Page 69 of Fated for Dawn

Alister glanced up, his eyes softening as they met mine. “Morning, love. Help yourself before these heathens devour it all.”

“You cooked all this?”

Rafe slid a steaming mug of coffee across the counter to me, a small smile tugging at his lips. “I helped.”

I accepted the mug, inhaling the steam. “Have I mentioned lately how much I appreciate you guys?”

“Once or twice,” Lucien drawled, leaning back with a smirk. “But feel free to keep reminding us.”

“How’s your shoulder, Lucien?” I asked, concern threading my voice as I remembered the injury he’d sustained yesterday.

“As good as new,” he replied smoothly. “Rafe healed everything in a matter of seconds. In fact, I feel better than I have in years.”

I smiled, warmth swelling in my chest, and hugged all of them before digging into my food, savoring each bite.

As soon as breakfast was over, Alister’s expression grew serious. “We have to talk about yesterday.”

I sighed. “Can it wait? I’m not really in the mood for a postmortem lecture.”

“It can’t,” Lucien said. “We’re needed back at the Academy.”

After ignoring their pleas yesterday, I expected Alister or Lucien to lecture me about how reckless I’d been. But apparently, there was something more pressing to deal with.

I arched an eyebrow at Lucien. “Oh! Why? They said the Academy would be out today for cleanup.”

“They have visitors,” Alister informed.

“Visitors? Who?”

“Supernaturals,” Alister explained. “Word of your confrontation with Eris has spread. They’re gathering at the Academy, asking to join us.”

My stomach tightened. “Join us?”

“You inspire them, Evelyn,” Rafe elaborated. “What you did yesterday—it gave them hope.”

I pressed my fingers to my temples, overwhelmed. “I didn’t do it to inspire anyone. I just…” My voice faltered. “I don’t want anyone elseto die.”

“And neither do they,” Alister said. “But Eris is threatening everything we believe in, including free will. These people want to stand up for that. They want to fight beside you.”

A bitter laugh escaped my lips, unbidden. “With me? You all saw what I did out there. I…” I swallowed hard, my voice trembling. “I killed the Elders. I killed shifters. Maybe they were on Eris’s side, but they still had lives and families. I can’t ask anyone else to risk dying because of me.”

Chad reached across the table and squeezed my hand. “You’re not asking them. They’rechoosingthis. Just like we chose to stand by you.”

“Exactly,” Rafe added, his voice grounding me as his steady presence always did. “People need hope. And, yesterday, you gave them that.”

“You don’t have to carry this alone,” Lucien said. “They’re here because they believe in what we’re all fighting for.”

I exhaled shakily, their words sinking in. They were right. But the thought of leading people into danger still made my stomach twist.

I took a deep breath before nodding. “Alright. Let’s go to the Academy and hear what they have to say.”

* * *

Once we reached the Academy’s grounds, the sight that greeted me made my jaw drop. Hundreds of supernaturals crowded the expansive lawn. Some were parents pulling their children out of school, others were helping with the cleanup, though most had already been done. But the majority of them seemed just to be…waiting.

As if summoned, all eyes turned to me.

“Holy shit,” I muttered.

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