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

handle this? I wish, quite suddenly, that my

solve everything, probably by punching Alvez

–

I don’t think that there’s any way he’d suspect that Alvez

Alvez – he’ll rat me out,

got me tied

his 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,

open up about my magic either not that there’s been any developments. Jackson

–

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

with a little laugh in it.

now. “Are you?” I ask

his tongue, turning his head to the side. “And what gives you that impression?”

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 under your

that’s where you have it wrong,” he says, leaning forward now and reaching out a casual hand, letting it rest

–

eyes widen,

or at least, his grin 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

Chapter 70

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

magic,” I snap, though my voice is soft, almost a whisper as I stare tensely down into his face, wondering what the

“Ah, yes,

to make slow circles around the inner part of

raise my chin, daring him to call my

Cadet McClintock,” Alvez murmurs, his thumb still moving, though making broad strokes now instead of little circles. “Did

the top of my thigh and working its way around

gives my leg a quick little slap that makes me

I say, sitting rigid on my professor’s desk,

slowly so slowly upwards. An anxious heat

know what. Some kind of heat.

respond, not saying anything

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