The Hidden Princess At All-Boys Alpha Academy
Chapter 0460

"Well," Rafe says, glancing between Luca and I and clearly intuiting that a little distraction might be necessary, "leave it to the Academy to get Ari out of bed, through a run, and then through a royal meeting before seven in the morning." I turn my attention gratefully to my brother, and he gives me a surreptitious wink. "Are you implying that I'm lazy, Rafe Sinclair?" I counter, raising my coffee to my lips and lifting a challenging eyebrow in his direction.

"Oh, I wasn't implying that, Ari," he says, training his innocent gaze on me. "I was blatantly stating it."

We all laugh at the easy joke, but it does its job, allowing conversation to restart at the table, letting us all relax a bit. Even Luca unwinds, though I think he forces himself to do it - to smile broadly and turn to Jesse next to him and start to chat about some lesson the Warrior track has going on today. I note, though, that his bond to me is closed down - perhaps for my sake.

I take a moment to register this - to note that Luca is trying. He's not having a temper tantrum, after all. It's progress, isn't it?

Next to me, Jackson gives me a nudge with his elbow. "You okay?" he asks, quiet enough that maybe only Ben hears.

"I'm great," I say, smiling up at him. Because this is it now, isn't it? My life with two mates who are both in my life and agreeing, however tacitly, to share space. There are going to be moments of tension like that and we're all just going to have to...deal with it.

Jackson just nods once and accepts my words, allowing himself to get swept up in the conversation around the table. I chat with Ben about his plans for the week and his schedule as I try to shove as much food and coffee down my throat as I can, knowing that I need it. To my joy and surprise, I discover that Ben and I have a free study period tomorrow.

"Want to go to the library?" he asks, I think as pleased as I am. "I know we won't have much to study yet, but we can scope out the best reading spots."

"Speak for yourself," I sigh, knowing that I have Chemistry this afternoon and will certainly have a pile of homework from Neumann. "But yes, library sounds amazing. Do you think..."

But I stop mid-word, my focus completely shifting as a familiar figure stands at a table across the room, a man dressed in military browns and greens standing behind him.

Jackson and Luca, feeling my shock and surprise, instantly straighten in alert, turning in the direction I'm looking.

"What?" Jesse says, noticing the change in atmosphere at the table. "What's going on?" Ben and Rafe likewise put down their forks, looking around.

Luca sees the Cadet in question first and lets out a long string of curses. Jackson is next, simply emitting a long, dangerous growl that I can feel vibrating through me. Jacks puts his hands flat on the table, clearly intending to stand up, but I whip out a hand and grab his wrist, begging him to stop.

He glances down at me, his body tensing as he wills himself to stay in his seat, as I have asked.

"Holy shit," Jesse says as his eyes focus on Alan Wright across the room. "What the...how the fuck is he still here!?"

Rafe growls as Jackson does, standing abruptly as he doesn't have me at his side to grab his wrist as I've done Jackson.

"Rafe!" I bark, and he glances over at me before returning his eyes to Alan, clearly on the verge of striding over there and using his fists to let Alan know precisely how welcome he is at this school.

"Did you guys seriously not hear?" Ben asks, looking between us. "It was...all over the halls last night."

"What was?" Luca asks, turning to Ben, his own shoulders shaking with rage to see the man who almost killed me clearly still enrolled.

"Would you all sit down?" Ben snaps, clearly focused on Rafe.

Rafe's growl intensifies but he does as Ben suggests, lowering himself to his seat and focusing on our friend.

"Honestly, you all need to take a little time to speak to people besides each other," Ben says, frowning around at us. "How can you honestly be the last people to know about this?"

"This is why you're our ambassador, Benny," Jesse says, going for levity even though I can see that his face is totally serious and very upset for my sake. "You speak to everyone else while we remain insular and aloof. Now, spill."