneered. “What can you and a handful of children possibly do against me—a Goddess? Chaos incarnate!”

I arched a brow. “Oh, was that a real question, or just more monologue?”

Her expression darkened. “Insolence!”

With a flick of her wrist, a wave of raw power erupted from her, tearing across the courtyard, aimed straight at me.

Instinct took over—I threw up my hands and summoned a barrier of flames, deflecting the brunt of her attack. The force still sent a shockwave through the ground, knocking some students to their knees. Others scrambled for cover, bolting toward the academy doors.

A few teachers rushed in, reinforcing their own protective wards around the students.

I clenched my fists, the static from my magic humming through my fingertips.

Alright, Eris. If it’s a fight you want…

I smirked. “Well, that wasn’t very welcoming. And here I thought you were trying to make a good first impression.”

“You should fear me,” she snapped. “I am Goddess Eris, chaos—”

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