Page 9 of Fated for Dawn

Ryker’s eyes glinted with quiet satisfaction. “It helps keep people from defecting to my father’s side, knowing there’s a stronger shifter than him. And the others have been great.”

“The others?” I asked.

Chad’s teasing tone shifted to something more serious. “We’ve all been looking out for each other this past year. But you’re still our number one priority.”

I glanced around the table, my heart tightening as I took in the sincerity on their faces.

Rafe smiled. “We’ve missed you, Evelyn, but we don’t want to overwhelm you. If this is too much—”

“I’m okay,” I interrupted quickly, though the truth was more complicated. “Really. Just tell me everything.”

Rafe sighed. “Now that magic is back. Eris is bound to make an appearance soon. But in terms of a plan, I’m afraid we don’t have one—or much to go on.”

“We’ve been monitoring smaller villages, including the one that had been siphoned, making sure they’re not producing more of it,” Lucien added. “So far, we haven’t found anything.”

“Everyone’s been freaking out,” Chad said. “Shifters could barely shift, and with magic flickering in and out, people are scared.”

“The magical community is definitely on edge.” Rafe nodded. “They’re scrambling to figure out why magic’s been so unstable.”

“But you told the SLEA what happened on the battlefield, right?” I asked, glancing between them.

“We did,” Rafe replied. “The Supernatural Law Enforcement Agency is investigating what Morgana and the elders were up to, including the use of black magic. But they’re not buying the full story. Claiming a god was resurrected in the body of a young witch? Let’s just say it’s been met with skepticism. And the fact that your departure into the Shadow Realm might have affected the balance of magic? Even more so.”

“And with magic going haywire,” Lucien added, “crime’s on the rise, and they’re barely keeping up.”

“It’s also been chaos at the Academy,” Chad pitched in.

“How so?” I asked.

“Parents pulling their kids out, while others spread rumors and conspiracy theories. Everyone’s wary of each other.”

“There’s a literal witch hunt happening,” Lucien explained. “Young witches and warlocks who were once members of the Luminary coven are being targeted, bullied, and blamed.”

I absorbed everything and how the world had changed while I was gone.

“You should consider going back to class,” Lucien said, breaking me out of my thoughts.

I rolled my eyes.

Of course, the teacher would think school is important, but everything else felt much more urgent right now. “School? Now?”

He raised an eyebrow. “Yes, school. There are only a couple of months left. Besides, there’s no way we’re all leaving you here alone; most of us will be at the Academy, and now that magic is back, we’ll be able to reinforce our wards.”Almost as an afterthought, he added, “An education is important.”

I just stared at him.

A god took over my best friend’s body, threatening magical destruction, and he’s thinking about education.

“I spoke with the dean today about another matter and told him you’d be back on Monday.”

“Monday!” I echoed before frowning. “Wait, what day is it today?”

“It’s Friday night,” Rafe replied.

I crossed my arms. “Well, I’m not going back until I get Alister.”

Lucien met my gaze, his expression calm but resolute. “Well, you have until Monday.”

I wanted to jump over the table and strangle him—just a little.

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