Thornhill Academy. Chapter 49

“We have a lot to talk about,” I whispered into her hair, the words almost swallowed by the forest itself. “But we should probably get back to the academy before we’re deemed missing…”

That’s when I felt the shift in her, the moment she realised just how bare we both were. Her gaze flicked down, and the flush that painted her cheeks spread fast, blooming pink across her pale skin. She crossed her arms instinctively, trying to cover what little she could, and the sight was so innocent, so human, I couldn’t stop the low chuckle that escaped me.

“Your body is beautiful, pet,” I murmured, letting the truth sit heavy between us. Her eyes snapped up to mine, wide and disbelieving. I tilted my head, softer now, letting my knuckles brush the side of her jaw. “And I do plan on learning every inch of it.” My lips ghosted over her cheek, the briefest kiss. “But only when you’re ready.”

Her breath stuttered, but she let me help her to her feet. She swayed slightly, her body still weak from the shift, so I kept one hand steady at her waist as I crossed to where I’d shed my clothes earlier. Truth be told, there wasn’t much left to offer, my shirt had been gone before training, what remained was a single pair of black shorts and my underwear. Not exactly a wardrobe.

I pulled on the briefs, the elastic biting into my hips, then held out the shorts to her. “Here,” I said simply.

She hesitated, eyes darting between me and the fabric, before tugging them up her legs. They dwarfed her, hanging low on her hips, and she had to bunch one side awkwardly to keep them from sliding straight back down. The sight was endearing, almost comical, and yet all I could think about was how much I hated anyone else seeing her this vulnerable.

“Everyone should be in the food hall by now,” I said, scanning the treeline and listening for voices. “If we’re lucky, we can sneak across the training field and into the change rooms before anyone notices.” My gaze raked over her again despite myself. The shorts did little, her long hair falling like a veil across her chest, the only thing saving her from full exposure. Too much. Way too much skin exposed for anyone else to see. My dragon snarled low in my chest, the protective instinct sharp enough to taste on my tongue. I stepped closer, brushing a damp strand of hair from her shoulder and letting it fall back across her.

My voice came out rougher than I intended. “If anyone looks at you, they’ll regret it.”

Her lips parted, like she wanted to argue, but instead she gave the smallest nod. And with that, I bent low, scooped her back into my arms, her legs wrapping around my hips and her chest pressed against mine as I started toward the edge of the forest.

The treeline thinned, the open sprawl of the training field stretching out before us, silvered by the late light. I tightened my grip around her thighs, holding her close, feeling the burn of her heat against my chest as if I were carrying fire itself. She clutched the shorts at her hip with one hand, her other fisting in my shoulder for balance.

“Evander...” she whispered, voice sharp with warning.

“I know,” I breathed back. My eyes had already locked onto the pair of students loitering at the far edge of the field. Two boys, shifters by the way their ears twitched at every sound. They weren’t looking directly at us, not yet, but all it would take was one careless laugh, one slip of her hair, one shimmer of gold still burning faintly in her eyes…

My dragon pressed hard against my ribs, urging me to shield her, to take wing and cover her with our body instead of risking this walk. *Mine. Hide her. Protect.*

“Head down, pet,” I muttered, shifting her in my arms until her face was buried against my neck. She resisted for half a heartbeat, then gave in, her breath warm against my skin. We made it halfway before the boys laughed at something, one of them turning in our direction. My spine went rigid, every muscle ready to shift at the first sign of recognition.

“Shit,” I hissed under my breath, pivoting hard and using my bulk to angle us behind the training racks that lined the field. A wall of wooden dummies and broken spears shielded us from their line of sight. Her fingers dug into me, tense.

“Evander, if they see—”

“They won’t.” The promise came out like a growl.

I kept moving, fast but silent, boots hitting the dirt with deliberate speed. The change room doors loomed closer, carved oak with the academy crest etched deep. Just a few more steps. The boys’ voices carried again, this time closer. My dragon snarled, and I snapped my head back to see them heading toward the racks. No time. I dropped my shoulder and turned, shielding Ally entirely with my body. I pressed us both tight against the stone wall just shy of the doorway, my pulse hammering.

Her breath hitched against my throat, and she whispered, “They’re going to—”

“They won’t,” I said again, lower this time.

The footsteps passed, slow, careless, the boys still muttering to each other as they veered off toward the far exit. One laughed loudly, the sound bouncing harmlessly away. I didn’t move until I was certain. Then, finally, I exhaled and pulled the door open with my free hand, pushing us inside. The heavy oak slammed shut behind us with a muffled thud, sealing us in the safety of shadow and soap-scented steam.

Only then did I look down at her. Her cheeks were still flushed, hair wild around her face, chest rising and falling against mine. She looked up, wide-eyed, and whispered, “That was too close.”

I smirked, brushing my thumb across her temple. “Close doesn’t count. You’re safe.”

“Um… you can put me down now.” Her voice was small, uneven, her blush creeping high on her cheeks.

I bent my head and pressed my nose into the curve of her neck. The scent of her hit me like smoke and lightning, wild and intoxicating. My chest rumbled low without my permission.

“Not yet,” I murmured against her skin. “Just… let me hold you a little longer. Please.”

Her breath caught, and for a moment she didn’t move. Her fingers twitched against my chest, not pushing me away. The silence stretched, broken only by the quick rhythm of her pulse fluttering against my lips.

*Ours,* my dragon whispered, curling around her scent like it was already branded into us. *Don’t let her go. Not yet.*

I tightened my arms just a fraction, memorising the exact weight of her against me, the warmth, the way her skin hummed faintly with the echo of shared magic. I knew she was tired, raw from the shift, and still wary of me. But gods, it felt right, like I’d been waiting my entire life for this weight in my arms.