The Hidden Princess At All-Boys Alpha Academy
Chapter 0577

you to think that I've been staying away because I'm taking his side or something."

"Oh, Rafe's a big idiot who can take care of himself," I say, waving a hand in the air and pulling Daphne over to the bed. I mean, I don't actually mean that - but I think Daphne needs the assurance more than Rafe needs my undying sisterly loyalty right now. "I don't want

Daphne stares at me for a second before her eyes well up with tears again. "Really?" she whispers.

"Oh my god!" I cry out, grabbing her again in another hug. "I'm so sorry. I should have come sooner. Of course not, Daphne, you're really important to me! I've been such a jerk."

Luca stands awkwardly by, checking out Daphne's bookshelf, as the two of us take a few more minutes to reassure each other that neither is mad at each other and that our friendship is solid.

"I really should have come down, Daph," I say quietly, shaking my head at her. "I've just been so insanely busy."

"No, I know you are," she says with a sigh, pushing herself back against her headboard and settling in. "Especially with the Games tomorrow. I shouldn't have worried."

I fight my impulse to assure her again that I should have been a better friend so she didn't have to worry, but I know that's just going to lead us down an endless circle. So I just smile at my friend, who grins back at me, both of us silently agreeing to move on from it. "So, is that what's been on your mind?" Daphne asks, looking between Luca and I. Luca grabs the chair from her sewing machine and joins our little group, looking between us. "The Games?"

"Yeah," I say, sighing and settling back against the wall, pleased to have some time with my friend. "That and a weird visit from my grandmother the Goddess today."

Both Luca and Daphne go pale as they gape at me and I grin, kind of tickled by the effect that dropping that little fact had. But I quickly move on, filling them in on what details I can - that the Goddess gave us some new information about our magic, and that Jesse's magic has developed. I don't give any big details, though - especially regarding the provenance of Jackson and Tony's gift, or the shape that Jesse's magic takes, or the fact that the Goddess ordered me to swiftly collect my mate's marks.

Those seem either not my details to share or far, far too delicate for a little catch-up chat at dinner time.

"That's insane," Daphne murmurs, shaking her head at me and running a hand through her long auburn curls. "I can't...I can't believe that. And Jesse has his magic now? That's...amazing."

"I'm sure he'd be pumped to tell you all about it," Luca says, perhaps...a bit too casually. He very pointedly does not look at me as he says it, giving Daphne a friendly nod. "You should come to the room tomorrow night after the Games - we're all getting together, mostly so this lot can lick their wounds after their devastating loss to my team." Luca points his thumb at me as he says this and I snarl and give him a little kick.

But then I turn my head back to Daphne, eager at the idea. "You really should come!" I say, nodding fast. "I would love that, and a room party always needs more girls. Plus, you can meet our friend Tony" I beam as if this is the greatest treat in the world.

But Daphne just bites her lip and shakes her head. "I don't know," she says, "that seems...very bold, to dump Rafe Sinclair one day and then show up at his party the next." "Please, this is my party," I say, sitting up straight and pressing a possessive hand to my chest.

"Oh whatever, Ariel, you didn't even know this party was happening," Luca says, leaning back in his chair and giving me a lazy grin.

"Regardless!” I say, flashing him my

he

best princess smile. "My room, my party." But then I shake the pretense loose and lean forward, grabbing Daphne's hand. "Please come, won't be the same without you. You're still our friend, a part of the group, even if your romance with my brother came to its end."

"Really?" Daphne asks, the hope on her face breaking my heart.