The Hidden Princess At All-Boys Alpha Academy

Chapter 0392

Mark starts towards dad's armchair, tugging me along with him. I let him pull me, knowing he's scared. "Do you think they meant it?" Mark asks, looking at me as I perch myself on the arm next to him. "That they're...going to wait until after the Midwinter holiday? Or...I mean...are they going to do a sneak attack?"

"They probably meant it," Jackson says, walking over with us and standing tall behind the chair, so close I can feel the warmth of him. "The Atalaxians are...very religious. They take their worship of the gods very seriously."

"Well then you'd think they'd give me and Ella a bit more respect," Cora says, her voice a bit dry, coming to join our conversation as other small ones break out elsewhere in the room. "Considering who our mom is."

*Do they...know that? About your lineage?" Jackson asks, frowning, considering it.

"Who knows," Cora sighs, waving her hand.

"I'm not sure it matters," Jackson says with a shrug. "The Cult of the Goddess never really took hold in Atalaxia, except perhaps amongst the women. Which, considering the official state stance of sweeping misogyny, probably makes sense."

who do they worship?" Mark

God, primarily," Jackson replies instantly,

tilting back on her shoulders. But then she snaps it back up,

"We study this. We're

Jesse know it?" She tilts her head

measuring his words. "Doesn't try very hard with the books. He concentrates more

is paying attention," she murmurs. I turn my head to

to chat about the Atalaxian world and viewpoint, Mark listening closely, but I let my eyes drift around the room. Daphne sits

away and move on, seeking my mother and my sister, but... My eyes snap back to the pair. Because Luca I understand - he's battling a hangover and what I can only imagine was an intense conversation with my dad before the

But now he looks...sweaty, and unsettled, and just plain ill.

no time