The Hidden Princess At All-Boys Alpha Academy

Chapter 65

“Don’t you just want to see what else you can melt, Clark?” Jackson asks on a long inhale of breath, looking at me with sad eyes. “Come on, I bet you could melt this whole tree if you wanted to.””

–

“Well, one, that’s not good for the environment,” I say, rolling my eyes at him which makes him laugh, just a little. “And two, no, I don’t want to melt the tree I want to talk about you. Honestly, Jackson, I won’t tell anyone you know I won’t. I won’t even let anyone know that I know! I’ll keep your secret.”

“Why does it even matter, Ari?” he asks, looking away from me. “Why do you want to know so badly? It doesn’t change anything.”

A thousand answers flood my mind. That it could help me understand what I can do how. his power compliments mine. That I want to know more about him. That I’m just so damn

curious.

But, in the end, I settle for the truth.

“I want you to know that you have someone here who will keep your secrets, Jackson,” I say quietly, willing him to believe me.

Jackson looks up at me in surprise, his blue eyes wider than I’ve seen them before.

We’re silent again, but as it has been before with us, there’s no awkwardness to it. But then he breaks it.

“Why are you being so nice to me?” he whispers, half baffled and half…suspicious, I realize. Lik

I’ve got ulterior motives or something.

I stare at him, my heart cracking in grief for the lessons his past life must have taught him.

“Jackson,” I murmur, saying his name like a promise. “Why are you so surprised that I genuinely just…want to be nice to you?”

He turns his face away from me like he’s been struck, staring at the ground beneath the tree in shock and surprise. I watch his profile as he swallows heavily, as he presses his lips

together in frustration or…consternation? Honestly, I don’t know what. But I give him the space to process it.

“I don’t have to eat,” he says suddenly, the words falling from his lips in a rush, like they’ve escaped from a dark place and can’t wait to get away.

I ask,

brows drawn, almost angry as he speaks – but I know not at me. “I don’t have to eat like…ever, if

say, sitting up straighter. “That is….that is

to, for like…days.

wider as his confession progresses. “And like, nothing happens? You

really skinny after a while,” he says, shrugging. “Oh, and I can

magic,” I say, looking him up and down, “Rafe’s as big as you and he also eats

for as long as I wanted. And I don’t get full I just get…” he looks down at himself, at his

as I look him over anew. “So….could

I think my skeleton’s reached its

– he’s very fit, isn’t

hand over his eyes and then rubbing it down the length of his

want to know. Thank god

did you just like, experiment? To see how long you could

back to me. “Wouldn’t you, if you figured out

everyone else. was asleep? And like, get sick of the taste of

says, his eyes going wide as he laughs. “That’s exactly what happened – and nobody gets that. Like, after eighteen blackberry pies…you

and nodding at him. “It’s really incredible, Jackson,” I sigh, so happy that he told me, so honored that he trusted me enough to keep his secret. “It’s one hell

he says, looking down at our clasped

also looking

sort of connection

him. Us, I think. There’s something between us. But I clench my jaw to keep

able to melt the marble because of whatever connects. our magic,” he says, and I nod, agreeing. “So…maybe I can pass mine to you

do we experiment

can pass some energy to you. I’ve got plenty of

him talking more casually now, like one would

back and forth. She’s pissed, I know, because she wants me to tell him my secrets, to be

to her, stroking a

lets me

it annoying to have so much

“It all comes down to what I eat. If I eat too much, it manifests in either sleeplessness or