Thornhill Academy (By Sheridan Hartin) novel Chapter 194

Chapter 194

Allison

350)

A ripple shivers through the room-soft, wrong, unmistakably demonic-just a heartbeat before a figure bursts from the shadows directly inside the cabin. He materialises on one knee, head bowed low, fist pressed to the floor like the very earth commanded his submission.

“My King,” the demon rasps, voice trembling, “the Council draws near. Less than a mile.”

Every sound in the room dies. The breath in my lungs freezes. The air thickens. Even the dust motes seem to hold still, suspended between fear and the

promise of violence. Rhaziel is already moving. Shadows rise behind, stretching tall enough to scrape the ceiling. His tail snaps once around my waist- protective, possessive, immovable.

“How many?” he asks, his voice so low it seems carved from the dark itself.

“A full hunting unit,” the demon whispers. “Trackers, enforcers and a commander.”

Cassian goes rigid beside the table, jaw locking. Evander straightens slowly, golden eyes kindling like wildfire.

Kael mutters, “Oh, shit,” because dramatic timing is absolutely a foreign concept to him.

Tessa grabs Rynor’s sleeve with both hands. “Define ‘full’-”

My shadows shudder, flattening like frightened animals.

“They followed our trail,” Cassian says quietly, already reaching magically outward, searching for distances, a way out.

“No,” the demon says quickly, shaking his head without rising. “They found the town from yesterday. They swept outward. Now they are coming here.”

The final word lands like a blade.

Rhaziel doesn’t hesitate. He strides toward the door, shadows spiralling around him in a slow, lethal cyclone. When he moves like this, he doesn’t look mortal at all-he looks like a god wearing a body only because he finds it convenient.

He throws the door open-

-and freezes because Cage is already in the clearing. Standing alone and staring straight at me. The sun paints warm orange across his face, catching in his eyes, his cheekbones, the edges of hair that looks like he’s run his hands through it repeatedly. He looks older. Hollowed out. Like something carved trenches down his face in the hours since I last saw him. Our eyes meet and I watch the moment something inside him shatters. His knees buckle, and he drops-hard. I forget to breathe. Behind me, everything detonates at once: Evander snarls, the sound scraping the walls. His body flickers with scales, muscles bulging as his dragon strains to come forward. Kael lunges a step, teeth bared, a feral sound punching out of him. Cassian moves so fast I don’t see him-one he’s across the room, the next directly behind me, solid as stone, arm brushing mine, power coiling like a blade at my back. Rhaziel’s shadows explode outward in a violent wave, and the clearing answers. Hundreds of demons materialise from the darkness like the shadows themselves are choosing to walk. They circle Cage in perfect symmetry, a ring of obsidian armour and glowing eyes. Their collective magic hums low and threatening, vibrating the floorboards beneath my feet. They answer to Rhaziel. They bare their teeth and they wait for the order to kill. Cage doesn’t flinch. He lifts his head just enough for me to see the devastation in his eyes. Raw, Unhidden. Breaking him from the inside out.

“Allison…” His voice catches, cracks. “I thought you were dead.”

The words slice through our weakened bond like a physical impact. Cassian presses closer behind me, a solid wall of fury. Evander’s claws slide free. Kael looks one second away from shifting fully. I step back without awareness-straight into Cassian’s chest. He steadies me instantly, hand brushing my elbow,

1/3

17:43 Thu, Jan 1 M

Chapter 194

CIRA

warm and grounding, but sparking with barely contained violence. His magic brushes Cage’s mind like a warning snarl. Cage lifts both hands slowly. Open.

Empty.

“I’m not here to hurt you,” he says just loud enough for me to hear across the clearing.

Rhaziel steps fully in front of me now, blocking his view of me almost entirely. His tail cinches tighter around my waist, a clear declaration of possession.

protection, and threat.

50

“You approach my Queen on your knees, mortal,” he growls. “Choose your next words carefully.”

Cage swallows, throat bobbing.

“They found your trail,” he says, voice shaking hard enough that even the demons lean forward. “If you stay here-even minutes longer-you will die. They’re

less than half a mile out.”

He glances toward the treeline, fear flickering visibly, honest enough to sting.

“They brought more trackers. They’re spread wide. They’re not stopping. They will-” His voice fractures. “They will take you. They will use you. Please-

please don’t stay.”

Evander steps toward him, teeth bared. “Why the hell should we believe you?”

Cage squeezes his eyes shut. “Because I couldn’t… I couldn’t let them find your body.” His voice splits.”I couldn’t-” He breathes like it hurts. “I’m begging

you. Go.”

Demons around him tighten formation, awaiting Rhaziel’s command. Ready to tear him apart. Ready to gut the threat. Ready to spill blood in their King’s

name.

Rhaziel’s eyes flick to Cassian. Cassian gives the barest nod. A strategist’s nod. Cold. Measured. Final.

“He tells the truth,” he murmurs.

That is all Rhaziel needs. He turns to his army, voice cracking like thunder.

“SHADOW-TRAVEL,” he commands. “TO THE WALL. NOW.”

Chaos erupts-controlled, disciplined chaos. Shadows burst upward, swallowing the clearing. The air warps violently as realms fold. Demons shoot forward to us, grabbing each of my mates with unquestioning obedience: One clamps a hand on Cassian’s shoulder. Another grips Evander with warrior precision.

VERIFYCAPTCHA_LABELVerify