The Hidden Princess At All-Boys Alpha Academy
Chapter 0505

I laugh a little, shaking my head at her, not getting it. "Please, Faiza. Explain."

"Look, close-up magic is nerdy as hell," she says, leaning forward and talking to me seriously now. "But it teaches you a great deal about how to do things in plain sight. And if you can't even sneak marbles into your sexy brother's pockets -" "Oh, don't be gross," I sigh, wrinkling my nose at her again.

She just laughs, grinning at me, "then you clearly need to learn how to be faster and sneakier with your hands. It all makes sense."

I sigh, seeing her point and looking down at the cards. "Okay, I'm in. What do we do?"

"I'm going to teach you three card tricks," Faiza says, picking up the dark and flourishing the cards in a very cool way that lets me know that she is very good at this. "And I want them mastered in two days' time. Or else I'm going to make you learn how to mime or something even worse."

I grin, leaning forward and nodding to my teacher, letting her know that I'm game.

Faiza spreads the cards out on the desk and begins to explain and I concentrate hard, eager to get started.

I'm still messing with the cards, attempting to flip them around in my hand lightening-fast and without being noticed the way Faiza taught me, when I turn the corner in the hall towards the gym where I meet Blaze every night.

And I nearly drop the deck of cards all over the floor when I see Luca sitting on the floor outside my gym, his back pressed against the wall, reading a book of all things. "W-what are you doing here?" I ask, stumbling a little as I grasp at the cards, clutching them to my chest so they don't go flying everywhere.

Luca looks up at me, surprised, but then breaks into a grin, holding up a hand. "Sorry, sorry," he says, taking in what must be a pretty ridiculous sight - his mate, dressed as a boy, with 52 playing cards held flat against her body, each of them threatening to fall at any second. "I don't mean to interrupt - I'm just here as bodyguard to walk you back to the room when you're done your lesson."

I scowl a little, straightening up and managing to get some control over the cards, putting them back in order. "Did Rafe send you?" Stupid Rafe, so over-protective.

"He didn't," Luca says, still grinning at me. "But I took his point quite seriously, Ari - you're still vulnerable walking these hallways alone. None of us are excited about the prospect of you going anywhere alone until you can protect yourself."

I sigh, rolling my eyes a bit but taking his point. Before I can ask anything else, though, the door to the gym opens and Blaze peeks out, immediately taking in both me and the big Alpha sitting on the floor. "You are late, pupil," he says, giving me a cheerful smile. "Sorry, Blaze," I say, grinning at him and hurrying towards the door. "I was just talking to Luca. But I'm here, and I'm ready!"

"Luca," Blaze says, turning the name over in his mouth like it's a mysterious new thing and looking down at my mate.

Luca looks up from his awkward position and gives Blaze a little wave. Blaze's grin grows wider.

"Is this creature yours, little bird?" Blaze asks, pointing down at Luca on the floor.

I laugh a little at the phrasing but nod, tucking the deck of cards away into my book bag. "Yeah, he's mine."

"Well then," Blaze murmurs, smiling between the two of us before he moves back into the gym, his voice floating along behind him as he goes. "You should bring it inside, then."

I laugh a little, turning to Luca with a shrug. "You want to come in?"

His smile back at me is brilliant. "Of course I do."