Sophomore Secrets: Connerton Academy, #2

By Cassie Hargrove

Secrets.

Betrayal.

Love.

 

Sophomore year at Connerton Academy isn't shaping up to be any easier than the first, but at least I have Brian and Colten by my side.

 

Together, we can face the evil lurking in the shadows, waiting for the perfect moment to strike.

 

People will be betrayed, powers revealed,  and secrets will come to light.

 

As we battle everything, my guys are the only ones I can trust. Even if it's to the death.

 

 

 

** Connerton Academy is a college aged reverse harem romance where the FMC end up with 3 or more men.

It contains dark elements and mature subject matter. Readers should be 18+. **

*** Previously published as a high school aged romance, and has since been reworked and edited, but the storyline remains largely the same. ***

• Language: English
• Publisher: Cassie Hargrove
• Release date: Apr 2, 2022
• ISBN: 9798215215197

Book preview

1

Harleigh

When I entered Connerton Academy a year ago, I never could have imagined just how irrevocably my life would change.

I didn’t think I would fall in love with two guys who were exact opposites in every way, and I definitely didn’t think they would agree to share me.

I never would have imagined that life would throw me a curveball like the revelation Brian and his father, David, brought to me last year. By telling me that the supernatural beings we read about are actually real, and that I’m one of them, they changed my life in a matter of seconds.

It’s a lot to process. Even now.

I don’t think anyone could have predicted the events of this past year. I know I sure as hell couldn’t.

Walking back into Connerton alone has me on edge.

No one has been able to find any trace of Adeline since Darren’s father, Paul, kidnapped her. He wanted to get to me and couldn’t, and it’s all my fault that her parents and little sister are suffering her loss.

I would give anything to have her back where she belongs. Where she’s safe and happy.

There has to be an endgame that I haven’t seen yet, because if it was to draw me out he would have contacted me by now. But there has been nothing. No contact at all.

He wants to make me suffer, and I fear all the things he could possibly be doing to her. Those things may just break the Addy I know and love.

I need to fix this, I just don’t know how.

Hopefully we will get some answers out of Darren. He disappeared before we could confront him about the attack on me at the park that night, and we haven’t been able to contact him all summer.

Brian and Colten still think I wasn’t seeing clearly, and they’re probably right. Nothing that happened that night makes any sense. If it was Darren that attacked me, he wouldn’t have placed me down on the ground when confronted with the guys.

He also wouldn’t have kissed my forehead like the person that held me did. It just doesn’t fit his closed off personality.

I need answers, and I’m not getting them. It has me annoyed and slightly pissed off.

Hey, pretty girl. Arms wrap around me from behind and lift me before I can protest. I missed you, babe. A week is too fucking long. Colten places me down and starts kissing my neck, and I moan.

Agreed. A week is way too long.

Where’s Bry? I ask Colten, and he snorts.

Really? That’s how you greet me, babe? I’m crushed. He pretends to be hurt.

I laugh and throw myself at him, wrapping my arms and legs around him. Bringing his mouth to mine, I kiss him with all the love I have for him, and he groans.

I missed you too, asshole. I smirk at him, and he slaps my ass.

Get a room! someone yells at us as they pass by, but I don’t pay much attention. I really don’t give a shit what people think of my relationship with the guys.

Go to hell, Pete! Colt hollers back, and there’s laughter from people behind us. Can I hide you away and spend the entire day just devouring you? He kisses me again before letting me slide back down to my feet.

I could probably be persuaded. Maybe. I wink at him and he groans.

Angel boy said he text you to tell you that he won’t be in until tonight. Something to do with a mandatory meeting about Adeline with the higher ups.

Frowning, I pull my phone out of my pocket and realize I never switched it off Do Not Disturb this morning.

Brian:

Hey, beautiful, I won’t be at school until later tonight. Dad and the angels have some possible new information about Addy. I will fill you in when I get there. Love you.

Awe, I miss my sweet Bry.

Me:

Okay. Keep me posted, please. I love you and miss you like crazy.

Me:

You owe me cuddles ;).

