The Hidden Princess At All-Boys Alpha Academy

Rafe scowls at him, but suddenly the door opens, and a man in a royal uniform steps inside, giving a sharp bow. I burst into a smile as he straightens up, because of course I recognize Captain Conner, who heads up the Royal guard and who we've known since we were babies.

"Your Highness, your Grace," he begins, nodding to Jesse and Rafe, "honored guests," Captain Conner continues, nodding around to the rest of us, but then he stutters to a stop when his eyes fall on me. Conner freezes for a second and then bursts into a smile, bowing low again. "Your highness," he murmurs, and his face is the picture of happiness as he stands straight. "Forgive me, I wasn't expecting you." "That's okay!" I say, waving a cheerful hello. "It's so good to see you!"

He smiles at me but then fights it, working hard to return to his professional demeanor. He takes a deep breath, nodding again, and gesturing towards the door. "If you'll accompany me? The station has been cleared and the cars are waiting."

Rafe nods our readiness and Conner steps outside. Then we all grab our backpacks, and Daphne her suitcase, and file cheerfully off the train.

"Wow," Daphne says, looking around the giant train station with its soaring glass ceilings. Her smile reveals how impressed she is as she walks next to me, my hand in Luca's. "This is...this is amazing..." "First time in the capital, Daph?" Luca asks, friendly.

"Yeah," she says, grinning. "I'm staying a few days - for your fight, of course –"

beams at her

capital – just a small town where a fabric mill used to be in the days of industrialization. They chat about family history,

just how sad I am that Jackson didn't meet us at the train,

am I going to do without him for two weeks? How am I supposed to bear it? I mean, I don't even have any way of contacting him.

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Daphne. Her eyes, however, flick to me, her mouth pressing to a sad little line. But I give her a wink, and force myself to lift my

think about how happy I will be when I see my mom, and dad, and my brother and sister

going about their daily business and trying to get home through the cold. And even if my eyes do settle on one particularly tall figure leaning against a lamppost, his back to us and his shoulders turned in, I know it's just my imagination -

second sigh, forcing my eyes up to all of the pretty tilework that rings the borders of the station, making myself admire

my eyes drift back to

get closer and closer...I narrow