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,

solve everything, probably by punching Alvez right in the face.

–

authority, especially in people hired by our own parents. I don’t think that there’s any way he’d suspect that Alvez was making me uncomfortable

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

he’s really got me tied up here.

using 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,

shrug, eager for the change in conversation but not wanting to open up about my magic either

–

under the tree, we didn’t exactly try to do anything magic, did we? We just

voice low with a little laugh in it. “Why so reticent, Princess? I’m trying to help you here.”

in me now. “Are you?” I ask quietly. “Because it feels

tongue, turning his head to the side.

him, “and that you keep calling me Princess, reminding me of your secret. And that I’m completely

out a casual hand, letting it rest on my

–

eyes widen, my

open a little at his bold touch, at his words. My reaction pleases him, I think or at least, his grin deepens. But this just makes me scowl, even though I don’t brush away his

Chapter 70

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

though my voice is soft, almost a whisper as I stare tensely down into his face, wondering what the hell he’s going to

“Ah, yes,

thumb starting to make slow circles around the inner

daring him

your connection to Cadet McClintock,” Alvez murmurs, his thumb still moving, though making broad strokes now instead of little

then, as his hand presses upwards, caressing the top of my thigh and working its

just stare at him, shocked, until he gives my leg a quick little slap that makes me jump. “Pay attention,

I say, sitting rigid on my professor’s desk, “but…um…”

slowly so slowly upwards. An anxious heat starts to curl in me, and I don’t know what to do, panic mixing with

don’t know what. Some

don’t respond, not saying

Alvez continues, his eyes locked on mine, “what of McClintock’s power? Did your magic’s