The Hidden Princess At All-Boys Alpha Academy

Chapter 35

My breathe freezes in my lungs as the young tailor and I stare at each other, neither of us blinking.

I mean, I am not someone who can claim anything close to the dangerous curves of a temptress, but I am decidedly a girl. Like my mom, I have smaller breasts, but my waist is small and my hips are far from narrow.

The seamstress stares at me for another second before she blinks rapidly, clarity suddenly coming to her face, studying me as she puts the pieces together. “Please,” I say, lifting my hands up and shaking my head vehemently, “please, I am begging you…”

And then a grin bursts onto her mouth.

My stomach absolutely sinks to the floor in relief.

The girl’s smile widens and she nods once, glancing over at the other tailors, who have not looked our way. “I’ll fudge the measurements,” she whispers, nodding to me again, more eagerly this time. “Give you a little extra room for…..mystery. And I’ll send along some stretchy fabric for…”

She quickly gestures towards her own breasts, just subtly, and relief floods through

1. me.

“Thank you,” I whisper as she beams and finishes up measuring my arms, around my neck, and finally my inseam. “Thank you, I owe you everything.”

“You’re welcome,” she says, looking up at me as if she genuinely means it. “I’m…I’m really excited for you, Cadet Clark. I think it’s great.”

And as we grin at each other, I quite suddenly wish we had more time-

Because she seems like the kind of girl that I could really talk to. And, all in a rush, I suddenly miss girl time with a vehemence that surprises me. I mean, I love my brother and my cousin and all my new friends here

But if I could just have ten minutes to sit and talk to a girl who is my friend and confidant, who I can laugh with and spill my heart to…

“Go ahead,” she says, nodding her head to the side and giving me a wink. “You’re all finished. Uniforms will be delivered tomorrow. Good luck!”

I grin my thanks to her again and, while I probably should be worried that she’s lying and is going to tell her superiors the moment I get out of the room, somehow as I watch her finish up her notes, I am not nervous at all.

one to step on her pedestal as I sling on my

at him, her eyes widen with surprise and pleasure, and I can see that his charm and his dimples are already

on, jealous,” Jesse whispers to me. He’s already out in the hall, and he laughs as he pulls me away from the doorway. “Time to go to the dorms.

at the thought because I mean, she is pretty and clearly

Jesse is right – I have other things to wonder about

because how can this not be the first thing I checked? I balance my box on one arm, lifting open the top and reaching my hand in, searching for the little piece of paper that I know has my dorm assignment written on it

even be close to Rafe and

me and putting a hand on my arm as I search. “We made sure you’re in with us.”

you?” I ask, looking between them.

my shoulders. “We had them add a

did you already pull strings and make changes?” I breathe, shocked and suddenly very excited. “Did you already

as candidates,” Rafe says, “just in case we got admitted as cadets.” He shrugs like it’s no big deal, which just makes me burst

I chide, shaking my head at him. “You used

anything.” Rafe says, slinging an arm around

starts walking down the hall, taking

this once-

about the fact that we grew up in a palace, and had world–class educations by the time we were sixteen –”

says, gesturing to his admittedly gorgeous face, “completely

continue, making Rafe laugh even

considers, nodding, “being a duke has gotten me a serious amount

Jesse, fascinated and dying

interrupting and dropping his arm from my shoulder so he can give Jesse a shove. “Fine, you both got me, we’re spoiled rotten, and mommy and daddy got us the nice room. I admit it! But…you’re not

about that anymore,” I breathe, rapt, “tell me about the

just groans, shaking his head and striding ahead. “Drop it, Ari!” he calls back.

to Jesse as we hurry

tell me tell me,” I whisper, looking up at

says, his voice very wise voice as he slides his arm Rafe’s place around my shoulder, “when Rafe

in