The Hidden Princess At All-Boys Alpha Academy

Daphne sighs and we talk through some further protests, but finally we get to the point where we both feel like we're on even terms. The champagne helps, I think, unwinding our tongues and our inhibitions, and after long I think we're feeling even again, renewed.

Which is how I know that it's time to blow up our world again.

"What?" she asks, frowning at me, sensing that I'm prepping to tell her something as she holds out her glass for a refill. I oblige her, filling my own as well.

"I've been keeping secrets, Daph," I say with a sigh. Her eyes go wide and I laugh little, shaking my head. "Nothing to do with you, but..."

And then, with another big sigh - honestly, I'm getting kind of tired of sighing - I spill. I tell her everything - about having two mates, and Luca and Jackson figuring it out last night, and how everything went to pieces, and how Jackson didn't show up for the train today.

Daphne is an amazing listener, scooting immediately closer to me and wrapping an arm around my shoulders. She quietly listens to the whole story, nodding her understanding and hugging me tighter and tighter as I go. "Wow," she murmurs when I'm all finished. "Ari - that's...that's insane.”

"I know," I groan, shaking my head. Sᴇaʀch Thᴇ FindNøvᴇl.nᴇt website on Gøøglᴇ to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.

"I can't believe Jackson didn't come home for winter break," she murmurs, looking over her shoulder out the back window of the caboose, almost as if she'll see him running back up the tracks behind us or something. "What a jerk."

"He's not a jerk, Daphne,

men do," she says with narrowed eyes, and I laugh, which just makes her laugh

on a sigh. "I guess he just...needed a minute alone to figure out how he feels about

Daphne says, patting my shoulder warmly. "But I get it. You wanted both of them

head a little bit. "So," she says quietly, "they want you to

I nod, sipping my

one way or another yet?"

mouth pops open. "No!" I

so delicately. "Like, not even at all? Not even a little bit of you liking one more than the other, or seeing a...a better life match? Or..." she wrinkles her nose a little bit here before lifting her champagne to her lips, "who might

"I mean, honestly, they're both really different and bring different thing to the table - but maybe

sense, even though I know it's probably impossible

doesn't it?" Daphne says, twisting her lips a

against the wall,