Bound: Thornbriar Academy, #2

By Cali Mann

Mated. When fate takes my choices away, I fight back the only way I know how.

 

I rebel, choosing the guy not on the menu. But Thornbriar Academy isn't as safe as it once was, and my deadly secret falls into the wrong hands. I'm going to need all my men to stay alive.

 

Bound is the second book in this why choose, paranormal romance series. Expect a tough-as-nails heroine, bullies, unusual shifters (including dragons, bears, and panthers),  vampires, and love in this steamy new adult reverse harem romance.

 

READ THE WHOLE SERIES - also available as audiobooks!

Thornbriar Academy - a shifter reverse harem romance

 

Free prequel short story: Lost

Book 1: Found

Book 2: Bound

Book 3: Saved

 

• Language: English
• Publisher: Thornfire Publishing Co
• Release date: Oct 26, 2021
• ISBN: 9798201237851

Book preview

Cali Mann

Bound

Thornbriar Academy Book Two

First published by Thornfire Publishing Co. 2020

Copyright © 2020 by Cali Mann

All rights reserved. No part of this publication may be reproduced, stored or transmitted in any form or by any means, electronic, mechanical, photocopying, recording, scanning, or otherwise without written permission from the publisher. It is illegal to copy this book, post it to a website, or distribute it by any other means without permission.

This novel is entirely a work of fiction. The names, characters and incidents portrayed in it are the work of the author's imagination. Any resemblance to actual persons, living or dead, events or localities is entirely coincidental.

First edition

Cover art by Victoria Cooper Art

Editing by Word Faery

This book was professionally typeset on Reedsy

Find out more at reedsy.com

Contents

1. Hailey

2. Adrian

3. Brenton

4. Hailey

5. Sciro

6. Hailey

7. Hailey

8. Adrian

9. Hailey

10. Brenton

11. Hailey

12. Hailey

13. Sciro

14. Brenton

15. Hailey

16. Adrian

17. Sciro

18. Hailey

19. Hailey

20. Adrian

21. Sciro

22. Brenton

23. Hailey

24. Brenton

25. Hailey

26. Sciro

27. Brenton

28. Hailey

29. Hailey

30. Sciro

31. Hailey

32. Brenton

33. Hailey

34. Hailey

35. Hailey

ABOUT THE AUTHOR

ALSO BY CALI MANN

1

Hailey

Lifting my hand, I let the snowflakes fall on my bare skin. They lingered on the surface instead of melting because my flesh was colder than normal. I might not have turned into a vampire at puberty as Sciro did, but when the air shifter phase was upon me, I had many of the same skills and deficiencies. Once at Hastings House, I’d stolen a raw steak from the kitchen just to slurp the blood and sate the thirst. Mr. Hastings had me whipped for that, but it had been worth it. It was harder at Thornbriar Academy to feed the instinct and keep my secret.

I stepped down off the log, my booted feet sinking into the fresh snow. Thick warm boots had been my Christmas present to myself and they’d been worth every penny. I was not immune to cold, even during an air shifter phase, just resistant. With these boots, I was able to roam wherever I wanted on the property, even into the dense woods where the snowdrifts reached my knees. Although they wouldn’t help me climb the fence that encircled Thornbriar Academy. The top was lined with an electric wire. My skin still itched with the need to cross that boundary, but I took a breath and tried to focus.

Ever since my phase had changed, I’d been trying to shift into an air form. A crow, a hawk, even a bluebird would have been fine. All shifters derived their power from the elements, and there was plenty of brisk air around me. But no matter how much I concentrated, I hadn’t been able to transform. As a rare spirit shifter, I should be able to take any form. That was what the books said, anyway. There weren’t any other spirit shifters around for me to ask.

I bit my lip, tasting the warm metallic blood. My stomach roared with hunger, and picking the bloodiest cuts wouldn’t sustain me for long. Was I not able to shift because I hadn’t fed the vampire? Did I need to steal a blood bag from the kitchens? I knew the school stocked them. A blood lust rampage wasn’t a pretty sight, and by keeping the hunger at bay, the air shifters stayed on an even keel. But since my spirit shifter nature was a deadly secret, I couldn’t exactly walk in and fetch one.

All around me the snow was unmarred except for my footsteps. The crisp whiteness would change tomorrow as students returned from their holidays and classes resumed at Thornbriar Academy. This was my last chance to try to shift before prying eyes were everywhere, but it wasn’t going to happen. I sighed and crossed the yard in long strides, heading back to the dorms.

With a huff, I watched my breath fog the cold air. I hadn’t seen Adrian or Sciro at all in the past two weeks. Adrian had gone home for the holiday, and Sciro’d been holed up in the library working on some special project. Terrin and I had fun, regardless. The school had stayed open, offering activities for students who had nowhere else to go. We’d gone on all the organized trips: skiing, snowboarding, even to the local pizza parlor to play arcade games.

I smiled and twisted the charm bracelet around my wrist. The guys had given the bracelet to me before the holiday. Each charm represented one of the guys’ shifter forms: a jaguar, a crow, and a merman. The wolf had been a surprise present I found on my doorstep Christmas morning. I didn’t know who had left it. I assumed Mr. Reed—my recruiter— had, but I hadn’t seen him since last semester, so I hadn’t been able to ask.

