The Hidden Princess At All-Boys Alpha Academy

Chapter 0479

"Judge me not, Ariel, that librarian is cute. And not all of us are on a sex ban right now," he says, dry, laughing a little. "Don't hold the rest of us to your ridiculous standards. There's a lot of hooking up at this Academy - just not in your room."

I ignore his glib remark - because honestly, they're Luca and Jackson's standards, not mine - and look at him curiously. "So are the rest of the Cadets hooking up...with each other?"

"Some are," Ben says, giving a little shrug. "The rest go down to Newtown to meet girls."

I just stare at him, a little agape. He stares back for a second before he bursts out laughing.

"You seriously haven't even heard of Newtown?" he asks, leaning forward to stare at me. "Ariel. You let those boys keep you too sheltered."

"Well, I didn't even know I was being sheltered!" I burst out, throwing my hands out to the side. "What the hell is Newtown!?"

"It's not really a town," Ben says, grinning, I think a little delighted that he gets to be the one to dispossess me of my naiveté. "More of like...a camp? I mean, the roads are made of dirt, the buildings were thrown up hastily ten or twenty years ago and were not made to last. But there are bars there - and girls. Some looking to meet Academy guys, some for hire, if you know what I mean. And then some Cadets' girlfriends and wives live there full time, though that's all kept very much on the down low. Cadets sneak out to go there at night, or go on weekends in second year, when we're allowed to leave the Castle."

bit because...well, because I've never even thought of sneaking

you gone?" I ask, turning

he says, stretching his arms above

"Can I go?"

"Why

to see it! It's fascinating!

says, teasing and shaking his head. "Always the most curious. It's not like, nice, Ariel. It can be dangerous." "Yeah well, I'm dangerous now too." I say, smug, leaning back in my chair and making Ben's grin

room and out the windows. "Thank you for

softening. "I come here a lot by myself to study - it's the quietest place in the castle.

eyebrow at him. "Are things...serious

his head. "I always made it clear that my feelings were elsewhere. And while I initially meant Rafe..." he sighs

realize that he's looking south and

Towards Atalaxia.

Towards his mate.