The Hidden Princess At All-Boys Alpha Academy

Chapter 0581

I laugh, wrinkling my nose at him. "It was a spur-of-the-moment decision. But she's fine, Jesse. I invited her up tomorrow night for the party." "Really?" he asks, bursting into a smile. "That will be great."

"Yeah," I say with a happy sigh, resting my head back down on his shoulder. "I told her you'd give her a full display of your new magic skills. You'd better start practicing so you can show off."

"No pressure," Jesse murmurs, sarcastic. He raises a hand though, his brow furrowing with concentration, and then softly blows on it. As his breath fills his palm it darkens, taking the shape of a little black cat. I burst into a grin, watching as the cat walks daintly around his hand, rubbing its tail warmly against his thumb.

"It's amazing," I whisper, shaking my head in awe, smiling so hard I'm afraid my cheeks will break, "how good you've gotten at that in like two days."

"It's easier now that I'm not scared of it," Jesse murmurs, making the little shadow cat jump from fingertip to fingertip. "I don't remember who said it - but they really are mine, the shadows. Extensions of me. I can make them do...whatever I want."

"That seems rich with possibilities," I whisper, reaching out a hand and beaming when the little shadow leaps from Jesse's hand into mine. Fascinated, I watch and feel it walk around, half substantial.

"I know," Jesse whispers. "I can't wait to experiment. Way cooler than your stupid gift."

"Watch yourself," I growl, concentrating on the cat and tapping into my power, making it puff up into the air in a tiny cloud of smoke. Jesse and I both gasp at the same time, turning our heads to look at each other as we burst out laughing. "That was so cool," Jesse exclaims, grinning at me. "I felt it - it got all hot -"

squeak, pressing my shoulder

Rafe calls, sounding

for Rafe to hear, making me laugh again. But, I think both of us deciding not to rub it in, we turn our mutual concentration back to the show and fall quiet,

"Up."

out somewhere above me, making me jump awake and, blinking, look

else." Groggy, I turn to see that I'm slumped against

asleep in the nook

empty cookie packet

Tiger laying between us.

just come in too," I murmur, reaching out a

get up, Jesse,

"The kind of life I could get used to, just being carried everywhere like you do with Ariel."

"Violent," Jesse sighs, pushing

up and slowly climbing

Jacks is going to make a grab for it. "I expect your temper to be much improved in the morning, Jackson. Ariel, you work on

got it, buddy!" I call after him, rolling over into the warm space Jesse left so there's room for Jacks. He climbs into the spot next to me with a happy sigh. But then he goes still, looking down at the bed