Thornhill Academy. Chapter 117

**Cage**

My dorm is dark except for the dull glow of the rune lamp on my desk. I’ve been staring at the same blank message on my phone for fifteen minutes, debating whether to call. My father doesn’t like being kept waiting, but he likes excuses even less. I sigh and swipe across the screen. His image flickers into focus after only the second ring.

“Report,” he says.

I lean back in my chair, trying to look relaxed. “You wanted updates on the stray.”

“On Allison Rivers,” he corrects, voice clipped. “Names matter when you’re building a dossier.”

“Right.” I drum my fingers against the desk. “Today was defence training and she paired with me.”

“Voluntarily?”

“More or less,” I smirk. “Her guard dogs didn’t like it.”

Father doesn’t react. He never does. “Observations.”

“She’s stronger than she looks. Way stronger. When we sparred and I caught something, some kind of… growl. It wasn't...normal... Felt like it came from inside her, but it wasn’t her voice.” I hesitate, then add, “And her reflexes were off-the-charts. She shouldn’t have been able to counter half the things I threw at her.”

His eyes narrow slightly, interest sharpening. “Describe the growl.”

“Low. Animalistic. Like something under her skin wanted out.” I force a laugh. “Maybe she’s got a pet monster in there.”

Father doesn’t laugh. “Continue observing. Record every anomaly.”

“Sure. But if she’s a stray, she’s one hell of a polished one. No wild kid learns to fight like that living in the woods.”

“Exactly why the Council is interested. Keep her close, Cage. Find out what she is.”

I nod, pretending I’m not already in over my head. “Understood.”

He’s about to end the call, but I add quietly, “And if she’s dangerous?”

His smile doesn’t reach his eyes. “Then you’ll do what we trained you for.”

The screen goes black. No space or care for goodbyes or pleasentaries. For a long moment, I sit there, staring at my reflection in the dark screen. The bond hums faintly under my skin, disapproving, almost… aching, but I shove the feeling down and crawl into bed.

“Just a job,” I mutter. “Nothing else.” But even as I close my eyes, I can still hear that growl echoing in my head.

The next morning, the Academy hums with its usual noise of students shouting across the quad and the faint clang of training weapons from the east field. I tell myself I’m calm, focused, and professional. Then Allison walks into class, sunlight catching the dark strands in her hair, and every lie I tell myself crumbles. She doesn’t even look at me at first. She’s laughing at something Kael said, brushing her fingers through her hair like she doesn’t notice the way the entire room tilts toward her, or maybe that's just my world. Shit. I need to get a grip. When she finally slides into the seat beside me, the bond thrums so hard my palms itch.

“Morning, sunshine,” I say, because I can’t help myself.

She sighs. “You’re still calling me that?”

“Until you tell me not to.”

She doesn’t answer, which I take as permission. Professor Hill walks in a few moments later, perfect timing to make everything worse. He’s precise as always, sleeves rolled, expression unreadable, and I can feel the tension coil in the air the moment his gaze skims over her. He looks away fast. Too fast... Interesting. I wonder what happened there. Maybe I'll ask her about it. Maybe she will tell me. He starts the lecture on elemental tethering, voice steady. I pretend to take notes, but mostly I’m watching her. The way she tilts her head when she’s listening. The way her fingers twitch when the professor uses magic to demonstrate a ward. She’s watching the demonstration like she’s inside it. She's completely focused and quiet... It bothers me more than it should.

I lean closer, lowering my voice. “You’ve seen this spell before, haven’t you?”

Her eyes flick to mine, sharply. “What makes you think that?”

“Just a hunch,” I say, smiling. “You look bored.”

Her mouth curves, but not in amusement. “Or maybe I just pay attention.”

Touché. I sit back, grin still in place even though it’s more forced now. Something about her throws me off. Every time I think I’ve got her figured out, she shifts like light through smoke.

Halfway through class, the professor asks for volunteers to test a containment rune. Before she can raise her hand, I do, and he gives me a look that could burn through steel, but he nods anyway. I step into the circle and let the magic hum around me. It’s simple work—contain, release, repeat—but I can feel her attention fixed on me. When I finish, I bow slightly in her direction and her lips twitch, just barely, like she’s fighting not to smile. After class, I fall into step beside her as the others file out.

“Walk with me,” I say.

She glances toward the exit where Kael and Evander wait. “I don’t think that’s a good idea.”

“Come on, sunshine. I’m trying to be civil.”

She studies me for a moment, clearly weighing whether I’m worth the trouble. Finally, she sighs. “Fine. Two minutes.”

We walk down the corridor, the afternoon light spilling through the glass ceiling above us. I keep my tone light and casual. “You handled yourself well yesterday. You fight like someone who’s trained for years.”

Her brows lift. “Is that supposed to be a compliment?”

“It’s an observation. I’m starting to think there’s more to you than the stories say.”

Her smile doesn’t reach her eyes. “Careful, Cage. Curiosity kills cats.”

“Good thing I’m not a cat.”

“Could’ve fooled me,” she mutters, but there’s the faintest flicker of amusement beneath it.

For a moment, we walk in silence. The bond hums steady, pulling, wanting, but I shove it back again. When we reach the stairwell, she stops. “That’s your two minutes.”

I open my mouth to argue, but she’s already heading down the stairs, her hair a swirl of dark in the light. I watch her go with my jaw set tight. She’s hiding something. And I’m going to find out what.