The Hidden Princess At All-Boys Alpha Academy

I'm panting as Jesse follows me up the final hill of our run, keeping close on my heels and basically herding me like a sheepdog to ensure that I don't slacken my pace and fall behind.

"Jesse!" I gasp, swatting at him as he gets even closer when we reach the top of the hill, the door to the Castle only a few feet away. "Back off! The run is done!"

"Still twenty more feet, Cadet!" Jesse says, beaming at me, looking far too fresh for how exhausted I'm feeling. He jogs backwards, passing me, urging me along.

"Oh, I hate you," I sigh, still pulling my breaths in deeply as I let my pace slacken to a walk for those final twenty feet. Jesse laughs as he runs ahead to the little fountain where our water bottles are waiting, giving them a quick rinse before filling mine up and handing it to me when I join him there.

"You did good," he says, quite cheerful, the energy Jacks passed to him early this morning clearly still running fresh in his veins.

I roll my eyes, knowing that he's just being nice.

Jesse laughs. "You did!" he insists, giving me a little shove on my shoulder that just makes water slosh down my front. "Rafe and Jackson are just too hard on you and your little legs, they make you feel like you're slow. But honestly, you could outrun anyone your size any day."

"Cool," I reply, scowling at the water all down the front of my uniform now. "Good to know I can outrun mom and Cora and Juniper."

"Hey, a win is a win," Jesse says, raising his bottle to me with a wink. I sigh, a little pleased, and rest against the wall at his side as we both catch our breath and look out over the pretty winter countryside.

think the draft is done?" I ask quietly after a minute, thinking about Jackson and Rafe going off this morning even earlier than I usually get up for sniping practice.

sigh, glancing at me. "I

letting my mind

myself, wondering

picks they wanted,

dark spot in my soul is about,

going to pounce at some point.

Wworry.

down at me like he knows something is wrong but also realizes that I don't to talk to him about it. "I didn't realize until this morning how insanely good you are." I perk up a little at the compliment. "What, did you think

shrugs, smirking. "I mean,

a bit. "I mean, it explains why Jackson is so eager

I say with a disgruntled little sigh, "except that it will be a paintball gun and won't have nearly the range and precision that I'm used

baby trouble," Jesse murmurs.

the side with my elbow. We're quiet for a moment, and I consider