Thornhill Academy (By Sheridan Hartin) novel Chapter 128

Chapter 128

Rhaziel

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The Shadow Realm hums around us, alive and pulsing with quiet magic. Every step we take sends ripples of

light through the ground, like we’re walking on starlit water. She walks beside me in silence, her hair

catching the faint glow that bleeds from the air itself. It drifts weightlessly behind her, beautiful against

the blue of this place. We crest the rise that overlooks the palace, its dark spires stretching high into the

endless twilight sky, and I glance down at her. “Are you hungry, hummingbird?”

Her lips twitch into a soft, tired smile. “Maybe.”

I tilt my head, studying her. “Food or magic first?”

She hesitates, biting her bottom lip, and the faintest pul tugs at the tether between us. “Magic,” she

whispers.

Something primal in me purrs at the word. “Then take what you need,” I tell her softly. “And afterwards, we

will dine together.”

Her breath catches, and I lower my head, brushing a kiss against her forehead, my hands lingering at her shoulders. The warmth of her skin bleeds into my palms, and when I feel the faint pull of her feeding, it steals my breath for a moment-her power hums to life between us. The shadows twist, sensing her hunger and my magic is answering her call as if it was always meant to. She exhales slowly, her lashes fluttering

closed, and the air shifts.

Her body glows faintly, a soft pulse of blue light that spreads outward until the sigils on her skin blaze like fire through glass. Her hair lifts on an invisible current, the tips fading into midnight. The horns form next, elegant and curved, catching the light like polished obsidian. Then the tail-sleek, strong and moving with purpose-wraps briefly around her leg before unfurling behind her. I’ve seen many wonders in this realm. I have forged storms, raised armies, and commanded shadows to swallow whole kingdoms. But nothing- nothing-has ever stolen the breath from my lungs the way she does now. Allison stands before me not as a fragile mortal or even as my bonded equal, but as something transcendent-my queen. The realm itself seems to recognise her. The air thickens, humming with power that doesn’t belong to just me anymore; it belongs to us. The castle lights flicker brighter in the distance, the rivers of shadow below reflecting her glow. I barely notice the movement at first, the quiet shuffle of feet, the faint rustle of movement through the grounds. Then I realise we’re no longer alone. Demons line the pathway behind us, drawn by the sudden flare of energy. Warriors, courtiers, servants… all frozen in place, their gazes locked on her. And then, as one, they drop to their knees in a low, unified bow. Heads bowed, muscles tight and hands pressed

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Chapter 128

to the ground in reverence. The sight strikes something deep within me. A mix of pride, possession and

wonder washes over me. She is mine.

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She opens her eyes then, those eyes that mirror my own now, deep and endless as the midnight skies above us, and looks around, startled by the crowd.

I step forward instinctively, placing a steadying hand on her back. “They see their queen,” I murmur. “They

only do what is right.”

Her tail twitches nervously, brushing against mine. The touch makes me smile before I can stop it.

“I didn’t mean to…” she starts, her voice small.

“You did nothing wrong,” I assure her. “You were simply seen.” And gods, what a sight she is.

Even my generals, creatures who have stood with me for centuries, bow their heads, unable to meet her gaze. The power rolling from her is not wild or cruel; it’s balanced. Beautiful. A perfect mirror to my own chaos. I straighten, letting the pride swell through my chest. My hand slips to her shoulder, a quiet claim. “Behold your Queen,” I say, my voice carrying easily over the hush of the crowd. The demons bow deeper, the shadows themselves still and she glances at me, wide-eyed, cheeks flushed, but I only smile, my heart aching with something that feels far too human to belong to a demon king. We walk again when the moment passes, though the crowd trails at a respectful distance. The castle gates open as we approach, dark stone sliding apart like liquid. Inside, the halls shimmer faintly, carved from living shadow that shifts

under the touch.

She reaches out, fingertips brushing the wall. “It’s warm,” she says, surprised.

“The realm responds to those it recognises,” I tell her. It lives, in its way.”

“And it recognizes me?”

I glance at her, unable to hide the smile that rises. “It bows for no one who is not worthy.”

Her blush deepens.

We walk in silence for a moment, the sound of our steps soft against the living floor. I catch my reflection in the mirrored walls-blue skin, horns curved high, eyes burning with faint silver light-and behind me, the reflection of her: smaller, brighter, but radiating the same power. It feels right. As if the realm itself has been waiting for this balance. When we reach the grand doors of the dining hall, I stop and turn to face her fully. “You are stronger than I imagined, hummingbird,” I admit quietly. “But strength is not a thing that must always be proven. You may rest now.”

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Chapter 128

She tilts her head. “Rest?”

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“In this place,” I say, stepping closer, “you do not have to hold yourself together. The shadows will keep

you safe. The world will wait.”

Her eyes soften, the glow within them fading just slightly. “You make it sound so easy.”

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