Found: A Reverse Harem Academy Shifter Bully Romance (Thornbriar Academy Series Book 1)

by Cali Mann

  “Sure.” I tossed a roll on top of my spaghetti, grabbed a water bottle, and followed him out into the yard.

  Sciro and I dropped down onto a bench. In the garden bed next to us, white flowers with sunny yellow centers bloomed. I inhaled their soft scent.

  The sky overhead was cloudy, blocking most of the sun. I blinked at Sciro. “Can you be out in the sunlight?”

  He laughed. “Yeah, it’s not super comfortable for me to be in bright sun, but I can be out on a cloudy day like today.”

  I nodded, taking a bite of my food. The flavors of the herbs, oregano and basil, ran over my tongue, and I moaned.

  Sciro stared at me.

  “What?”

  “You’d think you’d never eaten before.”

  “Nothing this good.” I grinned.

  He shook his head. “I know that feeling.”

  I studied his face. “Where are you from?”

  “I grew up in Atlanta. But—” He gave a wry smile. “My parents tossed me out when I was thirteen.”

  “Why?”

  “We don’t shift until after eighteen, well, most of us, but the blood lust shows up early. Pretty much as soon as we hit puberty.”

  I frowned. “But weren’t your parents shifters?”

  “No, I was adopted. My parents were human.”

  “Oh.”

  “Yeah, they were also pretty religious. A son who shied away from daylight and wanted to drink blood once in a while spooked them pretty bad. They tried to exorcise me.”

  “Damn.”

  “Then they threw me out on the street.” He shrugged as if it hadn’t been that big a deal. “So, I know what it’s like to miss a few meals.”

  I stayed silent. What did one say to a story like that? Of course, that was probably how he felt when I’d blurted out mine. I bit into the meatball, savoring the hearty spiced meat, and thought of all the meals of oatmeal or soup we’d had at Hastings House.

  “Wait a minute,” I said. “Most of us don’t shift until after eighteen?”

  He grinned, his whole face lighting up. “Something Terrin didn’t tell you about himself?”

  Really there had been a lot Terrin hadn’t told me, but I gestured gimme.

  “Terrin shifted for the first time last year, when he was seventeen.”

  “Whoa, how?”

  Sciro shrugged. “Something to do with his grandmother, I heard. But not really my story to tell. You should ask him.”

  “He’s been avoiding me,” I said honestly. “I don’t know why.”

  “I wouldn’t worry about it,” he said. “Terrin’s too smart to avoid a pretty girl like you for long.”

  I snorted.

  14

  Hailey

  The week had passed in a blur as I adjusted to my new classes. The school seemed rocked by Monica’s dad getting injured. As far as I could make out, he was some kind of big wig in shifter politics.

  I took three classes with regular students: Shifter History & Politics, Magical Meditation & Focus, and Shifter Biology. In every one, I chose the seat closest to the teacher. I needed to soak up as much knowledge as I could so that when I made my escape, I’d have some basics.

  Professor Ward laughed at me in Tutoring Assistance, because I whizzed through every book and demanded more. I was so behind. I wanted every advantage I could get.

  Heading into Shifter Biology, I glanced across the room and my stomach soured. I didn’t know what I’d done to offend Terrin, but every time I walked into a room, he turned away. In the classes we shared together, he kept his eyes carefully averted the entire time.

  They’d put me in the regular version of this class even though they knew it would take me a while to catch up. I didn’t have time to play whatever games Terrin was playing. I focused my eyes on Professor Alexander, a tall, African man with grey whiskers along his rich black chin.

  Shifter biology covered four forms of shifters: earth, air, water, and fire. It was amazing that creatures that were basically of the same species could be so different. Even if two people had the same affinity, their element could produce very different forms. Fire shifters usually became rock creatures when shifting, but some had been known to take dragon form. The other students had laughed at that, and I took it to mean that dragon shifters were rare.

  Professor Alexander didn’t mention the fifth element, spirit. Did their biology vary as well? I knew so little about them. But the women I’d overheard earlier had said that Kaiden Hartsman was a spirit shifter and that they were usually killed at birth. That seemed a little extreme. What was so wrong with spirit shifters?

