The Hidden Princess At All-Boys Alpha Academy

Chapter 0469

"It's not like that," I say, dropping my head a little, wondering at myself. "My mates - Jackson, especially are...a benefit to me. Not a weakness. I don't need to run from them to do my job; and if I need to be separated from them for an assignment..." I shrug. "I'll make them understand."

"All right," she says, her hands going up to protest her innocence. "Your mates, your business. But, Princess, you have made one mistake."

"What?" I ask, sitting up straight, suddenly worried.

Faiza's smile grows as she winks at me and glances up at the clock on the wall. "You forgot to watch the time. And dad hates it when people are late."

I gasp, leaping to my feet. "Faiza!" I breathe, dashing immediately for the door. "How could you do that to me!?"

"Your schedule is not my problem Cadet!" she calls after me, laughing as I haul the door open and dash out of it. "See you back here the day after tomorrow, and then we'll really get started!"

my breath even though I know that it's no good - I'm already five minutes late, which to Neumann might as well be a year. Still,

it and then push it open,

his eyes and points to the desks

breathing, wiping sweat from my brow as I slip onto a stool behind a lab table. Despite my exhaustion, shock fills me as

neither of them are my friends

I the only one that

a new textbook, notebook, and pen onto the desk in front

me - and I sigh when I realize that they're two of the ones who protested that I shouldn't be allowed to take the final. But I sit up straighter, a bit smug when I realize

- and letting them see it

summarizing the goals of the class this semester, which are to learn the properties of

looking at each of us in turn. "And we will also do a great deal of work to discover where to harvest the raw materials which will allow you to create these solutions - in secret, if necessary. Then, you will each work with your individual tutors to discuss methods of delivering or otherwise utilizing these solutions that best

up again with interest at this, again looking over at the two other boys in the class as I realize that they, too, likely met