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

this? I wish, quite suddenly, that my brother were here –

punching Alvez right in the face.

–

in people hired by our own parents. I don’t think that there’s any way he’d suspect that

Alvez – he’ll rat me out, get me kicked out of the Academy, and probably

got me tied

feet to pull his chair closer to me, peering up into my face from his lower spot in the chair. “How have things been going with your magic, little

in conversation but not wanting to open up about my magic either not that there’s been any developments. Jackson and I, when

–

do anything magic, did we? We just held hands

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

of anger in me now. “Are you?” I ask

to the side. “And what gives

surprised by my willingness to confront him, “and that you keep calling

where you have it wrong,” he says, leaning forward now and reaching out a casual hand, letting it rest on my knee. “The opposite

–

eyes widen, my

deepens. But this just makes me 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

I get the upper hand here? Or,

as I stare tensely down into his face, wondering what the hell he’s going to do next. “Not since

“Ah, yes,

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

chin, daring him to

thumb still moving, though making broad strokes now instead of little circles. “Did you experiment. more with him? Complete your homework, like a

my thigh and working its way around to the outside as Alvez smiles at me, possessive

he gives my leg a quick little slap that makes me jump. “Pay attention, Princess,” he murmurs, his smile deepening.

on my

move again, moving slowly so slowly upwards. An anxious heat starts to curl in me, and I don’t know what

I don’t know what.

don’t respond, not

of McClintock’s power? Did your magic’s affinity with his produce any results