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

as I 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 hurl it at Rafe’s face, because he’s laughing the hardest. But he just

you’re part of the family now, Ben,” Rafe sighs when his laughter fades, shrugging and giving

my packet of peach rings on the table and grabbing one from the edge. “Plus, I like girls. It’s nice to have one around.” He sends me a little wink as

that it’s too nice,” Rafe says, his voice a low growl again. “I

at me. “I don’t think I’m Princess Ari’s taste anyway.”

a little appalled sputter, but before I can protest further a knock comes

see the door swing open, revealing Luca looking…devastatingly good in his black

against the doorframe with a smirk, a little pasty box balanced in his hands. “Can I come in? I brought coffee

take the opportunity to slip

don’t say anything, because…honestly, I’m still trying to catch my breath. God damn it, Luca in that high–collared black uniform, with the dark grey belt around his

to make it here, I whisper to her, laughing

only I can hear the words as well as the

Sun, Tu Mar

Chapter 39

my face and lean over, smacking Ben hard on

laugh, because we know he’s

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 open

Rafe just laughs and swats my hand away. “That’s too heavy for you,” he says, smiling at me cheerfully and lifting the whole silver tray out with his big hands, balancing it carefully as

growls – I didn’t realize that I was starving. But I cheerfully grab the pewter pitcher and the little metal cups

Rafe lift the cover from the tray. “Five!” I say, slipping over the back

–

up at me and shrugging. “Asked them to please send mine here. I didn’t think you’d mind. I guess

reaching eagerly for a plate and a set of silverware rolled in a

eat.”

to pour the glasses of water and

something a little better than water,” Luca murmurs when I hand him his cup.

Luca on the couch and considering that though he might be right, I’m a little glad that we’re obliged to keep sober 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.

the corner of the tray as Rafe hands me my 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

really 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

bath I took this afternoon and the evening meal