Thornhill Academy (By Sheridan Hartin) novel Chapter 11

Learn To Use What You Have.

The chatter in the room cut short when the door swung open. A woman strode in, tall and commanding, her hair a blaze of copper coils that caught the

light like fire. Her golden eyes scanned the class, sharp and unyielding, the kind of gaze that said she’d already catalogued every one of us and found us

lacking.

“Seats down, mouths shut,” she said, her voice like a spark striking tinder. “We don’t waste time in Elemental Studies. If you’re here, you’re here to work.”

The room stilled. Even Cage straightened a little, though his smirk didn’t falter.

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“I am Professor Talwyn,” she went on, planting herself at the front. “Some of you carry the gift of fire, wind, water, or stone. Some of you do not. That does

not excuse you from learning. If you do not command an element, then you will learn to shield, resist, and cooperate with your partner’s power. If you do

command an element, you will learn control. Precision. Discipline.”

Her golden eyes swept the room, lingering on me long enough that my stomach twisted.

“Pairing assignments are posted on the board. Gather with your partner. We begin immediately.‘

The board shimmered, names scrawling themselves in glowing script. I shoved my way to the front, my stomach dropping when I found mine. Rivers, Allison

–

– Caelum, Cage. Of course. When I turned, Cage was already watching me. He slid out of his seat with deliberate ease, golden eyes glinting like he’d just

been handed the best toy in the room.

“Well, well,” he drawled, sauntering closer. “Looks like you’re stuck with me, stray.”

He didn’t sound thrilled, not exactly. No, the twist in his smirk was sharper, darker. He looked… entertained. Sadistically so.

I folded my arms, scowling up at him. “Trust me, I’m not thrilled either.”

“Oh, don’t worry.” He leaned down, his breath brushing my ear. “I’ll make it very memorable for you.”

My stomach tightened, though not entirely from dread. Great. Just great.

The room erupted into chaos the second Talwyn barked her command. Fireballs hissed across the air, wind gusts rattled the windows, streams of water

snaked between desks, only to hiss into steam when they hit flame. Stone cracked and rose from the floor, forming jagged shields. I stood frozen for a

moment, taking it all in. That’s when I spotted Tessa. Except she wasn’t Tessa anymore. She’d shifted into a tiny rabbit, snow–white fur flashing as she

darted under desks, weaving between legs with uncanny precision. Fireballs missed her by inches, gusts of wind toppled chairs, but not her. I groaned,

dragging a hand down my face. Of course. Out of every power I could’ve borrowed, I’d picked Hill’s. Stuck pretending to be a mind reader while my new…

friend? roommate?. was showing off her bunny hops.

…

“This is going to be humiliating,” I muttered.

“Oh, don’t worry, Rivers.” Cage’s golden eyes glittered as he raised a hand. “I’ll make sure of it.”

Before I could brace, a sharp gust of wind slammed into my legs, sweeping my feet right out from under me. I hit the floor with a graceless thud, my bag

spilling open. Laughter rippled from nearby students. I scrambled up, cheeks flaming, only for a stream of cold water to dump over my head. It soaked

through my uniform in an instant, plastering my hair to my face and Cage continued to do this, over and over and over again.

“Why don’t you fight back?” Cage taunted, circling me like a predator. Another gust of wind shoved me sideways, knocking me into a desk. “Shield yourself. Do something. What sort of pathetic magical are you?”

1 clenched my fists. “Because I bloody can’t.”

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Learn To Use What You Have.

The words ripped from me before I could stop them. My voice cracked sharp enough to draw a few stares.

1. 1.

Professor Talwyn’s heels clicked against the floor as she strode over, her fiery gaze pinning me in place. Her frown was deep, disapproving. “Rivers.”

I swallowed hard, forcing myself to nod.

“I was told you are a mind reader.”

Another nod. My heart hammered.

“Then you fight back with your own power.” Her eyes flicked toward Cage, then back to me. “Get inside the boy’s head. Make him wish he hadn’t underestimated you.”

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