The Hidden Princess At All-Boys Alpha Academy

Chapter 44

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…

or going,” a deep, bored voice asks, brushing past me

room.

he didn’t hit me

as the tall man sweeps to the front of the room, putting his book down on the black desk at the front, raising an eyebrow at me. He has dark hair, just going grey at the

know why. Nothing about him screams nice,

says tilting her head with interest, and I stand up straight, trusting my instincts. “Staying,” I say. “Sorry,” I apologize,

looks down at

—

room, and the five more who filter in after. They were all candidates with me. But what

and Jesse, they

a good job of isolating

who any of these people are.

the lock and striding back for the front of the room, all business. “Welcome

a little at us, not unkindly, and then launches into a speech about what we’ll be expected to do here. My eyes go

Chapter 44

be expected 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

to be proficient in all of the information contained within this text by the time the

break? We….we have those?

slowing now as he looks around

in sharply.

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

god, I’d forgotten all about

dry, “which is…frankly abundantly

go pale. What?

40%!?

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

perhaps doing the

two and

Chapter 44

my chest. What.

of you could not make it if you were

us in the eye, and

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will also need to be fit

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