The Hidden Princess At All-Boys Alpha Academy

Chapter 61

“McClintock?” Alvez says, smiling at Jackson. “Anything to report? I am particularly interested in the results of this pairing.”

“Why?” Rafe says, the word abrupt. All of our faces turn to brother, Tony leaning around Jackson to get a good look.

Alvez just raises his eyebrows.

“Why?” Rafe asks again, slinging an arm over the back of his chair. “What’s so special about the pairing between Clark and McClintock?”

“Because,” Alvez replies, even. “I have the sense that their magical affinities complement each other.”

Jackson goes rigid in his seat next to me, but I just turn my head, curious. What is this man up to.

“I know it seemed, perhaps, by chance how I paired you up in the last class and for your homework sessions, but the orb gives more than sense that you can do magic. It also gives a sense of what that magic might be.”

“What the hell,” Jesse says, frowning at our professor. “Why didn’t you tell us this last time? Wouldn’t it have been useful to know that whoever we were paired up with for homework was our best match? And, also, that you already know what we can do?”

“I don’t know what you can do,” Alvez corrects, his voice still calm and even though the rest of us are a little ruffled by the news. “I simply have a sense,” he says, gesturing back to the diagrams on the board, “of where your affinities might lay.”

“No, I’m with Sinclair,” Tony says, shaking his head at Alvez. “You should have told us this, if you already know. You expected a lot of honesty from us last class while withholding information.”

“I understand your point, and your objection,” Alvez says smoothly, nodding and looking around at each of us in turn. “But I do find that the results are better when students go into the first pairing with less information and more freedom to experiment. Everything here is

deliberate, planned. I would ask you to please trust me both as a person, and as your professor.”

this man, though, my wolf’s hackles raising. Because honestly, I’m not sure I do trust him. Tony is right

the leverage he’s

perhaps reminding me of that leverage with the little smirk on his handsome mouth.

a line to walk between the two.

say, trying to channel Jackson’s energy and keep my voice as stony and expressionless

gasps in excitement, but Jesse and Rafe – for whom this no longer

melted the marble?” Alvez says, emphasizing the

the marble together, but

stoic

interesting,” Alvez says, smiling and looking between us. “And, it confirms the placement of your affinity along the lines reported by the orb, Clark. There is

a little delighted to see this information come forward. Alvez stands then and moves towards the chalkboard, beginning to explain the complicated diagram which he has drawn out. He informs us that there are six main categories of magic light, dark, earth, sun, body, and spirit – and they blend and combine in

magic, if it has something to do with heat. But what I can truly do with it has great deal to do with how much of the

his own interest as Alvez lays out the details for us. “Why, then, were you excited to see Clark lined

and

Sun,” he murmurs, still studying the diagram. “I figured the Sun connection between the two of them would produce an interesting result. The whole system is a great metaphor though, it isn’t as precisely scientific and factual as I’d like it

as Alvez’s back is turned and he looks back at me, his face expressionless. But he gives me a steady nod, letting me know that we’re okay –

won’t.

so, what am I?” Jesse asks,

Jesse Sinclair,” Alvez says, pointing to two spots on the diagram, “are heavy on darkness

murmurs, leaning back into his chair. “I don’t know what that means, but it’s definitely more

glare at him, but he just grins