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?"

not," Jesse laughs, only a touch hysterically, shaking his head. "But...I mean, I can

if it happens again?" I ask

a pat on the knee, using his sense of humor and bravado to cover the anxiety that I can

is.

I'm not sure that Jesse likes his as much - at least

the pillow on the far side of the bed that Jesse always

laughing and giving him a soft smack on the back. "If you get

groans but he doesn't protest any more, falling back on his own

to lay down, stretching himself length-wise across the

you think you're doing!?" Jesse gasps, sitting up again and staring

not clear on this?" Jackson asks, looking up at Jesse like he's exhausted at having to explain again, his feet hanging far off the bed as he stretches out to his

in

head down by my feet. Jackson reaches up and puts a warm and comforting hand on my calf,

so am I," Rafe sighs, giving Jesse a shove. "Budge

protests, bumping into me as Rafe pulls his legs up onto the bed and then curls up on Jesse's either side. "Guys, this is ridiculous

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your newfound shadow power to prop it up or something," I