The Hidden Princess At All-Boys Alpha Academy

Chapter 0282

“I hate that,” I murmur, working to press myself closer to him, even though that’s not really possible. “I hate the idea of you scared, and alone, and talking to girls when I was just like… half a city away.”

“But you were engaged,” he says, his voice strange- I think a little amused? I don’t know. I can’t quite parse it.

“You knew about that?” I ask, looking up at him wide–eyed,

“How could I not?” he asks, grinning at me. “You were all over the media – – and it’s all anyone would talk about, especially as it got close.”

“Well,” I say, smiling myself a little too and reaching up to stroke my fingers through his hair. “What did you think about it?”

“You’ll be disappointed in me, Ari,” he murmurs, lowering his face and taking a sniff of my hair. “I didn’t really think about it. It was all very far from what I had been instructed to think was important, what I could understand – a royal wedding…” he shakes his head. “I didn’t have a way to understand it, why it was important.”

his shoulder a little, my

from me like he can’t hold my eyes while he admits it. “Fine,” he says, heaving a little sigh. “I thought you

say, grinning and sitting up straighter with a happy squeak.

mutters, still not looking at me, a faint blush on his cheeks. “I

how did you not recognize me when we met!?” I shout, laughing and tugging on his shirt, wanting him to look at me again. My mate, ever obliging,

– and you smelled like a boy, and I had no reason to equate the lowest–ranked Candidate at the academy with the pretty girl

((

thought I was prettttty,” I sing, a little delighted, wiggling

in a way that makes heat coil

really was crap,” I say with a sigh, staring up at him, starry–eyed and swept away by how wonderful he is – at once handsome, and powerful, and cute. God, how does

and I’m