Copyright © July 2020 Jade Thorn All rights reserved
The characters and events portrayed in this book are fictitious. Any similarity to real persons, living or dead, is coincidental and not intended by the author.
No part of this book may be reproduced, or stored in a retrieval system, or transmitted in any form or by any means, electronic, mechanical, photocopying, recording, or otherwise, without express written permission of the publisher.
ASIN: B088C4S67Y
Cover design by: Natasha Williams of DAZED Designs
https://www.dazed-designs.com/
Edited by: CB Editing Services
https://www.facebook.com/CBlackEdits/
Please note that due to its content this book is not meant for readers under the age of 18.
Readers may also find some scenes distressing.
Acknowledgements
In the writing process there are always people who help you along. In the publishing process, there are even more! There are some people who I need to thank for helping me.
First and foremost, thank you to my husband for supporting me in my creative madness. For listening to me mutter into long cold cups of tea, for taking the kids to the park to allow me writing time, and for supporting me as I create.
To my girl gang - Lizzie, Sarah and Adriann - you ladies keep me sane, keep me on track, listen to me whinge and still want to talk to me! You are all amazing people, your writing awes and inspires me and I cannot wait to see what you come out with next.
To my editor, Charlotte Black - just wow. You embraced my insane and thrived on it. Your work is top calibre, speedy and you put up with my crazy. THANK YOU. Your encouragement uplifts me and keeps me focussed and your attention to detail is phenomenal. In you I have found not only an amazing editor but a friend for life.
To my street team, my ARC team and my Beta readers - these women help share the word, keep me going and allow me time to keep on writing so that I can share more of the strange worlds in my head. You watch over my shoulder as I write and your positivity helps keep my “darkness” at bay. Thank you for everything. A special thanks to Joy, Jennifer and Jacqueline for all of your hard work and support.
To Alicia who has kept me on the straight and narrow, kept track of things like eye colour and details that constantly escape me, lol. Thank you for being my memory.
To Tash Will - cover designer extraordinaire, you lady, took my request for a “non-traditional academy” cover and raised it to the next level. You are kind, talented and so giving. You are more than my designer, you’re an inspiration and a friend.
Finally, Sara Guthman PA - lady, I don’t even know where to start. Kind, thoughtful, inspired, insightful, organised, helpful, gracious, forgiving - and a whole other pile of positive adjectives - you are them all, my love. You have been invaluable. Your knowledge of marketing, branding and your (frankly terrifying) degree of organisation, has taken me from the hot mess that I was, to a fully functioning author. But it is your kindness and your generosity of spirit that I will forever be grateful for.
Happy reading
Jade
xoxo
1. Melody
Monday morning dawned brightly in a way that was incongruous with the feelings in her heart. The snow had started melting over the weekend, leaving great big muddy puddles behind. It wasn’t a great time to be in the cottage, where there were no firm pathways between it and the north-east corridor in the outer ring of buildings. For the next few weeks, they would squelch their way back and forth to class.
The front porch was a sorry looking sight with muddy shoes everywhere. Together, Melody, Nick and Justin had put enough wards on them that they wouldn’t get stolen, vandalised, frozen, or turned into temporary accommodation by any creature seeking shelter. With no mud-room, it was their only choice to enter and leave in thick socks, shivering in the cold as they put on their shoes. Still, there were worse problems to be had. Melody knew, she had them in spades.
In the winter, students could choose to wear cloaks or long robes over their uniforms. Melody had chosen a robe, with her warmest gear underneath, even though it wasn’t uniform. She figured nobody would check. Besides, the school uniform was sexist, she had to wear either a skirt or tunic, no pants for the girls. The next time she saw the provost, she would have something to say about it.
Melody snorted, as if the provost would be interested in her views on the school uniform, no, there were more serious matters afoot.
By the time they reached the dining hall, Melody’s stomach had twisted into such a tight knot, that she doubted she would be able to eat anything at all. Even the smell of bacon, usually enough to rouse her from a coma, couldn’t settle her. No. Today was the first day of term, and she had no doubt Asher would hold her to her promise of bonding him soon.
She would have to bond him, there was no other choice. The weals on her back weren’t healing as they should. Her aunt was putting on the pressure any way she could. The madwoman was desperate for these stronger shifters.
Her gaze swept lazily across the room, stopping unintentionally on Carla and Quinn, sitting on the far side. Quinn half raised a hand to wave at her, but Carla snapped something at him and he flinched, pulling it down. His witch wasn’t looking at him, but Quinn watched her with a fierce intensity. There was something off about it.
“Mel, sit down, I’ll get you something, okay?” said Dean, interrupting her thoughts..
She knew he sensed her anxiety through their bond. It was definitely strengthening, because she felt his concern for her.
Dean and Trent accompanied her to breakfast this morning, she
