The Hidden Princess At All-Boys Alpha Academy

Chapter 27

I hurry my own pace, darting for an empty shower stall now, willing to take whichever is free- however filthy-

“Ari!” Jesse hisses behind me. “Are you – are you kidding me-

is he your

I squeak a little in dismay. “Don’t know what you’re talking about. Jesse!” I hiss, darting into the stall and yanking the curtain closed behind me.

“Ari!” Jesse shricks, and then he lowers his voice. “Are you with him?”

– are you f**king using the dream state

“I can’t hear you!” I shout, desperate, flipping on the water even though I’m still dressed. Jesse starts

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to tug at the curtain but I snap it shut. “You can’t come in here!” I protest. “I’m n*ked!”

“ARI!” Jesse shouts, completely freaked out.

But suddenly he goes silent, and I

go still.

“What the hell is going on here?” Rafe’s voice asks, just outside the stall.

My eyes dart around as I pray pray that Jesse holds his tongue

“Nothing.” Jesse says, laughing and playing it off. “Ari just…played a prank on me. Lunchmeat…in my bed.”

“That’s not a prank,” Rafe says, confused. “That’s just…gross.”

“Yeah well.” Jesse murmurs. “He needs to….work on his practical jokes. I guess.”

“Whatever,” Rafe says, sighing, his voice tired as he moves away, heading back to the bunks. “You guys got this? I’ll see you in a few?”

Jesse calls confirmation over his shoulder before turning back to my curtain. “This conversation is not finished, Ari,” he says, spitting my name out like it’s a dirty word.

I don’t say anything, but when I hear his angry mutters move away, I exhale a deep breath and begin to strip down, using the entire length of my very long, very hot shower to decide what the hell I’m going to say to my cousin.

When I finally step out of my stall, damp but dressed and tugging my hat down over my head, I have a plan.

a very basic, stupid plan. But it’s

standing right outside the stall as I step out, his arms crossed over the chest of his clean uniform, glaring at me beneath his freshly–washed hair. “You need to tell me.

Chapter 27

giving him my best baby–cousin look. “Just can you scent mark me first? 1 don’t want

rubbing it across my neck and my own wrists, perhaps a little more

my towel and running as fast as I can for the bunk room and

did its job, as well as his week of training me to run faster, and by the time he reaches me? I’m

going on?” Rafe asks, jumping a little

and panting a little. “Just a race!

eyes pleading – because he did promise he’d keep my secrets, and even

now, at least.

such a little rat,” Jesse growls, reaching behind Rafe to smack at me.

figuring out my plan, continues to wail on me half- heartedly until, laughing, I cry mercy and Rafe pulls me safely to his other side, protecting me beneath his

both

me a

not, you’re stuck with me,” I say, peeking out from behind Rafe and

his head at me a little, but he

on

Ben comes over too, sitting on the edge of the bed and telling us the story about how they couldn’t catch any fish

last–minute pass. Ben looks down, though, even if he smiles. Because, technically, his team didn’t fully pass – they didn’t make the ten–mile hike home. Anxiety is tight in my chest as I consider what this is going to do to his ranking,

Chapter 27

cusp of failure.

dining hall open, and we stand up, all hungry and

the dining hall that evening at least, amongst the 80% of candidates who are relatively sure that they’re going to be admitted as candidates. Ben does his best, keeping his head high and laughing along with Jesse’s jokes as we move along the food line, filing our tray with a selection

must be some kind of celebration because there is tender steak, and gravy, and baked potatoes, and flounder so flaky and buttery it falls apart when you lift it onto

who sits down next to me until his arm brushes against mine and

on me. “Hungry tonight?” he asks, flicking a humor–filled

help my smile. “Starving.”

–

at each other for a long moment –

from me clears their throat. I turn my head to see Jesse looking at both of us with a raised eyebrow.

my lips and give Jesse what I hope is a very subtle,

to the group, seamlessly. slipping into the conversation. Luca and I do the same after a moment, and honestly the dinner

room.

silence. “Tomorrow is the last day of your candidacy and your final examination. Your semifinal rankings will be posted in just a moment.

time.”

sinks as he reminds me of what’s coming tomorrow – the obstacle course which I still can’t get through, not completely.

“I sugge

to clean up tomorrow before final rankings, which will be