The Hidden Princess At All-Boys Alpha Academy

I move fast down the hall, Jackson at my heels, and I hope desperately that we’re lucky enough to evade the guards who prowl these halls at night. I mean, we haven’t had a problem with being attacked in our own Palace…ever? So the guards are few and far between. But still, we’ve got to move fast because if they see us, they’re definitely going to tell my mom that I’m out of bed.

And I really, really want nothing more right now than a few stolen hours with Jackson.

ADOR

My mate runs after me, shaming me a bit with his speed and his silence, and I can feel the joy pulsing through him as we go. He’s checking his steps, I know, to let me take the lead but then again, I’m the one who knows where to go. When I get to the end of the hall 1 fling open a door and wave him through, whispering “to the top! All the way

up!”

Jackson sends a gorgeous grin over his shoulder before he starts to run up the stairs, so sweet and handsome that it makes me stumble in my steps a bit. But I recover quickly, dashing up after my mate. When Jacks gets to the top of the fourth flight he pushes open the only door there, and steps out onto our rooftop garden.

going still so fast that I almost bang into

I say, laughing, not bothering to be quiet anymore as I give him a playful shove out of the doorway and press the door shut behind us. Jackson obliges, stepping out

ancient, gnarled olive trees that stand in the four corners of our garden. Scattered fruit trees grow between them, as well as lots of pretty little potted roses and herbs, creating the effect of a very charming little orchard garden. Along the southern wall there’s an outdoor kitchen all set up and fully stocked, and next to that a little shed that contains everything we need to make a

we were kids,” I say, moving to the shed and pulling out some blankets and pillows, handing them to my mate, who follows. “So,

white wine, pouring us each a glass. “There’s food, if you want it.” I nod

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+15 BONUS

and peering around. “You guys keep …food up

food everywhere,” I say, grinning at him and nodding my head to the side, silently asking him to follow me to the center of the garden, where you can see the stars between the branches of the trees if you lay down on the ground. “Mom didn’t grow up with much, so she has kind of a scarcity mindset. She stocks snacks all around the Palace so that if anyone ever feels a single hunger pang, she can be on it. Plus, growing up, Rafe did eat pretty much constantly. So it was kind of necessary.

patting the ground next to me, inviting Jackson to sit. He does, handing me one of the glasses. “Your mom didn’t grow up with much?” he asks, a little confused. And I guess that makes sense – mom

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