The Hidden Princess At All-Boys Alpha Academy

Chapter 79

Alvez glares at my mate, who leans his heavily muscled body so, so casually against the wall by the window. And I realize, quite suddenly, that Alvez is playing a very, very tricky game here. Because while he is the professor, and does have power over Jackson…

I mean, he can’t exactly make Jackson do anything, can he?

If it were me barging into an office and refusing to leave, Alvez or really any Alpha in the castle could just sling me over their shoulder and hurl me out of the room.

But Jackson?

He’s so physically powerful that the only person who even really has a chance of tossing him bodily out of this office would be Rafe, and then they might have to call in my dad for backup.

And Alvez is clearly very aware of this fact as he leans against the open doorway across the room, glaring daggers at my mate, who is so obviously here because he knows what was going on in this room. Or, at least if not precisely, that Alvez didn’t call me here to help me with my homework.

Jackson doesn’t know what Alvez has over me, but he clearly did not like me being behind closed doors with this man, and I’m deeply grateful for his help.

“Ask your questions, McClintock,” Alvez snaps, arms crossed. “And then go. You’re interrupting Cadet Clark’s time here.”

“Oh, I don’t mind,” I say quickly, sitting up straight and smiling between Alvez and Jackson. “Our magic calls to each other after all, right? Maybe he can help.” I turn my smile singularly on Jackson now, and I don’t miss the fact that the corners of his mouth twitch, just subtly. “Professor Alvez, after all, was just asking after your magical progress, Jackson.”

“Oh really,” Jackson says, slowly turning his head to stare at Alvez now. “After I assured you yesterday, for an entire hour, that I hadn’t made any progress at all. I’m surprised you had more questions, sir.”

Alvez’s eyes narrow as he looks between us. “I considered that your partner perhaps had

observed changes that you had not.”

“Shame.” Jackson says, his shoulders tensing as he glares at our professor, “to be wasting Cadet Clark’s time in office hours talking about me, especially considering that his own powers are so much more developed.”

he moves away from the door, starts to prowl towards Jackson a bit,

go rigid as I realize the import between Alvez’s words that he suspects the truth, that Jackson’s keeping his abilities hidden.

still, saying nothing and giving nothing

watch, fascinated, as my professor squares off against my mate, as the

I clear my throat, reminding them

before returning them to Jackson. “Ask your questions, McClintock,” Alvez orders. “And

he murmurs, looking up towards the ceiling. “You’ll have to forgive me big guys like me, sometimes we’re more brawn than brain. Takes

Jackson’s

his eyes flicking back to me. “Give me

back into his chair, glaring up at me like I planned this. I just shrug at him, hoping to communicate quite

–

falls along more predictable lines. Alvez leans back

Spier ra

giving me suggestions about new things to try. And, honestly, the suggestions are actually helpful he suggests that since sun is the signet to which I’m largely aligned, I should concentrate on manifesting heat

amplified my magic, I play as dumb as I can. I don’t deny that Jackson’s presence was helpful, but don’t add any more

me beneath lowered brows, clearly frustrated. “All right, cadet, it doesn’t seem like we’re getting any further with this,” he snaps. “Continue the good work, and please come to class prepared to demonstrate what you can do for the

I ask, a little surprised by the request.

says, deliberately flicking his eyes to Jackson here, “I’d like you to show the others in the hope that it will…inspire

and trying to decide how I feel about that. Because, I mean, I don’t think I’m going to

a chance to talk to him about it as he pushes himself up from

McClintock?” Alvez snaps,

a hand through the air like a bird flying. “Sorry about that hope it wasn’t an inconvenience.”

murmurs. “It isn’t fair to take

work space.”