The Hidden Princess At All-Boys Alpha Academy

I beam again at my friend, sitting back against the couch with a gratified sigh. "Good, I'm glad you won," I say, nestling back into the pillows. "And I hope Wright is stinking mad about it."

"Oh, I didn't win," Tony says, taking a big bite of his cookie. "You did. I got disqualified for friendly fire."

"Oh," I say, my eyes going wide as DQFF suddenly makes sense. "Really!?" I gasp, delighted. "I won!?"

A big cheer goes up in the room and I laugh, delighted as Luca bends down and opens his bookbag, pulling out not his homework - as I expected - but two bottles of whiskey and some tiny paper cups that he begins to fill and pass around. "Luca!" I gasp as everyone cheers again at the sight of the liquor. "This is contraband -"

"Oh, no one's checking," he says, laughing and handing me a little cup. "Besides, we deserve to celebrate! To Ari, champion of the day!"

Everyone begins to cheer again but I shout out to stop and raise my glass to Tony instead, insisting he take the honor. The cheer goes around and I give my friend a wink as we both salute each other and take deep sips from our cup. And as we lock eyes, I hope he understands that I really do owe him that favor. He nods deeply, letting me know that he accepts it and that he'll call it in, whenever he's ready.

"Wait, Tony," Ben says, laughing and leaning forward towards him. "Aren't you afraid of the consequences of this?"

"What consequences?" Tony asks, putting his empty cup back on the table with a shrug.

Jesse just shakes his head at him. "Our professors value loyalty and trustworthiness above all things - it's not going to look good on your record, if you've got a history of defying your Commander and killing your comrades, even in a mock battle like this."

"Ah," Tony says, closing one eye and peering devilishly at Jesse. "See, that's where your mistaken, Sinclair - because your professors value loyalty and trustworthiness. Mine, however..." he shrugs. "Value a different set of equally admirable qualities in a Cadet." "Tony," Rafe says, leaning towards him, curious. "What are you talking about? What track are you?"

at his lips. "No big deal. Let's talk about Ari instead

three tracks of the Academy represented here," Jesse continues, pointing at Ben, and then me, and then around at all the warriors in the room. "And you're not in any of our classes but magic. So? What do you do

know

it's a surprise when Daphne breaks the silence

turn

you're so clever,"

back against the couch cushions and grinning at Tony as she crosses her arms over her chest. "You've got

she says,

room at the rest of

"but

you

count on me,

Daphne, perhaps for the first time. "And who

Jesse go rigid in their

I'm no one," Daphne says, her grin matching Tony's as she leans forward,

the person

secret pockets into

open as he gapes at her in