The Hidden Princess At All-Boys Alpha Academy

Chapter 0481

I sit up straighter, surprised. "The one with the crown?" I ask, a little horrified at the idea. "Or - the one next to him?"

"The one next to him," Ben says, nodding seriously, and I feel a whoosh of relief - because the one with the crown...my wolf raises her hackles at his memory. There was something wrong with him. But the one next to him - I suddenly remember the pulse that went through me when our eyes locked. Not a mating bond - no, I'd recognize that anywhere - but...a connection.

A real one I can't explain.

"Did you find out who he is?" I ask, excited.

"Of course I did, Ari," Ben says, leaning back in his chair and waiving a dismissive hand at me. "What do you think I did all midwinter? Actually, Rafe is the one who told me who it was." "Really?" I ask, my eyes going wide. "Does Rafe...know?"

looking at me a little hard, and I nod quickly to reassure him that I'm keeping the secret. The stakes are high, after all, on this one. "But...I asked some questions about the Atalaxian delegation and got enough information out of him to figure it out." "Well come on, Benny," I growl, smacking the table between us and making

his arms on the desk and grinning at me, I think enjoying himself more than he has in a while now that he has someone to talk to about this. "His name is Elias. He's the son of a minor Atalaxian Prince named Calvin,

asks, frowning at

knows Calvin, I think," I say, nodding eagerly.

hope. It's hard enough having a mate who is Atalaxian - if his dad is cool

gender as you in a world where that's a crime punishable by death. God, Elias - I don't know him at all, but my heart already goes out to him. And

I ask quietly. "What are we

raising his eyes to mine a

going to do everything I can to help you find your mate and keep him safe," I say, a little fiercer than I usually am, putting my hands flat on the desk between us. "But I'm also sure that your clever little clockwork brain," I point a finger at his forehead now, turning it in a circle like the

beams at me then, I think liking the metaphor as well as my instant, open offer of aid. But he sighs deeply and drops his eyes when he starts to think on what we're up against. "Obviously, I want to get him out of there, Ariel. If anyone finds out about our bond - even if he is a minor prince or whatever - they will make an example out of him. But...I

my soul at the mere idea of it, because if I had to choose between my