The Hidden Princess At All-Boys Alpha Academy
Chapter 0434

When my professors have gone and it's just the five of us left in the room, my father tuns and gives us all a sharp nod. "Good," he says, looking between us Cadets. "That went better than I thought it would. It seems almost as if...at least Neumann was already aware." I give a little shrug, admitting it a bit with a small smile.

Dad huffs a laugh and then runs a hand through his hair, turning to Rafe. "Off to the room with you, Rafe," he says. "You're all finished here."

Rafe's mouth drops open for a moment. "But..." he looks at Jackson and I with a frown. "Where are they going?"

"Another meeting," mom says with a happy sigh, her eyes crinkling up a little as she takes Rafe's hands and pulls him forward for a little kiss on the cheek. "Not necessary for you. I'll miss you baby, be good."

Rafe sputters in protest, half torn between his desire to give mom a proper goodbye and protest that he wants to join the meeting. But dad just raises a single eyebrow at him, daring him to counter his decision, and Rafe scowls.

"Fine," he murmurs, giving dad as much of a glare as he dares. Then he gives mom a proper kiss and dad a hug before heading out of the room.

"Take their bags!" dad calls, gesturing towards our backpacks. Rafe scowls again but does asa he's told, taking our backpacks from us and using the chance to say a few stern words to Jackson, instructing him to escort me back to the room after whatever it is we're doing. Jackson smirks as if he finds it humorous that Rafe thinks he needs to be reminded.

But I don't have time for any of that. "What are we doing?" I ask, frowning as I look between my parents. "What's going on?"

"Nothing to be upset about, baby trouble," mom says, slipping an arm around me and leading me towards the door. "Dominic? Where to?"

"Just down the hall," he murmurs, starting out in the lead. Jackson brings up the rear, of course, and I frown over my shoulder at him, silently asking if he knows what's going on. But he just shrugs, letting me know that he knows as much as I do. "What is with all the secrets today," I growl, giving my mom a poke in the ribs with my finger.

She laughs and scoots away from me for a second. "It's not secrets Ariel - just not a great deal of time to give everyone a brief about our plans for the day."

"We had an entire helicopter ride!"

"Yes, my love," she sighs, reaching out to pat me fondly on the cheek. "But it was very loud, and I was very distracted by the magazine with all of its lovely pictures and hilarious theories, none of which actually matched the truth for true drama -" I groan, shaking my head at her, knowing she's lying but giving in to it. If mom wants to keep her secrets there's no stopping her, and honestly she's probably doing it for a reason so I give in, just following along. I trust her, after all. Jackson willingly follows close behind, quiet as usual, but down the bond I feel his utter trust in mom too.

We follow dad down the hall to a door that he pushes open. His face breaks into a huge smile as he steps into the room. "It's been a long time, friend!"

Mom gives a little squeak of joy and rushes forward, tugging me along with her. I go willingly, even if I am baffled. I feel Jackson close behind me as I step into the room and see a man sitting on the other side of a small table, a laptop open before him - a human, and one I've met before.

"Hank!" my mom says, abandoning me immediately and dashing over to her old friend. "It's so good to see you, I've missed you."

Hank is lucky enough to stand in time for my mother to run past my dad and barrel into him. He laughs as he wraps his arms around her. "It's good to see you too, Ella - you're right, it's been too long."

Mom beams up at Hank as dad comes to shake his hand, perhaps the fondest gesture dad gives to anyone outside of the family.

"You remember our eldest daughter, of course?" dad says, gesturing towards me.

I step forward eagerly, my hand out. "Hi!" I say, laughing a little. "I remember you! You came once to the palace when I was younger."