The Hidden Princess At All-Boys Alpha Academy

Chapter 0533

"Ariel!" The word bursts from Jackson even as he grins, I think swept away by my laughter even as he's confused by the direction of my thoughts. "Seriously, what are you talking about? What on earth makes you want to do that?"

"I was jealous!" I say, throwing my hands out, my laughter subsiding. "When you were teaching Luca - it was so interesting! And I - I don't know any of it! And it's very clear that you all have this like, cool, super useful knowledge of battle strategy that I don't have - and I want to know it, and I feel left out!" "Ariel," Jackson says with a sigh, taking a second to run his fingers through my messy hair - which he had a great deal of involvement in messing, I mentally note - sorting it out and tucking it back behind my ears. "You don't need to know that stuff -" "I do too!"

"And when would you even study it?" he asks, frowning at me. "I mean, I'm happy to teach you how to read the maps and about the old battles - I would love to do that. I just...you're already so busy with studies. When would we fit it in?" "Well," I say, grinning a little wickedly as I look around at our surroundings. "What about here?"

Jackson just stares at me for a second. "Seriously, Ari?" he asks. "You have a magical dream state where you can take your mate and do literally whatever you can imagine...and you want to use it to...study?"

"Well, considering you won't have sex with me," I say, sitting up very primly and giving him a neat little glare. There's a beat and then Jackson roars with laughter when he realizes that I'm right.

"Yes, Jacks!" I say, laughing too and giving him a shove on the shoulder that brings his attention back to me. "You can just teach me a little bit every night - and we can cuddle while you teach me and then make out after."

A slow smile takes his lips. "And...how do you propose that we do the actual studying? We don't have the maps."

side and then

than I expected - a heavy weight hits my hands

he says, staring at it with

empty," I murmur, opening the book and letting him see the fresh white pages. "But I figure...maybe you can fill it in? You know

a hesitant finger, touching it. The page ripples almost like

is insane," he whispers, baffled and - I can tell - just a little

so cool!" Isqueak,

him with one hand and staring

what do these marks mean?

over the map, trying to follow the action and

setting it aside. Then he loops his arms around me, folding his hands together behind my lower back so that I Can lean against them and still look into his face. "Do you

his face, "if you even try to tell me what I'm capable

Jackson's wolf give a little warning rumble. Jackson raises one eyebrow, and tilts his head

at him, my mouth open a