I put my phone back in my pocket and turn my attention back to Colten.

Want to cuddle and make out in my room? I tease him and he throws me over his shoulder, heading toward the admittance office.

Don’t poke the bear, baby.

I laugh and swat him in the back. Put me down, jackass! I can’t stop wiggling around, and he smacks my ass again before biting the side of my thigh. Ow!

Quit moving. He laughs at me as we walk into the office.

Mr. Connerton. Put Ms. Roe down, right now! The receptionist scolds him, and I giggle as he plops me on my feet.

I take the time to stick my tongue out at him before turning to the lady.

Thank you. I smile sweetly at her. He can be such a brute sometimes, I sigh, and she lets out a rough laugh.

Here are your packages with your room keys and schedules. Have a nice day you two and welcome back.

Thanking her, we make our way to my room.

One thing I love about Connerton is the fact that we have the same room assignments the entire four years we’re here. It makes things so much easier.

Last year, the guys and I got lucky and weren’t busted for spending all of our time in my room. I’m not sure if it’s because they really just don’t care, or David had something to do with it, but I’m not complaining. I can’t even remember what it’s like to sleep alone anymore and it’s exactly how I like it.

Between being stalked by a psychopath, and having only finding out I was from this world, I assume he pulled some strings and used the fact that Bry was actually assigned to me as a way to have them leave us alone to do our own thing.

Whatever the reason, I’m grateful because I can’t imagine sleeping on my own right now. Not with Darren’s father on the loose and Addy missing. Not to mention the fact that no one has seen or heard from Darren since the night of my attack.

Last year, a couple days before the end of the school term, Paul Conners, Darren’s father, kidnapped my best friend because he couldn’t get to me. The guy is unhinged, but what worries all of us is the fact that two months have gone by, and nothing has been found.

No one knows where he is and there is zero trace of Addy to be found anywhere.

When I asked David what that could mean, he gave me a look of sympathy before telling me that it most likely meant he had someone powerful hiding him, and that didn’t sit well with me.

Actually, that’s not even close to a fair description. I have spent the past two months being absolutely furious beyond anything I have ever felt, and my powers have grown stronger.

I can now move objects with barely a thought, and I can toss a grown man across the room. That was proven when I tested it on David.

He wasn’t happy about it, but we didn’t really have another option. Not like I could just find some random guy and throw them across the room, now could I?

Plus, he was bigger and stronger than Colten or Brian. We needed to be sure.

Throwing people isn’t nearly as easy as moving objects, though, and it still drains me quite a lot. Sure, it’s gotten easier as my power builds, but my body isn’t used to feeling the energy strumming through my veins, and being used on command like everyone else’s.

I need time, and to continually work on it in order for it to grow and my body to adjust, but I get the feeling that we’re running out of time. Whatever Paul’s endgame is with Addy, he won’t keep her around forever, and sitting around waiting is messing with me more than I’d like to admit.

Maybe that’s part of his plan.

Having Bry and Colt by my side through all of this has been the only thing to keep me truly grounded. They don’t let me get too far into my own thoughts where the anger and depression will consume me, and I love them for that.

You’re going there again, Colt mumbles into my neck as his arms wrap around me once the door to my room closes. Drawing me out of my thoughts just like that.

I can’t help it, I sigh leaning back into him. I’m worried about her, Colten. She’s human and she’s innocent.

I know, babe, but we will find her. David and the angels are keeping watch for any signs, and we will be getting some answers from that fucker Darren tomorrow, he snarls, and I pull back to look at him.

We don’t know for sure it was him, babe. I was suffering from a severe concussion. It could have been anyone and my brain chose the closest match.

He nods. Yeah, well I never liked him, and he was always watching you last year with way too much anger for me to just let it go.

He pulls my body flush against his and lays his forehead against mine. And if it was him, that fucker kissed you and I will rip him apart for even thinking touching my girl was okay, he growls, and I roll my eyes.

Rather than answering him, I put my hands on his shoulders before jumping into his arms and kissing him with enough passion to just be in the moment with me.

