Thornhill Academy (By Sheridan Hartin) novel Chapter 231

clinging to whatever fragments he can still reach. I turn to Allison. She stands at the centre of the ruined clearing, the wraith towering and coiled tight around her, eyes fixed on us with unmistakable intent. Hunger. Curiosity. Calculation. She sees us as prey. She does not realise what I am. For centuries, I have ruled beasts who believed themselves unstoppable. I have caged gods who thought the world owed them worship. I have dragged screaming nightmares back into chains forged before memory. Allison charges, and the ground shatters beneath her feet as she launches toward me, shadows exploding outward, dark magic roaring through her like wildfire. She is drunk on it, giddy, power surging without restraint. I charge to meet her, and we collide with the force of a collapsing star. Her wraith slams into me, claws tearing at shadow, magic crashing into my form in violent waves. Trees splinter, the air screams, she is strong, stronger than she has ever been, but I am older. I wrap her in shadow, binding limbs, anchoring her to the ground as she thrashes and snarls, power lashing out wildly. She tears free once, twice, driving me back, her scream splitting the night. I plant my feet and meet her again.

“Forgive me, my queen,” I say, forcing her down inch by inch, shadows locking around her like iron. “But you cannot devour the world

today.”

She fights me with everything she has left, and then I drag her down to the forest floor and then through to my realm. My soldiers are already there. Rynor stands back with Tessa clutched to his chest, her face pale with terror, eyes locked on Allison. More demons step

forward to assist.

“Back,” I snap.

They obey instantly.

“No one touches her.”

I lock my shadows around her tightly, and her scream echoes through the dark, furious and betrayed, her name for me torn from her throat like a curse. I accept it. Containment is never gentle. And love, when it comes to monsters like us, is often indistinguishable from cruelty. The Shadow Realm closes around us, and I hold my queen in her beautifully horrific state, determined not to cage her, but to contain her, just until I can make this right again. This is my burden to hold.

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Thornhill Academy

Because I Love Her

Rhaziel

28

I take a look around at Allison’s other mates as she thrashes in my arms and shadows, and I know they are not going to like what comes next. Her power is still surging, still feral, still drunk on the dark magic she swallowed to save a life. The wraith fights me with sharp, violent jerks, snapping its head toward anything that moves, shadows clawing and coiling as if the world itself is prey. Cassian is still anchored to her mind, though I can feel how thin that connection has become. Kael paces like a caged animal. Evander stands rigid, jaw locked, watching every movement with a strategist’s focus and a mate’s fear. They are waiting for reassurance. They will not receive it.

“I’m taking her to the basement,” I say.

All three of them turn toward me at once.

Kael’s lips peel back from his teeth. “The what?”

“My lower levels,” I clarify calmly, tightening my grip as Allison snaps her head toward Evander with a hiss. “I have containment cells

outside for ordinary beasts. Creatures that need to be restrained briefly. This is not that.”

I start walking.

“This cell is beneath my stronghold,” I continue. “It was built for rare creatures. Singular ones. Things that cannot be reasoned with until

the madness burns itself out.”

Cassian swallows hard. “You’re talking about a cage.”

“Yes.”

Allison bucks violently, her shadows flaring in a pulse that rattles the stone beneath our feet. I reinforce the bindings without breaking

stride.

“The room has a sink,” I add. “A toilet. I can have a proper bed brought in once she stops trying to murder the walls. But the enchantments woven into that cell are absolute. No shadow slipping. No magic tearing. No corrupted wraith dispersal.”

Evander steps closer. “She won’t be able to get out.”

“No,” I agree. “She will not.”

The protest does not come from them. It comes from Tessa.

“You can’t just cage her!” she cries, breaking free of Rynor’s grip and lunging forward before anyone can stop her. Her face is streaked

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