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

–

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

–

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.

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life, and I’m not unhappy here. I’m cozy. and warm, and busy I like all that. And the Academy pays incredible wages, so it’s well worth being alone for

you?” I ask, genuinely curious. “Total freedom?”

need a big mansion or anything – just…the ability to travel where I want, to support myself. Maybe get a

I never even thought of that as

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

bed and giving her a little kick. “Do you seriously think

–

and wolf- has had a crush on Rafe Sinclair since he hit puberty.

laughing anyway, “you wouldn’t think he’s so cute if you had to

know Rafe’s reputation in the world I’ve seen the tabloids, and I’m aware that

guess I’m just too close to it. “Poor Jesse,” I sigh, resting my head against the wall. “You’ll break his heart, you know,

well,” she murmurs, smirking at me. “Something tells me your Jesse needs to have his heart broken a

much, and I know his heart. is in the right place, but all of my

Chapter no

cousin and I love him. He deserves some loyalty, after all. “Jesse’s not a bad guy, Daphne, I don’t

A little too easy to fall in love with, that one you’ve got to watch your step around him before you find yourself swept off your

Rafe?” I ask, curious,

–

to look their way. You cousin the duke,” she shakes her head, “a little too

precisely disliking learning about this side of my brother and my cousin that I hadn’t thought of before, but certainly unnerved by it. Daphne, perceptive, moves

and smacking me on my knee. “Tell me everything. Ari – how the

Daphne’s a good listener – rapt, 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 on. By

interrupting my own sentence to lean forward and give her

to refill my glass of wine, just a little bit. “Just…you light up a bit, when you talk about Luca Grant.”

I protest,