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.

ask, confused.

at me. “I don’t have

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

also don’t have to sleep, if I don’t want to, for like…days.

his confession progresses. “And like, nothing happens?

then. “I get really skinny after a while,” he says, shrugging.

laugh then, shaking my head. “I’m not sure that’s magic,” I say, looking him up

wanted. And I don’t get full I just

anew. “So….could

smirking, “we tried that once. I think

– he’s very

putting his hand over his eyes and then rubbing

want to know.

you just like, experiment? To see how long you could push it?”

me. “Wouldn’t you, if you figured out that that’s what

get bored, when everyone else. was asleep? And like, get sick of the taste of food?”

says, his eyes going wide as he laughs. “That’s exactly what happened – and nobody gets that. Like, after eighteen blackberry pies…you never

so honored that he trusted me enough to keep his secret. “It’s one hell of a power.

at our clasped hands. “Maybe you can…”

ask, also

there’s some sort of connection between our…magic,”

think. There’s something between us. But I clench my jaw to keep from blurting it

magic,” he says, and I nod, agreeing. “So…maybe

do we experiment

I can pass some

see him talking more casually now, like one

forth. She’s pissed, I know, because she wants

her, stroking a hand over her

lets me be.

is it annoying to have so much

I eat. If I eat too much,