  I glanced over at Monica with dark circles under her light blue eyes. She’d still come to class every day, but she often looked as if she’d been crying. Her father’s condition hadn’t improved, I suspected, although I hadn’t overheard anymore conversations to that effect.

  After class was dismissed, I gathered my books and headed out the door. Terrin ended up right in front of me and I reached out a hand, tapping him on the shoulder. “Terrin?”

  He turned and met my eyes for the first time in days. “Hailey.”

  My forehead scrunched. “Are you okay?”

  “Yeah, just a lot on my mind.” His gaze dropped to the floor.

  “Do you have a parent on the Council too?”

  He shook his dark head. “All my family is dead.”

  I gasped. I hadn’t expected that. These guys had grown up in this world. I’d thought they’d had relatively happy family lives. “I’m sorry.”

  Terrin shrugged. “It was a long time ago.”

  I wanted to ask why he’d been ignoring me, but the whole conversation was awkward and uncomfortable. I didn’t even know how to bring it up. “Well, sorry for bothering you.” I couldn’t help the bit of hurt that crept into my tone.

  He looked up, touching my arm. “I’m sorry, Hailey. I can’t be what you need.”

  “You can’t be what?” I asked, my voice sharp. “A friend? Because that’s what I need right now.”

  Pain shot through his eyes, but I turned and marched away. What was wrong with him? Why would he be nice to me and then not?

  * * *

  I’d taken to eating dinner in my room and then heading to the library. I avoided almost everyone that way. Tonight was no different, except I had a plan. If my classes weren’t going to tell me about spirit shifters, I was going to find out for myself.

  The library was quiet tonight. A few other students worked here and there, but they were mostly intent on their studies. I headed for my favorite corner. The moonlight slipped through the curtains and illuminated a small armchair and table. It looked like someone had just shoved them here out of the way, more than an intentional workplace, but it was perfect for my needs. Professor Ward had taken to leaving me a few volumes that might enrich my studies nearby. I glanced at the stack, but it didn’t offer a distraction tonight.

  Perusing the shelves, I searched for any references to spirit shifters. Even for a library of this size, there wasn’t much. Was there some kind of restricted section that had more? I glanced toward Professor Ward’s office, but it was closed up tight.

  Sitting on the gray armchair, I slipped my feet from my shoes and settled in to read. The first few books had things I already knew. The Council had decreed that spirit shifters be killed at birth. They were too dangerous and too unstable. The accounts of spirit shifters who’d gone crazy and killed their whole family or their communities made me shiver.

  I dug deeper into the books, and I found accounts of spirit shifters who were amazing artists, gifted actors, and talented writers. Some of the best of shifter literature was written by spirit shifters. I huffed. Of course spirit shifters were only appreciated when they fit the crazy artist stereotype. I nibbled on my lip and closed the book.

  “Studying hard?” a stiff male voice asked.

  I glared up at Brenton. He still loomed over me, even when I hadn’t crashed into him this time. The chiseled plane
s of his face were set in hard lines, and I wondered if he ever cracked a smile. “Yes.”

  He frowned as if I was a puzzle he didn’t know how to figure out. “Probably need all the help you can get.”

  “You offering?” I blinked at him innocently.

  A snort echoed behind him, and Sciro said, “Leave her alone, Brenton. She’s not interested in being flambé.”

  Brenton growled, swinging around to face Sciro. “Think you can take me, little vampire?”

  “For fuck’s sake.” Sciro said with a note of exasperation in his voice. “It’s a library, not a boxing ring.”

  The other shifter grumbled, but he departed without saying anything else.

  Sciro grinned at me. His frame was slimmer and he seemed more at home here in the library than Brenton, but when he smiled as a little shiver ran through my gut. Shifter guys only seemed to come in one brand: sexy as hell.

  “I didn’t need saving,” I said, unable to help an answering smile.

