Thornhill Academy (By Sheridan Hartin) novel Chapter 116

The Queens Table.

Allison

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The smell of frying eggs and buttered toast fills the attic. Evander hums at the stove, sleeves rolled to his

elbows, golden scales faintly gleaming on his forearms in the morning light. Kael’s perched on one of the counters, pretending to help but mostly just stealing bites of whatever’s within reach. Rhaziel sits beside me at the small table, impossibly composed for someone who spent half the night tangled in shadows with me. His posture is regal even here, in my cluttered attic kitchen with mismatched mugs and cracked plates.

The faint glow of his sigils pulses softly under his skin, like a secret only the darkness can hear. I sip my

tea, feeling his gaze on me. It’s warm, not hungry, just present. “You’re staring again,” I say without

looking up.

“I am admiring,” he corrects, his voice a low hum that makes my toes curl.

Kael snorts from the counter. “He’s got it bad.”

Rhaziel tilts his head. “If by bad you mean irrevocably, then yes.”

I try not to choke on my tea. Evander turns with a grin, sliding plates onto the table. “Eat before you two

start declaring eternal devotion or whatever it is you do❞

Rhaziel studies the plate as if it were a strange artifact. “You’ve prepared food again… For all of us.”

“It’s called breakfast,” Evander says. “You should try it sometime.”

“I have not needed to eat for a few hundred years.”

“Then you’re overdue.”

Rhaziel actually smiles, faint but real, and takes a bite. He looks vaguely startled by the taste. “This is…

agreeable.”

Kael bursts out laughing. “High praise from Shadow Demon Daddy himself.”

Rhaziel blinks, utterly serious. “I am not a paternal fige.”

“Sure, big guy,” Kael says through a grin. “Whatever you say.”

I’m still laughing when the door flies open and Tessa storms in, sunlight and chaos in human form, dragging poor Rynor behind her by the wrist. His expression is somewhere between apologetic and

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10:38 Wed, Dec 31

The Queens Table.

mortified.

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“Oh my gods!” she shrieks. “You’re all here! You-oh, breakfast smells amazing-hi, Kael, hi, Evander-oh

my gods, hi, Your Majesty.”

Rhaziel inclines his head politely. “Miss Tessa.”

Rynor immediately drops to one knee. “My King.”

Rhaziel acknowledges him with a nod, but before I can even greet them properly, Rynor gasps softly, eyes

fixed on me. His head bows even lower. “Forgive me, my Queen.”

The room goes still. I blink down at him. “Wait, what?”

Kael frowns, looking between us. “Uh, since when do we have kneeling before breakfast?”

Rynor lifts his head slightly, still keeping his eyes downcast. “The markings,” he says reverently. “They are

beautiful.”

My stomach drops. I glance down-and sure enough, faint blue light seeps through the skin of my forearms, curling up toward my collarbones like ink beneath glass.

“You can see them?” I whisper.

Tessa lets out a squeal. “Can we see them? Oh my gods, of course we can see them! They’re glowing! What

are they? Oh, they’re gorgeous!”

Before I can respond, Rhaziel rises from his chair, the shadows bending toward him as if called. He steps close enough that the heat of him seeps into my skin and brushes his fingers gently along my shoulder. The concealment I’d fought to maintain shatters instantly. The sigils flare to life, bright blue and alive, lighting the room like a constellation. Tessa gasps. Ryner audibly exhales and bows even deeper, forehead

to the floor.

Rhaziel’s voice is calm, proud, and confident. “These are the markings of my Queen.”

Kael groans under his breath. “Show off”

Tessa fans herself dramatically. “So you did ‘it’ didn’t you?”

“Tessa,” I hiss, cheeks burning.

“What?” She grins. “I’m happy for you! Our little Allison got herself crowned and-”

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10:38 Wed

The Queens Table.

“Tessa.”

She laughs and throws her hands up in surrender. “Fine, fine. Shutting up.”

I look down at Rynor. “Please, stand up. You’re making the nervous.”

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He obeys immediately but still won’t meet my eyes. “Do you two want breakfast?” I ask, trying to diffuse

the tension. “Evander made plenty.”

Tessa beams. “If you insist!”

Rynor hesitates until Rhaziel gestures for him to rise fully. “Sit,” the king commands, and Rynor obeys

without a word.

For a few moments, the only sounds are the clinking of cutlery and Tessa humming happily to herself. Then Rhaziel sets down his cup and looks to Rynor. “You have classes with your Queen today?”

Rynor nods carefully. “A few, yes, my King.”

“Good.” Rhaziel’s tone deepens. “Then I entrust you with

markings.”

task. Help her ensure that no one sees the

Rynor’s brow furrows. “Of course, my King. But… forgive me for asking-how does she have markings?”

Rhaziel glances at me, a silent question and I nod once. “Your Queen is a siphon” he says evenly. “She fed from me the shadows have claimed her as one of their own. She now carries my sigils as proof of that

bond.”

Tessa’s eyes widen. “That’s-oh, that’s actually kind of romantic…and we clearly need to talk about something ‘things’ that were missed in our girl talks.” Her eyes narrow slightly at me but then she goes back to eating like it doesn’t really bother her.

Rynor, however, looks stunned. His lips part, but he only bows again. “It will be an honour, my King. My Queen. I assure you that information is safe with me.”

“Thank you,” I say softly.

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