The Hidden Princess At All-Boys Alpha Academy

Chapter 0536

"I do," Jackson replies, nodding once. "Not important right now. Just...let's get these shadows tucked away, all right? I want you to imagine like...a fishing rod, with all the shadows attached to the line. And now slowly, mentally, just...start to reel that fish in, okay?" A moment passes as Jesse stares at Jackson, a little disbelief in his panicked eyes, but then he exhales a long breath and concentrates. My arms tighten around Rafe's arm, my fingers digging into his skin a little, when I see the shadows begin to change shape, transforming - my eyes widen to see - into a shadow river, complete with currents, still swirling around Jesse - But including, of all things...tiny little shadow fish inside.

"There you go, man," Jackson says, sounding completely at ease now, even laughing a little when he sees the fish moving in their shadow streams, swirling around his wrist and his hand, still pressed to Jesse's chest.

Jesse stares around at the shadow scene in awe but - clearly encouraged by the result - he begins to take Jackson's advice, breathing easier and I suppose...beginning to reel it all in.

The shadows slowly start to lessen, to seep, to disappear backwards into Jesse as he calls them mentally back. They fade in density and in color, all slipping away like smoke from the air until they're just a haze around his skin.

And then Jesse takes one last sharp inhale and the final shadows slip back into his mouth, swallowed down...I don't know where. His soul?

And just like that...they're gone.

"Holy...holy shit, Jess," Rafe says, his voice trembling.

Jackson laughs a little, taking his hand from Jesse's chest and sitting back on the bed calmly. "Nicely done," he says, leaning back on his hands. "Honestly, you reined that outburst in pretty fast - took me ages to learn that." Jesse still pants a little, tense on his bed, his shoulders shaking as he stares first at Jackson and then over at Rafe and me. "Am I...did I dream that? Please tell me I dreamed that."

Rafe and I just stare at him.

shaking his head. "You're a badass shadow

as he looks back at Jackson like he's totally

can't help it - a ridiculous, hysterical giggle breaks

snap their heads to me as I smack a hand over

spill from me as I stare at my gentle, silly cousin - whose gift is

asks me, his voice tremulous even as his mouth starts to curl up, as if he's desperate for a laugh,

hand and pressing it to my chest, my other hand still clinging to my brother's arm. "Why...why is

Something about my stupid

question works, because Jesse's

taking over it and then fading, and then coming back as a

that funny - I burst out laughing at this, laughing so hard I double over,

to me begin to loosen, and then

catch my breath, trying to reel my ridiculous, embarrassing, inappropriate laughter in like a shadow

two - and Rafe tugs me onto Jesse's bed beside him, seating me down

I finally

can open

look around to see Jesse