Thornhill Academy (By Sheridan Hartin) novel Chapter 140

Chapter 140

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Kael

Rhaziel leaves like a creepy as shadow demon. One second he’s there, standing by the window with his hands in his pockets and his tail flicking idly behind him, and the next, he’s half-swallowed by his own shadows, fading into nothing but a faint shimmer of blue in the air. He doesn’t say goodbye, not to Evander and me, but he kisses Ally so tenderly it makes me want to punch a wall and also, maybe, thank

him for existing. Ally stands where he left her, staring at the empty space he disappeared through, her fingers brushing over the faint glow on her wrist. The sigils there are dim now, but they still burn with his mark. I don’t think she even realises she’s smiling. Evander’s the one who breaks the silence. He’s leaning against the counter, a fresh cup of coffee in hand, his hair still damp from a shower. “He’ll be gone for most of the day,” he says. “Something about realm business.”

“Realm business,” I echo, dropping onto the couch. “Must be nice to have an entire dimension as an excuse

to leave when you don’t want to talk about your feelings.”

Allison shoots me a look that’s half amused, half warning. “He said he had meetings.”

“Sure he did.” I grin, taking a sip from the mug I stole from her shelf. “So what’s the plan now that Shadow

Daddy’s clocked out?”

Evander raises a brow. “You’re insufferable.”

“Yeah, but I’m cute,” I shoot back, and Allison snorts.

Evander finishes his coffee and sets it down with a quiet sigh. “I need to let the dragon out. It’s been too

long since I hunted properly.”

I nod. “Makes sense.” I glance at Allison, trying to sound casual and failing miserably. “You, uh, got plans

for the day, trouble?”

She shrugs, tugging her hair over one shoulder. “Not really. Just trying not to glow in front of the wrong

person again accidentally.”

“Perfect.” I stretch, grinning now. “You’re coming with me.”

Her eyes narrow. “That sounds suspiciously like a trap.”

“Not a trap. Training.”

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Wed, Dec

Chapter 140

Evander makes a low sound in his throat. “Try not to destroy half the forest.”

“No promises,” I say, already heading for the door.

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Allison sighs but follows, muttering under her breath about how this is definitely going to end with one of

us on fire.

The woods are quieter than usual. The storm that passe last night left everything damp and green. We walk in silence for a while, our boots crunching softly against the wet ground. She keeps glancing around,

probably half-expecting Rhaziel to materialise out of a tree somewhere.

I glance at her, at the faint blue shimmer still hidden beneath her skin. “You miss him already.”

She hesitates. “I miss the calm he brings.”

That, I can’t argue with. Rhaziel has a way of making even chaos look composed. Me? I’m more of a hands-

on, see-what-happens kind of guy. But today, I’m not here to compete. I’m here because I hate seeing her

look like she’s about to shatter, and also, I want some time with my mate alone. We reach the clearing

where the trees open up enough for sunlight to spill through and I roll my shoulders and turn to face her.

“Alright,” I say. “Let’s see what you’ve got.”

Her brows pull together. “You mean-?”

“All of it,” I interrupt. “The dragon, the hellhound, the wraith, the demon. Everything. No one’s watching

out here. It’s just me.”

“That’s exactly what worries me,” she mutters, but she steps forward anyway.

I grin. “You’re learning.”

She starts slow, with the dragon. Her breath changes first and then the heat rolls off her in waves. The air

around her ripples, and when her eyes open, they’re streaked gold and molten. The scent of smoke hits

before the first curl of flame escapes her lips, twisting through the air like it’s alive.

“Good,” I murmur. “Now the hound.”

Her skin darkens, the faint gold bleeding into crimson long her forearms. I catch a glimpse of her claws forming, the soft gleam of molten edges catching in the light.

“That’s my girl,” I whisper before I can stop myself.

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17:43 Wed, Dec 31

Chapter 140

She glances up at me, and the smirk that curves her lips nearly knocks the air from my lungs. Next comes the shadows. The forest dims instantly, the colour bleeding out of the world. The sigils along her collarbone and throat ignite in blue light, her skin taking on that otherworldly hue that only Rhaziel ever seems to wear comfortably. Her tail flickers into existence behind her, her horns glint faintly in the low

light.

“Damn,” I breathe. “He’s never gonna shut up about this if he finds out you nailed his form.”

She laughs, low and soft, the sound echoing strangely in the dark. “You’re just jealous.”

“Of the demon or the tail?”

“Both.”

She steps closer, her eyes catching the faint light, and the world feels like it’s holding its breath again. Then the wraith comes. Her body stills and the shadows around her begin to move on their own, rippling like they’ve found a current only she can command. Her edges blur, her voice softens, and for a moment, she’s there and not there all at once. When she looks up, her eyes are silver, bright, cold and endless.

“Kael,” she whispers, and the sound of my name in that voice sends a shiver right through me.

“I’m here,” I tell her, stepping closer.

The air shifts again, and suddenly I feel her. Not just her power, but her thoughts, her memories…She’s sharing her mind with me. I see flashes of her fear, her exhaustion, her loneliness, but then, like sunlight

through smoke, there’s me. The way she sees me. The warmth. The laughter. The loyalty. The love. And in that same moment, I know she can see what’s in me. The way I look at her when she’s not watching. The way I’d burn every inch of this academy to the ground if it meant keeping her safe. The way I long for her

peace more than I long for her touch.

“Allison,” I whisper.

When she finally pulls back, she looks dizzy, like she’s been swimming too deep. I catch her before she

falls, her head landing against my chest.

“You good?” I ask.

Her breath catches. “Yeah,” she says softly. “Just… a lot

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