Thornhill Academy (By Sheridan Hartin) novel Chapter 10

A Filthy Mind.

I stabbed another piece of potato and pretended I didn’t feel both Cage’s and Pierce’s eyes burning holes into me. Tessa, bless her, either didn’t notice or refused to care. She leaned forward on her elbows, her strawberry–blonde braid slipping over her shoulder as she beamed at me.

“So,” she chirped, “what classes do you have for the rest of the day?”

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I blinked at her, then dug the folded parchment schedule Hill had given me out of my bag. It was already crumpled at the edges. “Uh…” I smoothed it out on the table. “Let’s see. Potions this morning, obviously. Next is Elemental Studies, then Divination, and then…” My lips twisted. “Defensive Training.”

Pierce leaned back in his seat, still grinning, when he suddenly frowned at my schedule. “Wait, why the hell are you taking Defensive Training?”

The words carried across the table, loud enough that a few heads turned.

Tessa’s jaw dropped. “Oh stars. I’m surprised they’d even put you in there. You’ll get absolutely pummeled…” She winced, cheeks pink. “No offence.”

“None taken,” I muttered, stabbing at my potatoes again.

Tessa tilted her head, nose wrinkling as her eyes narrowed at me. “What sort of magical are you, anyway? I can’t place your scent.”

Pierce’s auburn–flecked eyes gleamed as he leaned closer, inhaling deliberately. “She’s right. You don’t smell like anything I’ve come across before.”

My heart stuttered, but I forced a shrug, keeping my tone casual. “Probably just because I was unregistered for so long. Throws things off, you know? Makes me… different.”

They exchanged a glance but didn’t push further.

Pranged bread

I shoved a piece of bread into my mouth, chewing slowly before adding, “I’m a mind reader.”

That got their attention.

Tessa’s eyes widened, her freckles standing out stark against her pale skin. “Seriously? That’s…” She glanced around nervously. “That’s rare.”

Pierce’s grin faltered, suspicion flickering across his face. “Huh. That explains a lot.”

Before he could say more, I let the power I’d siphoned from Hill unfurl in my head, just a little taste, like opening a window a crack. I reached toward Pierce’s mind. The first thought that slammed into me was loud, frantic, and ridiculous.

Shit. Don’t think about her boobs. Don’t think about her boobs. Don’t think about her boobs.

I blinked, then choked on my bread, covering it with a cough. My face heated as I fought back the laugh clawing at my throat.

Pierce frowned, leaning toward me. “What?”

“Nothing,” I rasped, taking a quick gulp of water.

Tessa looked between us, brows raised, suspicion blooming.

I shoved my hair forward to hide my face, muttering under my breath. “Mind reading’s very useful.”

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A Filthy Mind.

Peirce’s brows furrowed for a beat, his eyes narrowing on me. Then, like a door creaking open, another thought brushed against mine, louder, sharper,

directed.

Are you in my head, little stray?

My fork froze halfway to my mouth. I stared at my plate, pretending not to hear. When I didn’t answer, his smirk spread slowly and dangerously. His

thoughts sharpened, deliberate this time, no frantic slip, but a pointed shove straight at me. An image burst behind my eyes: his hand sliding boldly up my

skirt, heat and hunger sparking in his gaze.

I sucked in a breath at the same time water hit the back of my throat. I choked, sputtering, then full–on sprayed water out of my nose. The table went dead

quiet.

Tessa gasped. “Allison! Are you okay?”

I snatched a napkin, blotting furiously at my face, my cheeks blazing.

Pierce sat beside me, grinning like the devil himself, leaning on his elbow as if nothing had happened. His eyes glinted with molten mischief.

I glared at him, fire burning hot enough to set the table aflame. “You…”

He just tipped his head, smug as ever. “What’s the matter, Rivers? Cat got your tongue?”

Tessa glanced between us, bewildered. “What just happened?”

“Nothing,” I ground out, stabbing my fork so hard into my chicken that the tines bent. “Absolutely nothing.”

Pierce just leaned closer, his voice low, meant for me alone. “Then stay out of my head; little stray… unless you like what you find there.”

The bell rang, loud and merciful, cutting through Pierce’s smug grin and my murderous glare. Students shoved back from their tables, the food vanishing

from plates with soft pops of magic.

“Come on,” Tessa said brightly, grabbing her bag. “We’ve got Elemental Studies next. You’ll like this one, promise.”

I didn’t care if it was broom–riding or basket–weaving, as long as it got me away from Kael Pierce and the filthy images rattling around in his head. I slung

my bag over my shoulder and followed Tessa out into the hall. The crowd pressed around us, uniforms brushing past, conversations humming. Tessa

chattered the whole way, pointing out classrooms, staircases, and shortcuts as if she’d been waiting for an excuse to give a grand tour.

Then, halfway up a staircase, she shot me a sideways glance. “Okay, so… how the hell did you get his attention?”

I blinked. “Whose?”

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