Page 71 of Fated for Dawn

I looked over at Rafe and Zade, who stepped forward to help.

“We need to strategize and plan carefully,” Zade addressed the crowd.

“Let’s break into groups and inventory our strengths,” Rafe added. “This way, we can effectively come up with an attack plan. This time, we’re bringing the battle to the goddess.”

We moved to the gymnasium, and as the crowd started organizing into clusters, discussing tactics, and pooling resources, some of my anxiety began to ease. Alister took charge of coordinating combat strategies, while Rafe handled logistics.

By the time night fell, exhaustion had caught up with me. I collapsed into bed, hoping for a dreamless sleep.

No such luck.

In my dreams, I stood in a familiar field, the warm breeze tousling my hair. Lia was beside me, our toes digging into the sun-warmed dirt as we giggled over some long-forgotten joke.

“We could have this again, you know,” Lia’s silky voice whispered. “You and I, ruling side by side while the world bows at our feet. Think of the power, Evelyn.” Lia’s hand slipped into mine, ice-cold against my skin. “Join me, Eve,” she pleaded, her voice hollow, echoing like it was coming from somewhere deep underground. “We can be together forever, just like we always wanted.”

I wrenched my hand away, stumbling backward as the field dissolved into darkness. “Eris—”

I jolted awake with a gasp. My skin clammy, every muscle tensed as if bracing for an attack.

I thought about lying back down and trying to shake it off for a moment. But the fact that Eris could now reach me in my dream state unsettled me; I walked down the hallway to Rafe’s room. I was about to knock on the door when it opened, and there stood Rafe, already knowing I was coming to see him. His brow creased with concern. I noticed the easel in the corner, the image of me with my hand raised to the sky, lightning striking down.

“Evelyn? What’s wrong?”

“I couldn’t get back to sleep,” I admitted, stepping into the room. “Eris… she got in my head.”

Rafe’s expression softened. He walked to the bed and padded the space beside him in invitation. I climbed onto the bed, curling into his side as his arm wrapped around me.

“She’s trying to rattle you,” he murmured, his fingers threading gently through my hair. “It’s more difficult to shield your mind while you sleep. Don’t let her get to you, Evelyn. We’re going to beat her, and we’re going to get Lia back. I promise.”

I wanted so badly to believe him, to let his quiet strength push back the shadows. But deep down, a small voice whispered that I might not be strong enough—that this nightmare was only beginning.

As if sensing my unease, Rafe softly kissed my temple. “Sleep. I’ll keep the bad dreams away.”

Wrapped in his warmth, I closed my eyes, praying for a restful sleep.

28

Evelyn

The stuffy conference room reeked of tension and stale coffee. I shifted in my seat, eyeing the grim faces around the table. Dean Sterling looked like he’d aged a decade overnight, his usually sharp demeanor dulled by exhaustion.

“This is unprecedented,” the dean began, his voice steady despite the tension in the room. “Given the events of the last few days and the growing threat of Goddess Eris, we’ve decided that the Academy term will end early and we won’t be hosting the end-of-year ball.”

Murmurs rippled through the room, but no one seemed surprised.

“We have no choice,” he continued, his voice heavy. “Our priority is the safety of the students.”

Around the table, witches, shifters, and other key leaders from the Academy and nearby communities sat in strained silence. Rafe stood at my side, his wings tucked back, whileLucien, Alister, Chad, Ryker, and Zade flanked me like a united front.

Zade nodded, breaking the quiet. “The dean is right. With the influx of volunteers, we’ll need the Academy as our base of operations.”

The chief of Supernatural Law Enforcement grunted his agreement. “Better to have willing fighters here than a bunch of half-trained students not listening to protocols.”

“It’s settled, then,” Dean Sterling sighed. “We’ll begin evacuations immediately. The dormitories will be cleared for those who’ve come to help.”

Chad leaned forward, resting his hands on the table. “What about the students? What if Eris targets them on their way home?”

The room fell silent, the gravity of his words hanging in the air. The thought of Eris targeting the students churned my stomach.

---