Page 81 of Fated for Dawn

This wasn’t a simple possession—it was a goddess anchoring herself to a mortal vessel. No spell or ritual had ever separated a deity from a host before. Most believed the only surefire way to stop Eris was to kill her—and Lia along with her.

If Lia’s body died before Eris could escape, the goddess would be trapped inside her, their souls bound together in the Shadow Realm for eternity. It was a grim solution, but the only way to some.

I refused to accept that.

As the meeting dragged on, I felt the weight of exhaustion pressing on me. My mind spun with too many thoughts at once.

“I’ll be back,” I muttered, pushing away from the table.

Rafe’s concerned gaze flicked toward me. “Where are you going?”

“Bathroom.”

Chad waggled his eyebrows. “Need any help?”

Lucien smacked the back of his head. “Let her go.”

I rolled my eyes and slipped out of the room, weaving through the halls until I found the nearest bathroom.

The second I shut the door, the world lurched, shadows twisting and swallowing everything around me.

Not this place again.

A deep, resonant voice rumbled through the darkness.

“It’s time to fulfill your favor.”

I turned sharply, my stomach tightening as I met the hollow, endless gaze of the Shadow Guardian.

I swallowed hard. “Now? You couldn’t have waited until after we stopped an actual goddess from wrecking the world?”

“The Lord of the Underworld is not known for his patience,” the Guardian said. “You made a deal. We spared your mate. Now it’s time to pay up.”

A vial materialized in his outstretched hand, swirling with silver mist.

I didn’t dare touch it yet.

“What is it?” I asked warily.

The Guardian’s gaze bore into mine. “That’s unimportant. You simply need to place this on a particular person.”

“What is it?” I asked again as I folded my arms.

He sighed, impatience flickering across his face. “It’s a tracking spell. Hades believes someone of interest is hiding at Bloodstained Academy. You will plant this on our target.”

My stomach dropped. “Bloodstained Academy? That’s a reform school for supernatural criminals.”

The Guardian nodded.

I exhaled sharply. “And what does Hades want with this person?”

“That doesn’t concern you.”

Oh, that was reassuring.

I eyed the vial warily. “And what happens if I refuse?”

The Guardian tilted his head. “Then you break a deal with Hades, and we take your mate back.”

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