The Hidden Princess At All-Boys Alpha Academy

"Um," I say, looking up at him and tucking a strand of my hair back behind my ears. "I think so? I think I killed them...all..." "He did," Heggardy says, bitter, and Jackson snaps his head to him. "That was the end of my team. How the fuck did he do that?" "Do what?" Jackson asks.

"How did he hide like that - we searched this entire plateau for him," Heggardy says, spreading out a hand to encompass the entire place. "We even got his binoculars and his map - but he was...nowhere. Did you like, hang off the side of the cliff or something, kid?" I pause for a second, not knowing what to say, or even how explain where I really went.

But this means...

God, I didn't imagine it, did I?

Somehow...somehow I really did go somewhere else.

"Um," I say, a little awkward, edging closer to Jacks. "I'm just...small. I...can hide."

"I guess so," Heggardy says, heaving a sigh and heading for the path. "Come on, this was the end of my team - the Games are over, I guess. Unless Wright has anyone left."

"Really?" I ask, looking up at Jackson, confused and shocked as Heggardy and the other Cadet move down the narrow path.

"Yeah," Jackson says, looking down at me with a little smile on his lips and an incredible rush of pride surging down the bond. "Luca was the only one left on Wright's team but he just surrendered." Jackson cocks his head at me with a frown. "How do you not know that?" he reaches up and taps at his earpiece.

I reach up for my own, taking it off and peering at it, seeing that the little green light is off. "Guess it...broke."

Jackson says, curling a finger under my chin and tipping my face up towards him. "The Ari I know would be crowing his victory, flipping

trembles as I look up at my make, shaking my head, not knowing what to say and completely unable to contain my fear anymore. Because -

tight in

can't tell you here Jacks,"

his waist, my whole body shaking, now

I've been

me, let Jacks protect me "But I was so, so

head. "Ari, it was a game and it wasn't Wright's team - you can relax - you

for

you explain to your mate that you somehow fell into a different world - a

that now that I'm back, now that I'm safe in his arms, I can take a minute to realize that the darkness that has been curling inside me for days...felt at home

words for it. I just tuck my head against Jackson, holding him tight, focusing on

me after a long few minutes - actually, maybe longer than that. I don't know I kind of... lost track of time. "Let's get you

I murmur into his shirt, not wanting to move

me feed you," he murmurs, turning me with him towards the little trail that leads down the cliffside. "Because you're really freaking me out right now, and I don't know what else to do. Come on. Your mom called ahead and made sure the kitchens stocked up on strawberry ice

the first time, a tremulous little