  He licked a fang. “I know, but it gave me an excuse to come over here.” His eyes ran over the books on the table, and his grin slipped. “You interested in spirit shifters?”

  I swallowed. “I just don’t know anything about them. And the Professors never say anything in class.”

  Sciro shrugged. “They’re banned by the Council, you know. Killed at birth.”

  “They’re unstable, and they tend to go mad.” I gestured to the books. “They told me that.”

  His lips tightened.

  “But they didn’t tell me exactly what they are. What form do they take?”

  “All forms,” he said. “They can be any earth, air, fire, or water forms.”

  My shoulders stiffened. Last night’s dreams of splashing in the ocean ran through my mind. My phase was shifting. “All of them?”

  He nodded. “And spirit forms, like the kitsune and even—” He took a ragged breath as if remembering something. “A kind of pure spirit form.”

  A knot tightened in my stomach. Was this what my dreams meant? Forcing my voice to stay casual, I asked, “They always go crazy? There hasn’t been a spirit shifter that was somehow okay?”

  “They all go mad.” He frowned at me, dark eyebrows pinching. “Why are you asking?”

  I smiled unsteadily. “The books. They make such amazing art. It’s so sad to lose that from the world.”

  “That’s true,” he said, studying my face. “It is a loss. But—” His mouth pressed into a thin line. “The attacks from Kaiden Hartsman are proof enough of what a risk an uncontrolled spirit shifter is to our world.”

  Intertwining my fingers, I said, “Yeah, I heard about Monica’s dad.”

  “Not just him,” Sciro said fiercely. “Seven shifters were killed in the attacks. They might not have been so high-ranking, but they were still our people.”

  My stomach soured. People were injured and dead because of a spirit shifter. Was I one too? All those dreams had to mean that I was, didn’t they? I could already feel my phase shifting—water was next—and soon I’d turn eighteen. After that, I would shift. What would I shift into?

  “Spirit shifters are bad news, Hailey,” he said softly. “Stay away from them.”

  I nodded. “Thanks. There’s just so much about this world that I don’t know.”

  “You’ll get there,” he said.

  I started putting away my books, trying to keep my hands from trembling. Sciro turned to go, and I let him walk away.

  This was something I needed to figure out on my own. I was a spirit shifter. A deranged killer. How long did I have left? Would I go crazy as soon as I shifted? Or later?

  I squeezed my hands together. Would they know what I was? My breath hitched. Sciro had said he couldn’t tell by looking at me, but once I shifted, would it be clear? Or would they notice my dreams as Mr. Reed had? My heart beat sped up.

  They were going to execute me as soon as they found out. I shoved the books back on the shelf, and grabbed my bag. How long could I hide what I was? I needed to get away from the school. Maybe if I was away from everyone, I wouldn’t hurt anyone.

  Pushing open the library door, I headed down the dark hall. It was late, and the passage was quiet. The tears that had threatened burst forth. I was going to hurt Sciro and Terrin and Adrian. I wouldn’t be able to control myself.

  All the stories that I’d read tonight about the murderous spirit shifters ran through my mind. I was evil, and I hadn’t even known it.

  15

  Adrian

  Head down, I plowed across the courtyard. I’d taken to going to the pool late at night to avoid Monica. She seemed to think we had something together because both our parents were on the Council and we’d played together as kids. Well, that and the few rolls in the hay we’d enjoyed. But I slept with a lot of girls. It never meant anything, and Monica should have known that. I’d made my intentions perfectly clear.

  After last term, I had thought that I’d finally gotten her to back off. I sighed. Then her dad had been hurt and I’d comforted her. Now she thought we were a couple. If it had been my parent to be injured, I’d have been equally upset. I couldn’t seem to convince her that our parents having similar jobs, and similar dangers, didn’t make us fated lovers.

  Still, the pools were quiet at this time. Most of the other water shifters seemed to use them during the day. The halls were peaceful. Almost everyone had retired to their dorms. Relief trickled through me.

  I headed into the stairwell and nearly crashed into Hailey, tears streaming down her face. My arms reflexively grasped her shoulders. “What’s wrong?”

