Page 93 of Fated for Dawn

“What?” he asked.

I looked at each of them, feeling the new bond humming between us.

“Well,” I said, a smile tugging at my lips. “This should make tomorrow interesting.”

37

Ryker

This was it. The day we’d been preparing for.

We stood in the academy’s courtyard, gathered with our makeshift army. It had been hailing all morning.

The largest hail pallets I’d ever seen.

We needed to end Eris today.

Low murmurs spread among the group, and tension hung heavy.

The SLEA Chief addressed us, his voice sharp. “Everyone clear on the plan?”

I nodded along with the others. Evelyn’s eyes met mine, and I caught the exhaustion there. My stomach twisted.

“You okay?” I whispered.

She forced a small smile. “Yep.”

Lucien stepped forward, distributing vials from a leather satchel.

“Drink the blue one now. It’ll give you extra protection, especially against the black flames,” he said, moving quickly as he passed them out.

The others handed out gear—blades, armor, anything we might need—while equipment was loaded into large trucks.

Evelyn took her potion silently, her gaze distant. Her silence unnerved me, but I didn’t push. We all had our own ways of bracing for what lay ahead, but through our bond, I could feel the simmering anxiety and dread from Evelyn and the guys.

Then she turned to us, pulling each of us into a fierce hug. “I love you all,” she whispered before setting her shoulders and putting on her game face.

“Stick to the plan,” Zade said firmly. “We weaken her forces, drive her into the containment, and then figure out how to separate her from Lia.”

We all nodded.

After lengthy discussions with the SLEA and members of our makeshift army, we had agreed—contain, not destroy. Evelyn wouldn’t have it any other way.

I still wasn’t convinced, but I’d follow the plan for Evelyn.

Advanced witches and warlocks had spent days crafting the strongest containment spell possible. It was our best shot at saving Lia—if that was even possible.

Once we successfully removed Eris’s essence, she would be trapped and taken back to the Shadow Realm—where the gods would deal with her.

As we headed towards the Luminary coven’s mansion, some shifted into their supernatural forms, while others piled into vehicles. My thoughts drifted, unbidden, to my father—the man who’d made my life a living hell. The one who killed my mother. My fists clenched at my sides. I had to put him down—even if he was my father.

“I can hear your thoughts, you know,” Evelyn murmured, stepping beside me.

I met her gaze. Her hair was still wild from the morning rush, but her eyes were steady as they searched mine.

“You sure you’re ready for this?” she asked.

I nodded.

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