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…

bored voice asks, brushing past

room.

didn’t hit me or anything. I was just…surprised.

down on the black desk at

him instantly – I don’t know why. Nothing about him screams nice, but…I don’t know.

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

down at his book, flipping through the

—

mean I recognize the two other cadets already in the room, and the five more who filter in after. They were all candidates with me. But what Ben said last night

Jesse,

good job of isolating me away from

have no idea who any of

front of the room, all business. “Welcome to the Espionage Track. I’m Dr. Neumann, I will be

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

Chapter 44

takes a textbook from below the desk and drops it on the table in front of him,

the first of your four textbooks for this course. I will expect you to be proficient in all of

We….we have

now as he looks around at all

in sharply. What?

in addition to the school’s standard cuts at the end of the first semester,” Neumann says, looking around slowly at all of us, and the other students all flinch and begin to murmur. I

I’d forgotten

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

go pale. What? What?

40%!?

Rafe say anything!? “What I am attempting to explain to you,” Neumann continues, “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 Espionage are the most competitive in the school, which I believe

pauses to consider, perhaps doing

between two and

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breath freezes in my chest. What.

if you were the most spectacular incoming group of young cadets the school has ever seen. I would just…not expect

to look each of us in the eye, and I don’t miss

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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