  She shook her head, unable or unwilling to tell me.

  Girls in tears didn’t scare me. I guess that’s one of the reasons they all liked me so much. I was willing to listen. Sliding my arm across Hailey’s shoulders, I turned her to the stairs leading downward. “I’m going for a swim. Why don’t you come along?”

  “I don’t know how to swim,” she said, hiccuping.

  Waggling my eyebrows, I grinned. “I’m a very good teacher.”

  The corner of her mouth quirked, and she rubbed the back of her hand across her eyes. Hailey took a breath, and met my gaze, her dark green eyes wet. Then, she bit her lip and nodded.

  I led her down the steps and into the dark caverns. The rocky outcropping that the school was built on had a cave system, but the builders had enhanced them, adding lighting and warm salt-water pools. They’d made the necessary wiring and additions as unobtrusive as possible so the caverns felt natural.

  We slipped through three or four rooms before I found the pool I liked the best. It was smaller than some of the others, but it had rock formations that served as seats in the shallower end. I stripped efficiently and dove into the water. The feel of the water across my skin was like the caress of a lover. When I crested the surface again, I sighed in contentment.

  Glancing back at Hailey, I found her standing at the edge, arms wrapped across her chest and her eyes wide. “Come on in. The water’s fine.”

  “You’re naked,” she whispered, her voice echoing anyway.

  I chuckled. “Yeah, clothes just slow me down.” I swam closer to her. “You can leave your underwear on if it makes you more comfortable.”

  A blush stained her cheeks a pretty rose color. Was she really an innocent? It was unusual for a shifter to not partake in sexual activity, especially before we could shift. Human hormones had nothing on a trapped form.

  She took off her shoes and socks and sat on the edge of the water. Sliding her legs and feet into the water, she gasped. Her plaid skirt slid up her thighs, exposing their tender skin.

  It was the hottest thing I’d ever seen. I swallowed, willing my cock not to harden. That would only frighten her more. Closing my eyes, I took deep breaths trying to focus on a word like Professor Frank had explained.

  Control. Control. Control. Don’t scare the hot chick. Forcing a Sciro-like academic tone into my voice, I said, “They use heaters to keep the water tem
perature even.”

  “Oh,” she said softly. Her internal argument was written all over her face. She didn’t know me well enough to get naked and thought I must be trying to seduce her. This was some kind of trick.

  It stung that she couldn’t trust me, but I shoved down my irritation. I had a feeling she didn’t trust anyone. What had they done to her before she’d come here? It was odd enough for someone to start Thornbriar so late, but she’d come in like a dog waiting to be kicked. I grimaced. Not that Greta and Monica had resisted throwing the first strike.

  Watching her struggle, I thought for sure she was going to let modesty win.

  But then her eyes flashed and she yanked her white top over her head, exposing her white lace bra. It was standard one, no frills, but her perfectly formed mounds made my cock harden anyway. She stood, slipping off her skirt.

  Her eyes darted over to me, and her blush deepened, but then she said a barely audible, “Fuck it.” The granny undies and the bra followed her clothes, and she dived into the pool as gracefully as if she’d been doing it her whole life.

  She came up sputtering though. I hurried over and slid my arm under her shoulders, keeping her afloat.

  With a shy smile, she said, “Thank you.”

  I stared at her, stunned. Damn. I was starting to think that I’d never met a more dangerous female.

  “So, how do I do this?”

  Pulling myself together, I set to the business of teaching her to swim. Not that it was hard. She was a natural. Her strokes through the water were so smooth, and her form was perfect. If I hadn’t known better, I’d have thought she was a water shifter. We get so much practice swimming in our dreams that it comes to us easily, even without formal training.

  But that was ridiculous. Sciro had said she was an earth shifter.

  “You’re good at this,” I said, holding her up with one hand on the smooth skin of her stomach.

  “Thanks.” She didn’t look back, but the muscles of her back tightened.

  I frowned. She knew something that she wasn’t telling me. Hadn’t I proven my trustworthiness?