Thornhill Academy. Chapter 101

The air splits open. Allison’s gasp rips through the room like thunder, her whole body bowing forward as a choked groan follows it. Her fingers tighten on mine, and I swear I feel the floor sway. Her skin glistens with sweat, her breath ragged, her pulse wild beneath my thumbs. The heat pouring off her isn’t normal, not human, not even magical; it’s molten, alive, crawling through the bond that’s still open between us.

“Allison,” Evander’s voice breaks somewhere behind the roar in my head. “You need to stop. Pull it back.”

She doesn’t, maybe she can’t. Her head jerks, hair sticking to her temples, and light blooms beneath her skin again, gold streaking through blue, crackling like lightning trapped in flesh.

“Evander—” I try to say, but my words drag, sluggish. My chest feels hollow, my muscles heavy. The room tilts sideways. “I think she’s—”

Draining me dry. Not maliciously, not even consciously. She’s starving, her power eating through mine like fire through paper. My magic hums in protest, sputtering, trying to hold its shape, but it just keeps flowing toward her.

Evander’s kneeling in front of her again, his hands on her shoulders, trying to steady her. “Ally, love, listen to me. You have to control it. You’re taking too much.”

She shudders, eyes fluttering open, but they’re not her eyes anymore. They’re glowing, molten amber around the edges. Her magic surges once more, flooding the air with a pulse so thick I can taste it—metal, ozone, and heat.

“Trouble—” I rasp, my voice breaking. I can barely keep my eyes open. “You gotta...slow down…”

But she doesn’t. My hound is torn—half elated, half terrified. The instinct to give, to feed our mate, is as old as the blood in me. He’s proud she’s taking what she needs, but I can feel him pacing under my skin, whining now, uneasy. She’s not just feeding anymore. Something else is happening. I blink hard. The world blurs. My hands slip from hers, too weak to hold on, and for a split second, everything goes quiet.

And then there's light. Blinding, pure, and hot enough to sear the inside of my eyelids.

“Allison!” Evander shouts.

I force my eyes open, and my heart stops, because she’s changing. Her body arches off the couch, bones shifting under skin with a sound that’s both beautiful and horrifying. Magic explodes around her in a vortex, tearing the air apart. I try to move toward her, but my legs don’t obey. Evander’s trying to hold her steady, his eyes wide with something between fear and awe. And then the light implodes, sucking inward like breath, and what’s left sitting on my lap isn’t a girl at all.

It’s a hound.

A fucking hellhound.

Black fur rippling with a faint sheen of silver fire, eyes glowing the same molten gold I’d seen burning in hers. She’s bigger than any natural hound, but smaller than mine, sleek, lethal, and heartbreakingly beautiful. And she’s sprawled across me, panting softly, her head resting on my thigh. I can’t breathe. My hand moves on instinct, trembling as I run it over her neck. Her fur is soft, warm, electric under my fingers. She lets out a low, familiar whine and lifts her head. When those golden eyes meet mine, Allison’s eyes, bright and intelligent and hers, my chest constricts.

“Mate,” I whisper.

The word leaves me without permission, a primal recognition that ripples through my bones. She blinks, a slow, uncertain motion, then presses her massive head into my chest, a soft rumble vibrating against me. My hound goes absolutely still inside me, then lets out a whine so raw it almost hurts.

Evander’s still on the floor, frozen, staring like he’s seeing a miracle. His voice finally breaks through the silence. “She—she shifted.”

No kidding.

I can barely nod. My throat’s too tight, my brain too stunned. “Yeah,” I manage, voice wrecked. “Right in my fucking lap.”

Allison huffs out a soft breath, like she’s laughing at me. I swear I can feel the bond humming, golden and sure, threading through my chest and straight into hers.

The heat radiating off her is unbelievable—comforting, familiar, like home. My head falls back against the couch, exhaustion crawling up my spine, but I don’t dare move her. She’s heavy, warm, and somehow the most peaceful I’ve ever seen her.

Evander stands, watching her carefully. “Kael,” he says quietly. “You need to rest. You’ve given her too much.”

I shake my head, half-smiling. “Worth it.”

Allison shifts slightly, curling closer against me. Her tail thumps once against the sofa. Her energy hums through me, strong and steady now, no longer frantic.

Evander crouches again, reaching out to brush a strand of hair, or fur, away from her face. “She’s beautiful,” he admits.

I glance down, my heart hammering unevenly. “The most beautiful fucking thing I’ve ever seen.”

He gives a small, crooked smile. “And she’s yours.”

I shake my head slowly, eyes tracing every glowing line of her form. “Ours,” I correct.

He nods. “Ours,” he agrees softly.

I stroke my fingers through her fur, my hound finally content, his tail wagging lazily in the back of my mind. He’s never been quiet like this before, never been at peace.

“Mate,” I whisper again, the word reverent this time.

Her ear twitches, and a soft growl rumbles in her chest, affectionate and sleepy.

Yeah. I think she agrees.

Evander moves quietly, picking up the untouched mug of tea and setting it aside. “We should let her rest,” he murmurs, glancing at me.

I nod, glancing at the bed across the room, then back to him. “Help me.”

He understands without question. Together, we move carefully. She’s heavier than she looks, all muscle and magic and warmth, and my drained body protests instantly. My knees wobble, the world tipping for a second, but Evander’s there before I can falter. His hands come up under my arms, firm and solid, keeping me upright.

“Easy,” he mutters, adjusting his grip so he’s supporting both of us. “Don’t drop the queen.”

I manage a breathless laugh. “Not planning to.”

We move in slow, uneven steps toward the bed, the three of us in this awkward, clumsy shuffle that somehow still feels right. Her fur brushes against my chin, soft and warm. When we finally reach the edge, I lower her down as gently as I can, one arm still curved protectively around her. The bed dips under her weight, the sheets catching the faint glow of her fur, silver threading through black like moonlight on water.

“My Ma always said no hounds in the bed,” I murmur, half-smiling as I smooth my hand down her side. “But you can stay, Trouble.”

Evander snorts softly. “You’re hopeless.”

“Yeah,” I breathe, climbing in beside her. “Hopelessly smart, apparently.”

He shakes his head, but I see the smile tug at his mouth before he circles to the other side and slips under the covers. I settle onto my back, her massive body curved along my side, her head finding my chest like it’s instinct. Her warmth seeps through me, heavy and soothing, pulling me toward sleep.