The Hidden Princess At All-Boys Alpha Academy
Chapter 0459

"With my mind," I say, raising my hands to my temple and narrowing my eyes, working hard for a joke that doesn't land.

Luca just stares at me and goes a little pale.

"And I can light things on fire," I say, giving a shrug as I sigh.

"With your mind?" he whispers, still staring at me, his pace slowing.

"Kinda," I say, shrugging and looking anxiously down the hall towards breakfast, where everyone is waiting. "I mean, with my magic, it doesn't feel like I do it with my mind. It comes from somewhere else." "And... Tony does that too?" Luca asks, beginning to walk with me again as he adjusts to the information even though I can see and feel that he's a little freaked out.

"I've made some promises," I say quietly, my eyes begging him for patience. "I'll...ask if I can tell you. But I won't break people's trust if they don't want me to."

Luca nods to me, but I can tell he feels left out and betrayed.

"I'm sorry," I say, shaking my head as we come to the doors of the hall, not pushing them open yet. "You know I would have told you, right? If it was just me? But...it's not just my secret to hold."

His mouth twists a little in disappointment but he nods. "I get it," he says with a sigh. "But...try to convince them, all right? I'd be more comfortable if I knew what was going on."

I smile at my mate and nod as we press into the breakfast room, obviously arriving quite late. A grin breaks out onto my face, though, as I see that our group is already arranged around our usual table, and that Jackson is there too, waiting for us. I quicken my pace, eager to see everyone as well as to eat.

"So, are you like...all magic?" Luca asks, glancing between me and the rest of the table as he keeps pace at my side.

I laugh a little and then pitch my voice mysteriously. "I am not at liberty to disclose that information, Grant."

He just groans, tilting his head back. "Oh god, that's a yes," he mutters, making me laugh more.

"Ari!" Ben says, beaming at me and gesturing towards the empty seat next to him that has Jackson on its other side. "What the hell, man! You barely made it in time for coffee."

"I know, I know," I say with a sigh, giving Luca's arm a brief touch before I scurry to the open seat and sink into it, smiling at my friend. "Tell me you saved me a muffin, or I'll cry."

Ben laughs and moves a blueberry muffin from his plate to mine. I squeak happily, grateful and glad, and am already taking a bite as I turn to Jacks. "Hi," I say, my mouth full.

He works hard to keep from beaming at me, to maintain his Academy reputation for stoicism. "All okay?" he says, raising an eyebrow at me and starting to pour me a cup of coffee.

Beneath the table I slide my foot towards him, looping it behind his ankle and hooking it around the side, as much contact as I can get without being ridiculously obvious. "All very well, no worries," I say, quite breezy as he places my coffee in front of me.

A warm feeling blooms in me as I smile at Jackson and my wolf gives a happily little howl, her feet dancing to be near to him again. And I realize, ridiculously, that I missed him - even though I was only away for less than an hour. I pass everything that I'm feeling down the bond to Jackson in a warm swell. He can't help the smile that breaks out on his face, even as he pretends to ignore it.

But, quite secretly, he passes to me his own warm rush of happiness and affection and relief to again have me near. These emotions flood down the bond, filling me with a gust of lovely warmth so suddenly that I'm almost dizzy with it, my cheeks flushed with joy as I turn it over in my heart, relishing it, exploring it, basking in it as I sip my coffee and stare at my mate.

"Earth to Ari," Jesse says, snapping his fingers in front of my face.

I blink back to myself and refocus on my cousin, laughing a little when I realize that the nearness of Jacks actually did make me completely forget that everyone else existed. I grin and look around the table at all of my friends, everyone I love so much, who all grin at me and shake their heads at my distraction, entertained and pleased.

Well, all except for Luca, who I realize saw as much as everyone else. Quietly, he pours himself his own cup of coffee, his face pale and his jaw set, clearly working hard to contain his jealousy at my reaction to Jacks and failing...just a little bit.