The Hidden Princess At All-Boys Alpha Academy

Chapter 0627

"You're a pretty girl, Ari," Luca says, leaning down and raising an eyebrow at me. "In a place like this? You could make some bank."

I gasp, delighted. "That's the nicest thing you've ever said to me."

He bursts out laughing and shakes his head at me, raising his chin at the Black Hawk. "Come on, Daphne," he says, putting deliberate emphasis on my assignment. "Let's get this done. And please," the seriousness in his voice makes me turn to him again, paying attention, "please remember that this is dangerous, okay? Take it seriously?"

"You got it, kid," I say, giving him a wink. Then I exhale and straighten my shoulders, throwing my curling red hair over my shoulder the way I've seen Daphne do a thousand times. "So, do you want to get a drink? Or what?"

Luca's face bursts into a grin as he sees me take on her personality - or at least, as close as I can get. "Sure, seamstress," he says, shaking his head at me a little. "You lead the way."

I turn with confidence, heading to the door, trying to take on Daphne's poised stride as best I can. As I walk, I try to think of all the things that make my friend who she is - confident, cheerful, optimistic, fun, hard-working - and do my best to embody them, to forget all the things that make me me and become, instead, her.

I have no idea whether or not it works, but still I set myself to the task as we walk into the bar. The place is as shabby as I was promised it would be - with wooden walls and a sawdust floor, each of the tables slapped together out of what looks like spare wooden parts. The chairs, too, are simply stools.

But despite all of that, the place is packed - and at least a quarter of the patrons are wearing black Cadet uniforms. My eyes go wide as I recognize a few faces. God, it's not even a weekend - how often do they come here?

Luca clears his throat, frowning down at me and I school my face into less shocked lines.

back into my Daphne persona as I wave a casual hand towards

but he doesn't counter me.

bit, walking smoothly over to the bar, slipping the little bit of money that Daphne had laying around out of my pocket so that the bartender can see it. A little thrill runs through me - honestly, this is one of the first times I've been at a bar ordering a drink by

myself runs through me with

a little grizzled, sees me and comes over when he finishes with

will it be?" he asks,

inwardly because I suddenly realize that I did not get this far

up into his face even though

smirks at me. "Sure. What

high in a way that is much more Ariel than

sweep over me. "We've got

and grin at him. "Whatever is your favorite, then say, giving him a cheerful nod. "You pick for

get the drinks and I straighten up,

I get an

curious voice

hand