The Hidden Princess At All-Boys Alpha Academy

Chapter 0654

"Ariel," Tony sighs, shaking his head and leaning back in the arm chair, looking like he hates to be the one to tell me this. "He does do that to you. Like all the time."

"Wait wait," Jesse says, turning more fully towards Tony with a frown. "You've only been getting close to Ariel lately - since this semester started and then in this past week. But you've been cold to Luca since the moment I first saw you guys interact - when we had magic class here in the room after the God of Darkness attacked and you wouldn't let him stay. So...what gives? Have you been like, spying on us?"

"No," Tony says, slumping back in his chair and covering his eyes with his hand for a second. "Look, if you want to know, my ish with Luca is a little...older than I may have suggested so far."

"What?" I breathe, leaning forward, fascinated and a little horrified. I mean, I know Luca's a celebrity, but what is he talking about?

How old is his grudge against Luca?

And who even is Tony, anyway? I wrack my mind but honestly, I don't know anything about his past. Quite suddenly I feel guilty for not asking and also like a very, very bad spy. "Okay," Tony sighs, looking around at the four of us. "Can I please assume that this is a zone of secrecy in which we do not tell others what was said in our little square of trust?"

"She's definitely going to tell Jackson," Ben says, settling back against the pillows with a pleased smirk, looking like he's enjoying himself.

I glance at Ben but then return my eyes to Tony and give a little shrug, because it's true. I reserve the right to tell Jacks everything.

to dismiss it. "Square of trust though? With one adjacent silent boulder of a man who doesn't have anyone

nod, agreeing

"Then I'll let you all in on a secret. Although I am now a very handsome, very suave, very dangerous assassin," he says, raising an eyebrow as he looks at each of us in turn, almost daring each of us to counter him on it. I start to grin, unable to help

laughing, as do Jesse and Ben. Tony smirks a little,

not so bad," I say with a sigh, curling up on the couch and

he says with a smirk. "I was a city kid - needed money, worked my way up in some bars. But eventually I got a pretty sweet

this, turning my head to the side staring at my

keeps his eyes on me. "Name ring a

"Yeah," I whisper. "Luca's mentioned it. One

Tony says, again giving me that sad little smile. "It sure as

times," Jesse says, frowning over at Tony. "Did I ever

on your table, though. They talked

my cousin. "I

we get back to the city me and you are going by ourselves and leaving

me a steady nod and holds palm up. I quickly smack my hand against his, the high-five