The Hidden Princess At All-Boys Alpha Academy

Chapter 68

“Because,” Daphne says, giving a happy little sigh and taking a long sip of her wine, “you’re

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right the boys here would throw themselves at my feet just because I’m the only girl here

– at least, the only admitted girl here.”

I raise my glass in toast to her, conceding the point.

“But,” she continues with a shrug, “I’m not going to throw myself at the first boy I find myself attracted to – fall in love, get wrapped up in a marriage I haven’t really considered, find myself ten years from now tied to a life that I didn’t want. I want to be more careful than that.”

I nod, understanding. “So, you want to choose your boys carefully. Clever work, Daphne.”

She grins at me, accepting the compliment. “Seems a waste sometimes, though. All these boys for the pickings and I just….leave them on the vine.”

“A job perk left unused,” I murmur, agreeing. “Is the job worth it, besides that? You seem really isolated here.”

“I am isolated,” she says, shrugging before grinning at me, “which is partially why I’m so

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glad you’re here now seriously, you’d better make it through to the spring semester, I’ll be desolate if you leave me after only a couple months.”

“I’ll do my best,” I say, nodding seriously, “just for you.”

She laughs along with me but then I tilt my head to the side, considering her again, wondering about her past. “Daphne, how did you end up here?”

“My uncle got me the job,” she says quietly. “He was the tailor here before me he brought me in two years ago, when his heath started to fail and he couldn’t keep up with the work. And then when he died, they gave me his spot, because I’m fast, and I work hard, and I know the uniforms inside and out.”

“I’m sorry,” I say quietly, realizing that she really is all alone here now that she’s lost her

uncle as well.

calls only 400

Chapter 68

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warm, and busy I like all that. And the Academy pays incredible wages, so

you?” I ask, genuinely curious.

whatever I want, whenever I want to,” she sighs, her eyes going a little far–off at the idea. “I don’t need a big mansion or anything –

sound nice.” I say quietly, considering that…well, I never even thought of that as a possibility for myself. Total freedom, a life on my

can come along if you want,” she says quietly. “But…I would request that you bring your

into laughter at this, stretching my leg across the bed and giving her a little kick. “Do you

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crush on Rafe Sinclair since he hit puberty. That height? Those

my nose at her but laughing anyway, “you wouldn’t think he’s so cute if you had to listen to him snore

me know that not even that would be enough. I sigh because I mean, I know Rafe’s reputation in the world I’ve

Jesse,” I sigh, resting my head against the wall. “You’ll break his heart, you know, crushing on Rafe

“Something tells me your Jesse needs to have his heart broken a bit,

him so much, and I know his heart. is in the right place, but all of my friends? He would certainly

Chapter no

He deserves some loyalty, after all. “Jesse’s not

bad,” she says, nodding with a smile. “I just think he’s maybe a little bit… dangerous. A little too easy to fall in love with, that one

not Rafe?” I ask, curious,

–

look their way. You cousin the duke,” she

of my

and smacking me on my knee. “Tell me everything. Ari – how the hell did you get in

asking questions when necessary, but always letting me take the lead. But as the story continues, I see her perk up a little, her intuition tingling, when Luca’s name starts to be repeated more and more as I go

my own sentence to lean forward and give her another little kick.

wine, just a little bit. “Just…you light up

do not,” I protest, but my