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

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 catches it out of the

the family now, Ben,” Rafe sighs when his laughter fades, shrugging and giving in to

peach rings on the table and grabbing one from the edge. “Plus, I like girls. It’s nice

voice a low growl again. “I

says, continuing to grin at me. “I

before I can protest further a knock comes

Jesse calls, and we all turn in time to see the door swing open, revealing Luca looking…devastatingly good in his black

pasty box balanced in his hands. “Can

my mate. As Luca walks in I take

say anything, because…honestly, I’m still trying to catch my breath. God damn it, Luca in that

it here, I whisper to her, laughing inwardly, but she doesn’t

enough that only I can hear the words as well as the

Sun, Tu Mar

Chapter 39

lean over, smacking Ben

laugh, because we know he’s dead

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 open the door to a

realize holds some delicious dinner, but 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

realize that I was starving. But I cheerfully grab the pewter pitcher and the little metal cups that come along with it,

strange number, I wander over to the couch area in time to see Rafe lift the cover from the tray. “Five!” I say, slipping over the back of the couch so that I’m sitting next to Luca, leaning forward with interest. “How did they know I mean,

–

“Asked them to please send mine here. I didn’t think you’d mind. I guess Luca did the same

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

eat.”

just grin and start to pour the glasses of

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

little glad that we’re obliged to keep sober tonight. With a few

knees as I dig in to my meal steak, roasted potatoes, green beans lathered with butter, fresh brown rolls. A shiver goes

food really is better up here than it is in the barracks. I had no idea we’d

afternoon and the evening meal tonight? I think