I love the feel of his lips on mine as our tongues roll against one another, his body hard against mine.

He groans as he pulls away. It’s not fair for you to use your sexy ass body to distract me, he whines, but doesn’t stop kissing me as he carries me to the bed and sits down so I’m straddling him.

It’s not my fault my boyfriend is sexy as hell and I can’t stop touching him, I whisper into his mouth as I rock my hips hard against his erection, making him groan.

Your boyfriend is going to lay you out on this bed and fuck you until you can’t walk tomorrow if you keep that up. He bites my bottom lip and thrusts his erection into my core making me moan.

I think we should talk about that, I gasp into his mouth as he grips my hips and starts using my body to create a friction that will have us both going over the edge before long.

I have personally decided that a week without them is just way too long. I crave their touch and being close, but more than that I crave their love. When they aren’t around, I feel like a piece or two of my heart missing and it’s hard to breathe.

They complete me.

About what? Colt asks as he kisses me and pulls back to look into my eyes.

Us doing things alone? I mumble, and he squeezes me tighter.

Babe. We have talked about it. You and I can do anything alone that we want just like you and angel boy can, we just haven’t taken the opportunity to venture down that road yet because we are both obsessed with being near you. He kisses me again and I stare at him for a moment.

We’ve talked about it? He nods. How come I don’t remember that? I think I would have remembered something that important. I frown at him, and he chuckles before getting serious again.

You’ve been really distracted about Adeline, babe. We will get answers now that we can corner Darren. I lean in and sigh against his chest as his arms wrap around me. Plus, Brian and I can relax a little now that we are back at the school where we can share the same room without your parents trying to either shoot us, or your mom threatening an exorcism on me.

I snort before breaking into laughter so heavy I’m in tears.

She did. She totally went off the deep end when she heard the word demon. You’d think the woman was born to exorcise demons or something.

It took David reassuring her that he was on our side and trustworthy before he was even allowed in the house, but it wasn’t an easy summer.

You think that’s funny, huh? Colt taunts, and I laugh harder when he tries to look serious before he bursts into laughter right along with me.

I can’t believe she did that. I laugh as I try to catch my breath.

I can’t believe your dad threatened to shoot our nuts off if we even touched you inappropriately. He’d have a heart attack if he knew just how rough and dirty his little girl likes it. He winks at me, and I swat his chest hard.

Don’t be an ass! I can’t keep the smile on my face at the reminder of what happened this summer between the guys and my parents.

The sneaking around to have sex was fun too. I can’t even tell you how many times we were almost busted.

Yikes.

The only thing missing was Addy.

I let out a sigh before burrowing into his side now that we’ve found ourselves laying down on the bed that still needs to be made up.

It’s okay, Harleigh. She will be okay. He kisses my head and holds me close as I close my eyes to fend off tears. I end up falling asleep in his arms.

The sound of a door closing jolts me from my sleep, and Colt groans beside me.

Colt! Someone is here! I shove against his side and the panic in my voice makes him jump up as the room floods with light.

It takes a couple of blinks before I see Brian standing there in the doorway, taking us in with a smirk.

Hey, beautiful. Miss me? I don’t even answer, just take off running and jump into his arms making him grunt as he catches me and laughs. That’s a yes if I ever saw one. He kisses me softly with leisure until my core is wet and aching for him before he pulls away, a mixture of lust and sadness in his eyes.

What did you find out? I ask him, getting right to the point.

Sit down and we can all talk about it. He nods at Colt before tilting his head to the couch area and walking me over there to sit with me in his lap.

Alright, what’s going on? I ask once we are all settled on the couch, and Brian sighs.

Nothing different. The meeting was more how we can address her missing when we are all back at school. He gives me a look filled with empathy, and I suck in a breath just knowing what he says next is going to kill me. There’s an official lockdown on campus. No one leaves for any reason, and there is extra security to make sure no one enters without proper authority.

I take in what he has to say, and I can’t decide whether to cry or scream.

I get that they need to keep us safe. Me safe. But it also means that I will no longer be able