I wandered back into the building and toward the boys’ suite. I’d basically moved in here over the holiday, and no one seemed to notice or care. I supposed I’d need to return to my room in the girls’ dorm tonight. I had to admit it’d been nice to spend these dark winter nights wrapped up in Terrin’s arms.

Opening the door, I brushed my snow boots on the mat. When I looked up, I froze. Adrian stood at the back of the couch, rubbing his hair with a towel. His skin—wet and warm from the shower—glistened. Warmth curled in my gut, and I swallowed. Adrian.

Hailey. He dropped his towel over his shoulders and turned toward his room.

Tripping over my tongue, I said, Wait.

What? he asked. His casual tone was belied by his stiffening shoulders.

How was your trip home? There was so much more I wanted to ask that I had no right to ask.

Twisting to look at me, he shrugged. It was fine. Mom was pretty busy, so I didn’t see her much.

Did you hang out with Monica? I couldn’t keep the jealous note out of my voice. I had insisted on my freedom with Terrin, and here I was being resentful of who Adrian saw. I kicked myself mentally.

He gave me a glare. After what she did to you?

I frowned. You have been friends for a long time.

It doesn’t matter, he said. She’s dead to me.

Wow. I hadn’t intended to kill a friendship. She’d left me the information I was looking for, and she’d torn up my bedsheets. It wasn’t like she’d actually hurt me. And why did Adrian care so much anyway? Why have you been avoiding me?

He rolled his eyes. I’ve been away, Hailey. Not everything is about you.

Well, that stung more than a little. But I pulled up my big girl panties and asked, Are we still friends?

Stomping across the room, he yanked me into his arms and laid his lips on mine. The kiss was a typhoon, ripping away all my thoughts. I melted against him, savoring his saltwater taste and curling my fingers into his blond curls. I hadn’t known how much I’d missed this until I had it again. I scraped my nails along his skin, and my vampire enhanced senses pricked at the smell of blood. I moaned against his mouth.

Lifting his head, he stared down at me, and I drowned in his sea-green eyes. No, Hailey, we are not friends.

Then he let me go, and I stumbled on my jelly-legs. I leaned against the door frame, letting it hold me up.

Adrian marched into his room and slammed the door.

What the hell was that supposed to mean? He pushed my buttons, then just walked away? What was wrong with him? Anger curled in my stomach like a hard pit, and I scowled at the closed door like I could burn a hole through it with my eyes. He didn’t make any sense.

Hey, Terrin said from behind me.

I spun around, snarling, and he held his hands up.

I come in peace, he said, with a small smile.

Closing my eyes, I took a breath, letting his calming presence wash through me. He was better than a Valium. The wardens had sometimes forced the pills down our throats when we lost control, back at Hastings House. My ire started to rise again, just thinking of that awful place, but I took another steadying breath.

Hey, Terrin said. His hands grasped my shoulders and pulled me against him.

I breathed in his fresh forest scent and smiled. How do you know just when I need you?

He made a rumbly sound in his chest, almost like he was purring.

2

Adrian

Shit. One kiss . I leaned back against the cold door, letting it cool my overheated body. Rubbing my shoulder where my mate tattoo lay, I glared at the naked women on my walls.

I’d gone home to get Hailey off my mind. Every time I closed my eyes, all I could see were her luscious curves and smooth skin. She beat any of the women on my walls by a mile. Fuck.

Sciro had given Terrin and me some thick theater makeup to cover our tattoos while we figured this whole thing out. With Mom at Council and Dad in whatever rehab he currently resided, there had only been me and the servants bumbling around the house over the break. I’d been bored, and all I could think of was my mate.

Mine and Terrin’s. I cried deep in my throat. People didn’t have two mates. Shifters bonded once and for life. That’s how it worked. I ran a hand through my wet hair. Until Hailey.

Over the holiday, I’d hung out at my usual places and even picked up some of my regular companions. They were hot, smoking hot. Kissing them was like eating cardboard, and my dick refused to rise to the occasion. Every. Damn. Time.

Yet, one kiss from Hailey and here he was, tenting my towel. Dammit.

I dried off and yanked on a shirt and jeans, grimacing as the seams rolled over my tender skin. Every inch of me craved her touch with water the only thing that soothed it. Even though I’d just left the shower, I considered going for a swim.

Sciro was supposed to fix this, or at least explain it. I needed to talk to him.

3

Brenton

Iturned the corner and froze. There they were again. Terrin and Hailey. Kissing.

Fury rolled through me, and I curled my hands into fists. A low roar filled my ears. Nearby classmates recoiled, diving for the walls. I wanted to punch him and fuck her, and I had no right.

Sure, I’d helped rescue Hailey when she’d been stupid enough to go wandering in the caves below the school. What thanks did I get for it? Nothing. Not a word. Instead, I got treated to the sight of them all over each other for the last two weeks. Every time I’d turned a corner, there they were. I should have left her in the damn caves. Stupid bitch.

Spinning on my heel, I stomped back the way I’d come. My cell vibrated against my hip. Pulling it out of my pocket, I glared at the caller ID: Dad. Just what I needed today. I’d stayed on campus to avoid him over the break, and I was sure he was calling to ream me out for it. I’d avoided all his other calls, but I had to talk to him eventually.

I took a turn into a little-used hallway and clicked accept. Forcing a smile across my lips, I said, Hello, Dad.

Where the hell have you been, boy? he yelled in my ear.

Lifting the phone away from my ear, I said as calmly as I could, "I