The Hidden Princess At All-Boys Alpha Academy
Chapter 0470

I throw open the door to our room and stumble inside, panting and exhausted and covered in sweat from my lesson with Blaze as I toss my new chemistry textbook onto a side table. "I just had the best day," I sputter out, each word seeming to come out on its own little pant.

"Ariel!" Rafe shouts, frantic, and I stand up straight when I find him barreling across the room towards me. I barely have time to squeak in surprise before he wraps me up in a tight bear hug, holding me close, his arms shaking. "Where the hell have you been!?" "At my lessons!" I protest, my words coming out all muffled against his arm. I hug my brother for a second but then push against him, confused, wanting to know what on earth is going on. But he holds me locked tight in his arms, not letting me go. "Rafe!" I gasp, shoving harder against him. "You're suffocating me!" "Good," he growls, but he lets me go when Jesse tugs hard at his arm.

I gasp a breath but barely have a moment to get it down before Jesse takes Rafe's place. "You idiot," he growls, holding me close to his chest. "Do you know what time it is!? You missed dinner! We were so fucking worried, Ariel!"

I hug Jesse back for a second, looking at the clock behind him in surprise and realizing with a little bit of horror that he's right. "Oh my god," I say, pushing back a minute. "Jess - I'm so sorry -"

But before I can get any further he's shoved away and I find myself up in Luca's arms, being carried away over to the couch. I can't help it - I laugh, even as he snarls at me.

"What, I don't get a hug?" Ben protests from his spot over by the door.

"I'm sorry, Benny!" I call to him over Luca's shoulder. "I didn't mean to worry you!"

But before I can say anything else Luca sinks down onto the couch, taking me with him, wrapping me up in his arms and settling me onto his lap. "Please don't do that again, Ariel," he sighs, resting his forehead against mine. "We were seriously flipping out - we thought... maybe Wright had gotten to you? God, we had no idea -"

"I'm sorry," I whisper, raising my hand and cupping his cheek, pressing a swift kiss to his mouth. "I really am - I lost track of time and didn't even think -"

"Well, where were you?" Rafe asks, sinking down into his arm chair and rubbing at his temple, still glaring at me. Jesse does the same, and I work hard to keep a smile from my face because honestly they look the picture of Dad and uncle Roger right now when they're pissed at one of us kids.

Quickly, I tell them all about my amazing day - about Faiza teaching me to be a spy, and Blaze teaching me to fight, and Neumann's plans to teach us all sorts of fascinating chemical compounds. Their attention is rapt through the first two things, though I think I lose them a bit on the third.

"So, you were at hand-to-hand lessons?" Jesse asks, clearly interested. "Instead of dinner? And you have to do it every night?"

"I mean, I'll eat when I come home," I say, yawning already and snuggling warmly against Luca.

"Still," Jesse says, glancing at the clock. "That is a long day. Longer than any of ours."

"I don't like it," Rafe says, shaking his head and crossing his arms. "I can't believe you walked through the castle alone today, Ariel. Twice."

"Rafe," I sigh, shaking my head at him. "You can't always be my bodyguard! Eventually, I have to be able to protect myself!"

"Yeah, and until then, someone has to protect you!" he snaps, leaning forward to glare at me.

"Oh, we'll figure it out," I say, flapping a hand dismissively at him as I tuck my head against Luca's shoulder and close my eyes for a second, letting myself rest. "Is there any food left? I'm starving."

Rafe grumbles but gets up, making me a plate of semi-cold turkey and vegetables wrapped in a piece of flatbread with a sweet and spicy sauce. When he hands it to me, I scarf it down. Luca obligingly holds my plate for me, laughing at me a little as I eat as fast as I can. "What'd you guys do all day?" I ask, my mouth a little full. I send Luca a pulse of apology down our bond for being so gross, but he just laughs and kisses me on my cheek, letting me know he doesn't care.

"Well, until we spent the past two hours worried as hell about you," Rafe says, glaring at me again as he sinks back into his seat. "We all actually had a great day."