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

I wish, quite suddenly, that

by punching Alvez right in the

–

own parents. I don’t

– he’ll rat me out, get me kicked out of the

really got me

closer to me, peering up into my face from his lower spot in the chair. “How have

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

–

tree, we didn’t exactly try to do anything magic, did we? We just held hands and talked.

low with a little laugh in it. “Why so

now. “Are you?” I ask quietly. “Because

his tongue, turning his head to the side. “And what gives you

you’ve called me, alone, to your office?” I say, surprised by my willingness to confront him, “and that you

a casual hand, letting it rest on my knee. “The opposite

–

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

do I get the upper hand here? Or, at least, get out of

tensely down into his face, wondering

“Ah, yes,

fascinating marble,” Alvez murmurs, his thumb starting to make slow circles around the inner

daring him to call

Cadet McClintock,” Alvez murmurs, his thumb still moving, though making broad strokes now instead of little circles. “Did you experiment. more with him? Complete your

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

sitting rigid on my

like he’s disappointed in me. Slowly, his hand. begins to move again, moving slowly so slowly upwards. An anxious heat starts to curl

fury? I don’t know

respond, not saying anything else.

“what of McClintock’s power? Did your magic’s affinity with his produce