The Hidden Princess At All-Boys Alpha Academy

"Luca, I'm so sorry for not even thinking about your family and making you come to see mine," I murmur, taking little handfuls of his shirt in my fists as I lean my weight against him, looking up into his face. Luca smiles at me, his arms loose around me.

"Don't be sorry," he murmurs, "I wanted to meet your whole family. It was important for me too."

"Good," I say, nodding. And then I hesitate. "And are you...ready? For the fight?"

"I will be," he says, nodding. "Though it's important for me to see my uncle - he trained me, after all. He'll get me back in the right headspace over the next day or so - don't worry. But will you come tomorrow? Come see my gym, and then come to my gran's house? Meet everyone? I'm dying to introduce you."

"Oh!" I say, surprised but then thrilled at the idea. "Yes!" I say instantly, beaming at him, but then I remember that I'm a princess again and I glance back at the door, wondering what my parents have planned for me.

"It's okay," Luca says, lifting a hand to my cheek and turning my gaze back to him. "I already cleared it with your dad - he says you can have the afternoon off from Princess-ing."

"Oh," I say, a little surprised at this. But then, I suppose there's nothing wrong with that - Luca's very thoughtful, isn't he? And proactive. "Okay, then yes, I'll come. Of course I will. I can't wait."

right?"

course!" I say, laughing up at him, because

to my mouth. "I'll need my best girl there for moral support." Sᴇaʀch Thᴇ Find_Nøvel.ɴet website on Gøøglᴇ to access chapters of novels early and

my hands sink into his hair, pleased at the idea that my presence would help

go. We stay like that for a long while - long enough that I lose myself in him, that I forget where I am, and that there's a room full of people behind me probably waiting for me to come back inside so they can

loosen. "You make it very hard to

laugh, standing on my toes to press one final kiss to his mouth, and then I push him away. "Get out

laughs, pulling me close for one last peck before letting

you tomorrow!" I call as Luca walks backwards down

dimples flashing. And then he turns, and jogs off towards the front of the palace, and I sigh as

immediately on Jackson, who

my bedroom. "Daphne, we'll have another room made up for you tomorrow, we just didn't know how many were coming tonight - and I thought you might want to be in with Ariel anyway,