Thornhill Academy (By Sheridan Hartin) novel Chapter 155

Chapter 155

Allison

51

The quiet stretches between us until it’s no longer silence-it’s a heartbeat, steady and shared. Rhaziel’s hands hover at my waist, the last traces of his anger burned away, replaced by something softer, something that hums between us like a secret. When he finally tilts his head down, I meet him halfway. The kiss is slow at first, hesitant, tasting of smoke and the remnants of fury. Then his tail curls around my hips, pulling me closer, and the world tilts with it. The realm answers his heartbeat, the air alive with shifting light and shadow. Every part of him feels like contrast-cool skin and burning magic, restraint and possession, thunder and calm.

I pull back just enough to whisper against his lips, “I do need to get back to school.”

He hums, low and displeased, his tail tightening around me like a protest. “Must you?”

“Yes.”

He exhales through his nose, a sound halfway between a sigh and a growl. The tail tugs lightly at the hem of my shirt as if it could keep me here by sheer stubbornness. “Fine,” he mutters, tone reluctant and entirely unconvincing. “But if this-” He taps the small silver bracelet on his wrist, the gemstone glinting faintly blue- “turns one of those ugly colours again, I’m stealing you away forever.”

I laugh, the sound echoing through his realm like light cutting through shadow. “You wouldn’t.”

His eyes narrow with mock offence. “You think I wouldn’t?”

“I think you like pretending you’re scarier than you are.”

He leans closer, his voice a purr against my ear. “Hummingbird, I am terrifying.”

“Not to me,” I say, and that makes him smile, the kind that belongs only to me.

When he kisses me again, it’s softer-less claim, more promise. The air bends around us, shadows rising like a tide. His power unfurls, threads of ink and starlight weaving through the space until the ground gives way beneath our feet. The world folds and then unfolds again. We emerge into blinding sunlight and a chorus of startled voices.

The training field. The shadows peel off us like mist, leaving behind the scent of ozone and frost Kael jumps back with a curse, his hand halfway to shifting before his brain catches up. “Bloody hells, warn a guy next time!”

Evander, of course, doesn’t flinch. He’s standing there with a towel slung over his shoulder, eyes scanning me first-like he’s checking for injuries-before landing on Rhaziel. “This is new,” he says dryly. “Materialising in the middle of the field now, are we?”

The world around us has gone still. Dozens of students are frozen mid-practice, the sound of crackling magic and clashing weapons fading into a stunned hush. Every eye is on us. On him. Rhaziel stands tall, unbothered, his shadows curling lazily around his boots. His expression is perfectly composed except for the faintest lift of his brow-as if he can’t fathom why anyone would find his sudden appearance unusual.

Evander’s voice lowers, calm but firm. “What happened?”

I pat his chest lightly, forcing a small, breezy smile. “Just a little Cage issue. No big deal.”

Kael snorts, still trying to catch his breath. “No big deal?” He looks between us, his grin sharp with amusement. “Let me guess-Daddy handled it, didn’t

he?”

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17:12 Thu, Jan 1 M

Chapter 155

Rhaziel’s sigh is long-suffering. “Do not call me that in public,” he mutters, voice caught somewhere between exasperation and threat.

Kael just grins wider, clearly delighted. “Public or not, Shadow Daddy’s got rules now.”

“Kael,” Evander warns under his breath.

051

Before any of them can push it further, Coach clears his throat from across the field. His expression is carefully neutral, though his eyes are flicking between Rhaziel’s horns, tail, and the still-swirling shadows like he’s debating whether to run or bow.

“King Rhaziel,” he says finally, his tone both respectful and wary, “will you be joining us for training today?”

Rhaziel turns toward him, every inch the monarch he is. “No,” he says simply, then looks down at me. The sudden warmth in his expression doesn’t escape

anyone. “I believe my queen has enough guardians for one realm.”

He bends slightly, just enough to press a kiss to my forehead. The touch is light, but the màgic in it hums against my skin like a secret I’ll never forget.

Then, just as suddenly as he appeared, he’s gone-vanishing into the folds of his own shadows. The air rushes to fill the space he leaves behind.

The field stays silent for a full beat before Kael whistles low. “Well,” he says, dragging a hand through his hair, “that wasn’t dramatic at all.”

Evander groans softly, rubbing the bridge of his nose. “You’re going to make him actually eat you one of these days.”

“Wouldn’t be the worst way to go,” Kael mutters.

I elbow him hard enough to make him wince. “You’re impossible.”

“True,” he says, grinning. “But I’m also right.”

Coach coughs, clearly done with all of us. “If His Majesty is finished making an appearance,” he says dryly, “perhaps we can get back to training?”

Evander nudges my shoulder gently. “You good?”

“Yeah,” I say, straightening my shirt. “Just another day at Thornhill.”

Kael smirks. “Sure, trouble. Totally normal day.”

The others start to drift back to their groups, though I can still feel the eyes on me. I ignore them, focusing on the faint hum of magic still lingering in the air where Rhaziel stood. It clings to me like a whisper, steady and protective.

Evander falls into step beside me as the session starts, his expression unreadable. “You really okay?”

“Yeah,” I say again, softer this time.

He studies me for a moment, then nods. “Good. Because whatever you’re calling a ‘little Cage issue’ has your demon half radiating like wildfire.”

I grimace. “He’s fine.”

“Define fine.”

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