The Hidden Princess At All-Boys Alpha Academy

Chapter 0538

He looks up at us and shrugs, his expression wary, like he thinks he might sound crazy.

"That's...scary, man," Rafe says, his voice breathy. "But also really cool."

Slowly, Jesse breaks out into a smile. "Yeah, I...I think it kind of is."

"Fire goddess, shadow lord," Jackson murmurs, looking around at us like he's kind of tickled by it. "Whatever you come up with next is going to be amazing, Rafe, if you're going to match up with these two." Jesse laughs and I grin at my brother, but my smile falters a little as Rafe pretends to laugh before he drops his head, his face falling a little bit.

And my heart sinks again when I realize that my poor brother - who just got dumped - likewise feels left out of this too. Because he's the only one here whose magic hasn't manifested.

Which...probably makes him feel more alone than ever.

"Rafe," I say quietly, reaching for him.

But my brother straightens his shoulders, pretending he doesn't hear me.

My hand falls before I touch him, sensing that he doesn't want that right now.

"Well, we have to get up early," Rafe says, forcing a smile, "especially if we're going to send word to mom and Cora that we want to chat. Do you think you can sleep, Jess?"

hysterically, shaking his head. "But...I mean, I can

happens again?" I

out and giving me a pat on the knee, using his sense of humor and bravado to cover the anxiety that I can still see running through him. After all, he's gone through a big change today - and swirling clouds of darkness are not precisely a warm and cuddly

things into flames is. At least not

not sure that Jesse likes his as much -

bed and cuddling up on the pillow on the far side of the bed that Jesse always leaves

a soft smack on the back. "If you get lost in a cloud of shadows I'm getting lost in them too. Cousins stick

doesn't protest any more, falling back

stretching himself length-wise across the

think you're doing!?" Jesse gasps, sitting

explain again, his feet hanging far off the bed as he stretches out

cannot sleep in my bed! You don't

Jesse, it's just a puppy pile like we did when we were kids," I say with a happy sigh, curling up comfortably as Jackson settles his head down by my feet. Jackson reaches up and puts a warm and

if they're staying, so am I," Rafe sighs,

Rafe pulls his legs up onto the bed and then

-

en novelxo

or something," I say with a