The Hidden Princess At All-Boys Alpha Academy

Chapter 39

I continue glaring at Jesse, but Rafe moves on with his interrogation of Ben.

“What makes you think Luca hasn’t figured out that Ariel’s a girl?” Rafe says as he leans forward, eager for Ben’s answer and apparently deciding to trust him.

“I don’t think Luca knows because he hasn’t tried to hit on her yet,” Ben replies, laughing. “Didn’t you see him this afternoon with the seamstress? Luca loves women – he’s dying for some female attention. If he knew Ari is a girl, he’d be all over her.”

“True,” Rafe murmurs, leaning back against the couch cushion and staring into space a bit as he thinks it through.

Jesse’s eyes sparkle as he again catches my eye. My mouth draws to a thin line as I stare at him, shaking my head at him because he is loving this just a little too

much.

God, I want to smack him right now.

But that would give way too much away.

“Well, how did you know?” Rafe asks, blinking back to reality and turning his attention back to Ben.

“Because,” Ben says, turning to smile at me. “I have four younger sisters. You guys – you protect her the same way I’d protect my sisters if they were sleeping in a communal room with a bunch of guys for two weeks. Plus,” his smile widens now as he settles onto the carpet and leans back on his hands, clearly feeling more relaxed. “You laugh like a girl, Ari.”

“What!?” I shriek.

And Ben bursts into laughter at my reaction, and then Rafe and Jesse do too, and I blush, because I hear it now – it was a very girly shriek.

And so I start to laugh too, and we all laugh harder as we hear it, because my laugh – it really does hit higher notes than theirs, lilting above over their low, resonant

tones.

My face reddens even further, and I press my hands to my cheeks. And then, experimentally, I try a lower laugh, seeing if I can make it more boyish

Chapter 39

try to mimic Rafe, which sets us all off again. I can’t help it then, the peels of laughter that come from me as I grab a pillow off the couch and

his laughter fades, shrugging

Ben says with a shrug, reaching for my packet of peach rings on the table and grabbing one from the edge.

low growl again. “I said you’re family now, which means hands off the little

continuing to grin at me.

before

time to see the door swing open, revealing

leaning against the doorframe with a smirk, a little pasty box balanced in his hands. “Can I

walks in I take

catch my breath. God damn it, Luca in that high–collared black uniform, with the dark grey

onto her back like she’s been knocked out cold. We’re never going to make it here, I whisper to her, laughing inwardly, but she doesn’t even bother to respond. This secret…might as well

only I can hear the words as well as the humor lacing

Sun, Tu Mar

Chapter 39

over, smacking Ben hard on the arm.

laugh, because we know

in then, tossing the pastry box onto the coffee table just as the bell to the dumbwaiter rings again. I perk up, completely fascinated by this crazy aspect of on new life, and dash over to it. Even though Rafe beats me there. I’m in time to see him

head to the side, wondering what it could be, but then the smell hits my nostrils and I groan, reaching immediately for the covered tray which I now realize holds some delicious dinner, but Rafe just laughs and swats my hand away. “That’s too heavy for you,” he

I cheerfully grab the pewter pitcher and the little metal cups that come along with it, surprised

area in time to see Rafe lift the cover from the tray. “Five!” I say, slipping over the back of the

–

Ben says, looking up at me and shrugging. “Asked them to please

murmurs, reaching eagerly for a plate and a set of silverware rolled in a white napkin. “Seriously, why are we still talking? Everyone

eat.”

the glasses of water and hand them around.

Luca murmurs when I hand him his cup. “We’re

tonight. With a few drinks in me and him looking like that? I’d probably have to sit on my hands to keep myself from reaching out and stroking his face.

plate. I balance the dish on my knees as I dig in to my meal steak, roasted potatoes, green beans lathered with butter, fresh brown rolls. A shiver goes through me when I realize how amazing

is better up here than it is in the barracks. I had no idea we’d be living in relative luxury candidacy really lowered my expectations.

the bath I took this afternoon and the evening meal tonight? I think I’m going to like life in the Academy.