Thornhill Academy. Chapter 109

**Allison**

Dinner was… awkward. Painfully, gloriously, hold-your-breath-and-pray-someone-says-something-normal awkward. The four of us squeezed around my little table, me, Evander, Kael, and Cage, pretending this was fine. That this was something resembling domestic bliss instead of the weirdest standoff in Thornhill history. Kael and Evander were trying very, very hard not to death-glare Cage across the table for my sake. I could feel the tension rolling off them like heat, both of them one rude comment away from pouncing. Meanwhile, Cage was doing his best impersonation of a reformed citizen: polite smiles, careful words, not a single insult or smirk to be found. It was… bizarre. Every time his eyes met mine, I couldn’t tell if he wanted to talk to me or throw a fireball through the window. When dinner finally ended, he stood awkwardly by the door, looking entirely unsure if he was supposed to hug me, shake my hand, or hurl me into the night. I couldn’t help it, I laughed. The sound just burst out of me.

“Goodnight, Cage,” I said, waving. “See you in class tomorrow.”

He blinked, clearly not expecting that, and then left. The door clicked shut, and I turned around to find both Kael and Evander staring at me like I’d lost every last one of my marbles. That only made me laugh harder.

Evander crossed his arms, that patient, exasperated tone creeping into his voice. “Pet, if this is what you want, I’ll support you, but—”

I cut him off, still laughing. “Oh, relax. I don’t trust Cage as far as I could throw him. Which—unless I’ve fed off you two—” I wag a finger between them, “—is not far at all.”

Kael leaned back in his chair, one eyebrow raised. “So, what was that all about?”

“Clearly,” I said, deadpan, “something must be wrong with the universe if Cage is suddenly trying to preach the mate bond and play nice. I simply want to figure out what sort of wand he’s got shoved up his ass and how he plans to use it.”

Evander arched a brow. “So… you’re playing him?”

I grinned, leaning against the counter. “Yup.”

Kael groaned softly, dragging a hand down his face. “This is going to end so badly.”

“Probably,” I said cheerfully, pushing off the counter and heading for the sink. “But at least it’ll be entertaining.”

By the time we crawl into bed, I’m half-asleep already. The day’s been long and strange, and as much as I’d love to skip classes again tomorrow, I know I won’t. Not when Cage is suddenly playing the good mate card. Whatever game he’s running, I want to know the rules before he tries to use them on me. Besides, the extra lessons don’t hurt. Learning magic from experience has always been easier for me. And between Evander’s patience and Kael’s habit of turning everything into a competition, I’m actually starting to feel like I’m getting the hang of this. The three of us are settled under the blankets now, warm and comfortable. Kael’s arm is heavy around my waist, his breath slow against the crook of my neck. Evander’s heartbeat thrums steadily against my spine, his body heat like a furnace. I close my eyes, drifting in the quiet, content in the tangle of them, until the shadows at the foot of the bed start to move. A low hum rolls through the air as they twist and reshape into a form I know all too well.

“Hummingbird,” a deep voice says softly.

I blink, pushing up on my elbows, a smile tugging at my lips before I can help it. “Rhaziel.”

Beside me, Kael makes a noise that’s half growl, half startled squeak. “What the—”

Evander shoots him a look, somewhere between amusement and warning.

Rhaziel’s gaze flicks between the two of them, assessing, calm, the faintest hint of a smile at the corner of his mouth. “She is okay?”

Evander nods. “She’s fine.”

Kael, on the other hand, can’t help himself. “Fine now, yeah. You missed a hell of a weekend, though, she fed from me, turned into a hellhound and went into heat.”

I let out an incredulous sound, smacking his arm. “Kael!”

Raziel’s nostrils flare as he inhales, and then his eyes darken, if that's even possible. The rumble in his chest makes the air vibrate.

“I wonder what happens when you feed from me,” he says, voice dropping an octave that makes every nerve in my body light up.

Heat crawls up my neck. Nope. Not doing this right now. I press my thighs together under the blanket, willing my body not to betray me. “I...um...” I manage, my voice barely above a whisper. “I’m exhausted.”

He chuckles, a rich, deep sound that makes the bed seem smaller. “There is plenty of time for that later,” he murmurs. “Right now, I have had a hard couple of days away from my Queen, and I would very much like to hold you… if that’s okay.”

My chest tightens at the tenderness in his tone. The bond between us hums like a heartbeat, steady and pulling for him to come closer. I nod before my brain catches up. “Yeah,” I whisper. “Okay.”

He moves before I can think, climbing onto the bed with the fluid grace of a shadow demon king. Kael and Evander shift instinctively to make room, both wide-eyed but silent as Raziel leans over me, his hands warm and sure at my hips and then, in one effortless motion, he flips us. I let out a surprised sound as my chest hits his chest, my legs tangled in his, his arms locking around me. His chin comes to rest atop my head, his breath brushing my temple. He exhales, a low, contented sound, and then the rumble turns into a purr. It vibrates through me, through all of us, really, so deep and soothing that even Kael stops bristling.

Rhaziel strokes a hand down my hair, inhaling like he’s memorising the scent of me. “Better,” he murmurs, almost to himself.

And for the first time all day, I feel everything settle inside of me. I may only have three of four of the mates my heart desires, but right now, that's enough. This is enough. Surrounded by warmth and shadow and steady heartbeats, I finally let myself drift.