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

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 catches it out of the air and tucks it

when his laughter fades, shrugging and

cool.” Ben says with a shrug, reaching for 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 he pops

that it’s too nice,” Rafe says, his voice a low growl again. “I said you’re family now, which means hands

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

sputter, but before I can

turn in time to see the door swing open, revealing Luca looking…devastatingly good

smirk, a little pasty box balanced in his hands. “Can I come in? I brought

grinning at my mate. As Luca walks in I take the opportunity to slip the velvet

greet Luca but I 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

her back like she’s been knocked out cold. We’re never going to make it here, I whisper to

the words as well as the humor lacing them, “I

Sun, Tu Mar

Chapter 39

lean over, smacking

both laugh, because we

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

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 with his big hands, balancing it carefully as

and my stomach growls – I didn’t realize that I was starving. But I cheerfully grab the pewter pitcher and the

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

–

up at me and shrugging. “Asked them to please send mine here. I didn’t

and a set of silverware rolled in a white napkin.

eat.”

start to pour the

than water,” Luca murmurs when I hand

we’re obliged to keep sober tonight. With

of paper in 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 amazing everything

barracks. I had no

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