The Hidden Princess At All-Boys Alpha Academy

Chapter 44

Ben sweeps me up a few staircases, away from the rest of the boys, and he really does take a minute to show me the incredible library that takes up a large portion of the top floor – presumably on the other side of our rooms. I gape around at it in complete awe.

I mean – we have a pretty impressive library in the palace – but this? The arching ceilings are almost entirely made of glass, like the entire space was once one giant. greenhouse or something. The stacks are all tall and white, reaching so high I can’t believe they don’t topple over, with these gorgeous brass ladders steepled all over them.

Obviously, all I want to do for the rest of the day is wander around picking out a stack of books and sinking onto one of the plush velvet chairs with them, but Ben laughs, leading me away to my chemistry classroom with plenty of time to spare.

As we walk, I smile at him even as he glances at his map, trying to find the right halls. Because as much as I know he’s dying to ask me what’s going on with Luca, he’s also sensing that it’s somehow private, and that I’m not ready to go there yet.

Unlike Jesse, who I know will tease me mercilessly and press me for details the moment he gets a chance, Ben lets me have my space.

And so as we arrive at the door to my class, I take a minute to bump my shoulder into his what I’m coming to learn is the manly version of a big hug. “Thanks,

Ben.”

“Anytime, Ari,” he says, grinning at me. And by the crinkle around his eyes, I can tell that he understands that I’m thanking for him for more than the escort. “Good luck in there,” he says, nodding towards the classroom.

I bump him again, and he grins at me before heading down the hall.

When I step inside, I’m surprised both by the smallness of the classroom and by the fact that I’m….

Alone.

I stay perfectly still for a second, the two boys who are already in the class turning to look at me.

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Chapter 44

I mean, it’s not that I’ve never been alone before…

But, I mean, have I?

I have spent my entire life in the company of my family, watched and guarded. Even when I’d go to sleepovers they’d send a guard or two along to stand outside of the house.

But now…

staying or going,” a deep, bored voice asks, brushing

room.

he didn’t hit

down on the black desk at the front, raising an eyebrow at me. He has dark hair, just going grey at

don’t know why. Nothing about him screams nice,

straight, trusting my instincts. “Staying,” I say. “Sorry,” I apologize, coming into the room more

and looks down at

—

mean I recognize the two other cadets already in the room, and the

Jesse, they

good job of isolating me away from everyone else.

no idea who any of these people

door and slamming it shut, twisting the lock and striding back for the front of the room, all business. “Welcome

a little straighter then, I think anxious and eager to impress. He smirks a little at us, not unkindly, and then launches into a speech about

Chapter 44

to learn in a very short amount of time. I jump when he takes a textbook from below the desk and drops it on the table in front of him,

four textbooks for this course. I will expect you to be proficient in all of the information contained within this text by the time the holiday

break? We….we have

he looks around at all of us, “will not be accepted back next term.”

breathe in sharply.

semester,” Neumann says, looking around slowly at all of us, and the other students all flinch

forgotten all

“In case some of you are unaware,” he says, his voice dry, “which is…frankly abundantly clear from some of your expressions, Alpha Academy cuts a further 40% of its entering Cadets at the end of the Examination.”

pale.

40%!?

that Espionage cuts on top of that. If you pass the Examination but fail your Chemistry exam? You’re out. The rates for

pauses to consider, perhaps doing

and

Chapter 44

freezes in my chest. What. What?!

you could not make it if you were the most spectacular incoming group of young cadets the school has ever seen. I would just…not expect it to happen.”

a moment to look each of us in the eye,

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will be trained for other affinities within Espionage with other professors, but all of you will meet here three times a week to study with me. You will be examined in your other affinities as well and will be required to pass those examinations too. You will also need to be fit enough to pass the Examination, which will be your own responsibility. I