The Hidden Princess At All-Boys Alpha Academy
Chapter 0520

"This is all very exciting, Ari," Daphne says. "I'm happy for you."

"Yeah well, don't go thinking it's too exciting," I sigh, reaching for my bookbag and hauling it closer to me, starting to take out my books. "I hope you won't mind that tonight will be a little boring, Daphne, I have a great deal of homework to do. And I know I'm not alone in that." When I look around the room for confirmation, all of the boys nod, looking a bit drawn. Secretly, quietly, I wish that they all had my secret weapon of Jackson's energy supply, a bit of which he passes to me every morning after our run. Honestly, it's the only thing keeping me going - I don't know how the rest of them are doing it.

"Oh, I don't mind," Daphne says, bending down and picking up a little basket full of fabric and thread tucked by the side of the couch that I didn't see before. "I brought my own homework. Academy really keeps us on our toes, doesn't it?"

I nod my agreement as Jesse hands me my plate - some sort of mystery meat sandwiches tonight, I can't really tell what - but before I can reply to Daphne more completely the door opens and my wolf gives a series of yips, pouncing around in my soul, when Jackson slips into the room.

He looks at me instantly, sensing my wolf's reaction, his own working hard to play it cool but completely failing as a possessive growl slips from between his teeth. Jackson likewise works hard not to burst into a wild grin, just pushing the door shut behind him and waving to everyone in the room.

"Hey, Jacks!" Jesse calls, amongst other greetings from everyone else in the room as he holds out a plate. "Come and get it while it's hot."

"What is it?" Jackson asks, a little suspicious as he moves closer to Jesse, taking the plate and raising it to eye-level so that he can inspect the sandwich.

"It's Sloppy Joes," Ben says, a little baffled, looking around at us. Luca and Daphne nod eagerly, digging in and apparently relishing the taste.

I look down at mine, grimacing a little at the way the meat slops out the side of the bun, wondering if it can actually be as good as their eager eating implies.

"Wait," Ben says, laughing a little and

looking around at us as Jackson settles down on the floor on my other side. "Don't tell me that the Foundling and the Royals have this in common and only us working-class folks know what Sloppy Joes are."

"Hey, our mothers - "Jesse begins, lifting up his sandwich experimentally.

"Oh, don't give me your my-mother-was-an-orphan line," Ben says, waving a hand at Jesse. "She's a duchess, a doctor, and a sorceress now. Just... try it. You'll love it."

We each dig in and I can feel

Jackson's pleasure down the bond when he, like me, realizes that Ben was right that it's as delicious as prescribed. We fall into a happy rhythm then, each of us scarfing down our tasty meal before picking up our homework, chatting idly until one by one we fall quiet,

concentrating our studies and our sewing.

I'm really falling into my chemistry homework when suddenly next to me Luca's book drops to the floor turn in surprise to see him staring at it, his jaw clenched, looking like he wishes he could light it on fire with his mind.

"Luca," I say quietly, reaching out a hand and putting it on his knee. "What's wrong?"