The Hidden Princess At All-Boys Alpha Academy

Chapter 78

–

“Please,” Alvez murmurs, gesturing towards of all places – his desk. As I hesitate, he sinks. into his rolling chair, which scoots back a few inches. Seeing my confusion, his smile grows. “I’m unfortunately low on seating in this little room – castles, such wide sweeping halls, such…tiny little workspaces.”

My eyebrows raise as he gestures towards the desk again and I realize that he wants me to sit there. But I just sigh inwardly again, doing as he says and lifting myself up onto the desk so that my legs dangle. I cross them at the ankles, leaning forward with my hands pressed to the edge of the desk, watching him warily.

There’s such pleasure on Alvez’s face, in the way he lets his eyes rove over me. Is it that he enjoys seeing me unsettled? Or is this just…how he is?

“We’ve met before, Princess – before the Academy, I mean. Do you remember?”

I sit up a little straighter, surprised. “We did?”

Alvez nods slowly, folding his hands in his lap. “At the Palace, during my interview with your mother and your aunt. You popped in, asking a question about evening plans.”

“Oh,” I say, my heart sinking a little – because that sounds very plausible. “I’m sorry, no, I don’t remember.”

“Understandable,” he says, giving a little shrug. “I’m sure that your home is rather a revolving door of visitors. But I certainly remembered you.”

I blush a little, because the way his voice pitches lower when he says the word suggests not just that he remembered me, but that he…noticed me. Like noticed me, notice women.

the way

that men

My stomach twists and his grin deepens, giving me my answer.

–

He does like this making me uncomfortable. I can see it clearly now in the take in my blush, the way my hands grip the edge of the desk.

way

his eyes

am I supposed to handle this? I wish, quite suddenly, that my brother were here

solve everything, probably by punching Alvez

–

a pretty strong trust in authority, especially in people hired by our own parents. I don’t

me out,

he’s really got me tied up here.

my face from his

about my magic either not that there’s

–

exactly try to do anything magic, did we? We just held hands

prods, his voice low with a little laugh in it. “Why so reticent, Princess? I’m trying to

now. “Are you?” I ask quietly. “Because it feels like you’re trying

to the side. “And what gives you that impression?”

that you’ve called me, alone, to your office?” I say, surprised by my willingness to confront him, “and that you keep calling me Princess, reminding me of your secret. And that I’m completely

hand, letting it rest on my knee. “The opposite is true, Princess – you’ve got me

–

eyes widen,

scowl, even though I don’t brush away his hand, or move in any way. I don’t know what the rules are here and I find that

Chapter 70

get the upper hand here? Or, at least, get

as I stare tensely down into his

“Ah, yes,

Alvez murmurs, his thumb starting to make slow circles around the inner part of my knee. “That

daring him to call my

broad strokes now instead of little

his hand presses upwards, caressing the top of my thigh and

slap that makes me jump. “Pay attention, Princess,” he murmurs,

I say, sitting rigid on my professor’s

like he’s disappointed in me. Slowly, his hand. begins to move again, moving slowly so slowly upwards. An anxious heat starts to curl in me, and I don’t know what

don’t know what. Some

respond, not saying anything else.

mine, “what of McClintock’s power? Did your magic’s affinity with his produce any results regarding his