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.

very basic, stupid plan. But it’s a

out, his arms crossed over the chest of his clean uniform, glaring at me beneath his freshly–washed hair.

Chapter 27

and giving him my best baby–cousin

my own wrists, perhaps a little more roughly than normal. “All right, with Ari, out

then I bolt–dropping my towel and running as fast as I can for the bunk room and the safety

pissed now- but the element of surprise did its job, as well as his week of training me to run faster, and by the time he reaches me? I’m already throwing myself into Rafe’s bunk alongside

going on?” Rafe asks, jumping

laughing and panting a

bunks and glaring at me, his eyes flicking to Rafe. And I look over Rafe’s shoulder at my cousin, my eyes pleading – because he did promise he’d keep my

right now, at

growls, reaching behind

on me half- heartedly until, laughing, I cry mercy and

though he smiles at both of us.

that rat cousin,” Jesse grumbles, giving me a

with me,” I say, peeking out from behind Rafe and grinning at him, trying to make

head at me a little, but he smiles, and I know we’re all

on

on the edge of the bed and telling us the story about how they couldn’t catch any fish and almost came up the time limit, but then he suddenly remembered that dandelions are edible and found a few sad little plants growing

grin, congratulating him on his 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.

Chapter 27

cusp of failure.

doors to the dining hall open, and we stand up, all hungry and ready for dinner–and the rankings that

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

the best yet- tonight must be some kind of celebration because there is tender steak, and gravy, and baked potatoes, and

sits down next to

head up to look at Luca, his eyes are already on me. “Hungry tonight?” he asks, flicking a humor–filled gaze towards my heaping plate.

help my smile. “Starving.”

–

other for a long moment –

becoming our thing, I guess – someone across from me clears their throat. I turn my head

looks down at his food, digging in, while I purse my lips and give Jesse what I hope is a very subtle, very fervent shake of

after a moment, and honestly the dinner is a

room.

your final examination. Your semifinal rankings will be

time.”

– the obstacle

“I sugge

have a chance to clean up tomorrow before final rankings, which will be announced in person, in order, and those who make the cut will be invited immediately into