Thornhill Academy (By Sheridan Hartin) novel Chapter 185

Chapter 185

Evander

She wanted him here, and he stayed. Honestly, that was all Cassian ever needed to do to earn my approval. He didn’t need to apologise, explain himself, or deliver a polished, emotional speech, as he does in class when lecturing on moral philosophy. He stayed. He chose her. That was all he ever needed to do. He

sat back down on those old floorboards with a quiet exhale. Allison’s shoulders loosened a fraction. Kael’s breathing evened out. Even my dragon settled, curling around my ribs with a low, grudging sound of agreement. This is right. I watched Cassian carefully, because Cassian is the type of man you should watch carefully. The war carved sharp edges into people, but into him it carved depth. He wears it in the line of his spine, the precision of his fingers, the way he never glances at a door without calculating three exit routes. You don’t get that from teaching at Thornhill. No-that’s battlefield muscle memory. And yet, when he lifts his eyes to Allison… everything softens. He stayed because she asked him to, because she reached for him, because she whispered she

didn’t want him walking into danger alone. You don’t walk away from that kind of plea. Not if you love her. Not if you’re hers.

“Sit with me,” Kael murmurs to her, tugging her down between us like he’s been starved of her touch for years, not just hours. She goes willingly, leaning into him, letting their foreheads brush. My chest warms at the sight, at the small smile she gives him despite her own exhaustion, despite the tremble still

in her magic. I take her hand, thumb brushing slow circles over her knuckles. She relaxes against us, a soft sigh slipping from her lips. Cassian looks up just

long enough to catalogue the moment-her between us, held, safe, loved-and something unreadable flickers across his face. Acceptance, maybe, mixed with hunger, relief, a little awe and underneath all of it… belonging. Cassian rises to his feet with a slow crack of his knees, the kind that makes you think he’s about to lecture a classroom, but then he pulls a knife from the inside of his coat, and the illusion of Professor Hill dissolves completely.

“I’m going to get us something to eat,” he says.

Allison’s head snaps up. “Get us

something-how?”

He holds her stare, calm, unbothered, as he turns the knife in his hand. Its blade catches what little light seeps through the broken windows. “Hunt,” he

answers simply. “There’s game nearby. I saw fresh tracks.”

Kael tsks. “Of course he can hunt. Is there anything the man can’t do? Please say cooking. I want him to be bad at something.”

Cassian doesn’t even grace that with a reaction. He just looks at Allison again, and something flickers in her eyes-a pinch of worry, a flicker of instinct, the

beginnings of the bond tugging taut.

“Cassian,” she breathes, low, warning, soft. “Be careful.”

And gods, the way he looks at her makes something warm coil deep in my chest.

“I will,” he says. “Stay with them.”

It isn’t a request. It’s an order. And he gives her one last look, a silent promise, before disappearing into the trees.

Allison sags against the crates, her shadows sluggish and frayed. Kael immediately shifts closer and slings an arm around her shoulders like he’s claiming emotional property.

“Honey,” he declares dramatically, “no offence to your wraith, but that man is terrifying.”

A small, tired smile tugs at her lips. “He’s… something.”

“He’s into you,” Kael corrects, gesturing vaguely at the door. “Like, deep spiritual suffering levels of into you. I recognise the symptoms. I have them.”

I roll my eyes. “Subtle.”

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17:42 Thu, Jan 1 M

Chapter 185

ETRA

Allison leans into me then, her head resting lightly against my shoulder, and the ache in my bones is nothing compared to the warmth that unfurls at the simple contact. Her pulse is soft and slow against my arm. She’s held herself together for too long.

“You okay?” I murmur.

She nods, but it’s the kind of nod that means no, but I don’t know how to say that without crying. I wrap my arm around her waist and pull her gently into my side, and Kael scoots in from the other, forming a lopsided heap around her. Without Cassian’s steady energy in the room, she trembles. Just slightly. But enough.

“He’ll come back,” I say quietly.

“I know,” she whispers. But the bond between her and Kael thrums with unease. Her sigils pulse slowly, as if they, too, feel the ache in her bones.

Kael bumps his forehead against hers. “He’s too neurotic to die. That man probably dodges death the way he dodges clerical errors.”

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