The Hidden Princess At All-Boys Alpha Academy

"Yes," he says with a sigh, "and you know me, always searching for the bigger and better responsibility. Always looking for another weight on my shoulders, like the obligation to defy the God of Darkness...just because I can." "You don't fool me, Jess," I say quietly, making him look at me. "Given the choice between something like this and something silly like...a magical gift that made you really good at puns -"

"That would have been amazing," he interrupts, his eyes narrowed.

I laugh, but just shake my head at him. "Jesse. Deep down? We all know what you would have chosen."

"Yeah, well," he sighs, slumping against the wall, "puns were never really part of my sense of humor anyway."

I lean against him then and Jesse wraps an arm around my shoulders. "You're a good guy, Jess," I say quietly. "You saved me yesterday. Even if you're not comfortable with your powers...I'm grateful for them."

"Well, if they let me save you even once, cousin," he says, pulling me a little closer. "Then I'll deal with these shadows and call it a done deal."

I smile, leaning against my favorite cousin a little more.

But Jesse just sighs, looking again out into the distance. "Did you hear what the God said, though?" he asks, his voice curious and hesitant.

a lot of sneaky little hints," I say,

he said his girl found me," Jesse says, shaking his head like he's trying to see how the pieces fit together. He blinks, refocusing his eyes on me. "What the

idea, Jess," I say quietly, shaking my own head as we look at each other, both of us

leaning his weight on me, and I do my best to stand still and prop him up - because honestly, right now, the only thing I can offer my cousin is support. Even if I desperately

towards the door to the breakfast room as we see Jackson and Rafe walk in. The room bursts into whispers, because of course the rest of the Cadets in

to come into the room - which means the draft must

of my chair, desperate to dash over to them and get the information even

says, one corner

'cool' has never been one of the descriptors that anyone has ever

his head at me a bit - but either way, his plan worked, because Jackson and Rafe settle into the two empty chairs across the table from us. Jackson shoots a little

peace offering. "You don't get your preferred seat if

narrows

he's not seated next to

between the two of us but then rolls his