The Hidden Princess At All-Boys Alpha Academy

Chapter 0239

“How do know this shit,” Jackson mutters, shaking his head, letting himself be led.

you

“You handle kicking the shit out of the bad guys,” Jesse says, giving Jackson a broad grin. ” I’ll handle the girls. Besides, Rafe and I reserve the right to yell at Ariel tonight. We’ve known her longer, we get first dibs. You come to breakfast at our place tomorrow before the train leaves – really give her a piece of your mind then.‘

“If you say so,” Jackson sighs, his eyes moving upwards to the window he knows is hers or, at least, the one closest to the nook in which she sleeps. There’s still a light on, which means she’s still up.

“Trust me, Jacks,” Jesse says, giving him a little squeeze, “I wouldn’t do you dirty. We’re friends now, after all. Best friends.”

“Don’t push it,” Jackson grumbles. But as the pair walk back into the castle Jackson has to admit…the whole friendship thing, it does have its perks. Even if it involves a lot more talking than he’d prefer.

“So, how’d you know?” Ben murmurs, sitting at the other end of the couch while I stretch my legs between us. He digs into his half–eaten third slice of cake with abandon.

“Benny, my love,” I sigh, lifting another forkful of chocolate icing to my mouth

careful with that word –” Ben says, pointing his fork at me with a wink. ”

over the past hour or so, cajoling and teasing and being sweet to me by turns, all in the effort to get me back to myself, to make me realize that no permanent damage has been done. After all, all I did was tell the

most disastrous way

–

reality of our situation – I had to

“Don’t go

couch now, as Luca so often does, and tapping my foot with his fork. “You’re betraying the cake, and the

“You laugh at all of Rafe’s jokes,

and then bursts out

I say, smiling and shaking my head at him. “You’re just listening to him with your love earmuffs on. My mom does it to my dad, from whom Rafe gets

back, shaking it. “Both of our greatest secrets, which we thought we were doing such a good job of keeping to ourselves,

the chances of

grin at him, but then I lean forward and cock my head. “Benny,” I say, and he lifts his head. to smile at me. “Why did you keep it a secret? I

Ari,” Ben murmurs, smirking a little as he pushes his cake around with a fork,

“Do