The Hidden Princess At All-Boys Alpha Academy

Chapter 37

The next thirty minutes are…the most indulgent of my life.

I think I groan in pleasure at least sixty times as I soak my body in the steaming hot water, as I soap every inch of my skin, as I finally finally wash my hair with real shampoo and conditioner instead of that horrible stuff we were supplied with in the barracks, which stripped my hair of all its oils and left it dry.

I find a little basket next to the tub that, like all the pillows outside, just shouts mom. There are lots of bath salts and scent bombs and oils.

I mean, is this standard issue for new cadets, a gift from the Queen? Or….did mom somehow arrange for this to be waiting here for Rafe and Jesse, who honestly might not even notice it?

Either way, I spend a good long time adding bubbles to my bath, pouring in some nice salts to soften the new callouses on my skin, and finally sniffing all of the bath oils and adding my own particular cocktail of scents so that my bath becomes a blissful, delicious haven.

–

I rest peacefully for a long time in the bath, only interrupted when Rafe cracks the door open and shoves my uniform box in so that I’ll have something to change into when I come out. I call my thanks to him before I seat myself in the tub there’s actually a seat at the far end, like a jacuzzi – and breathe deeply, closing my eyes and letting myself relax.

The past two weeks wash over me, and I shake my head, wondering if it was all a dream. So much has changed in that time. I went so abruptly from the engaged Princess who was eager to be a bride so that she could help her nation to, the next day, the Academy’s shrimp – lowest–ranked candidate and least likely to get through the doors.

And, I went from being engaged to a horrible man who completely fooled me to…

To what?

Having two mates, who think I’m a boy?

I sigh, resting my head against the edge of the tub and taking a second to try and piece my identity together.

I mean, I was the Princess, and then I was the Shrimp.

Sun,

Chapter 37

And now…who am I?

Who is Ariel?

My eyes slowly open as I start to realize that maybe…I don’t really have any idea anymore. I mean, I know Ari Clark is a cadet at the Alpha Academy, and I’m thrilled to be here. But…I’m not really Ari Clark either, am I?

So…

a little at myself, at these big questions I’m not going to be able to answer with the simple aid of a hot

I’m really excited

softly to myself. Then I take my time combing my hair out, putting on moisturizer – also mom’s favorite brand, I smirk to see, waiting by the edge of the sink indulging in a

–

and

braid my hair in a neat arch on top of my

the mirror, and then head out the

I push into the room, “did you

his place

Ben, who turns and waves to me from his spot on the couch. And I go

been

grabbing me close, pretending to roughhouse with me a little bit, teasing me about hogging the bathroom for an hour as he subtly wipes his scent on all the usual parts of my body. I pretend to protest, laughing and pushing

letting me know he

and head over to the fireplace where I flop into an armchair, grinning over at Ben and Rafe on the couch. “Are you close by, Ben?

your

like

says, giving me a warm smile.

genuinely

“I think that’s pretty normal though – after two weeks in the

own bathroom too?” I

window, a bed, a desk, a place to put my stuff. But it’s pretty small – no place

on his face as he lowers himself onto an armchair, one of his

inviting yourself over, Sinclair?” he counters,

tastes don’t swing that way.” Ben clicks his tongue and shrugs like it’s a great

I can ask any more about his room, though, a bell rings somewhere

hell is that?” I ask, a little freaked out, looking everywhere for it.

I look at him curiously as he stands up and heads to a little

immediately curious. What’s this little door – how did I miss it before?

it have to do

Ari,” Rafe mutters, swinging

– of all things – a little wooden box waiting on the inside, the edge

to us