The Hidden Princess At All-Boys Alpha Academy

Chapter 0683

"Hey," Luca says, giving me a small smile and wrapping an arm around my shoulder as we, too, start towards the castle. "That was insane, as usual."

"Luca," I say quietly, looking up at him, brushing off the niceties. "What's wrong?"

His face tenses and he looks away from me. "Nothing's wrong."

I stop in my tracks, not letting him do this. "Luca."

He sighs and looks back at me. "What do you want me to say, Ariel?"

"I want you to say the truth, Luca," I reply, staring up at him. "You don't like this. I can tell that you don't like this. And you can't just...hold it in and be silent about it. You're part of this and you're my mate - I need to know where you stand." Luca huffs a little, looking down at me. "I do like it -"

I take a deep breath, looking up into his face, shaking my head. Because he's lying and we both know it.

He groans, turning away from me for a moment, putting his hands on his hips and hanging his head. I give him the time, letting him put his thoughts together.

say, Ariel?" he asks. "I'm not part of your little magic group- I haven't been one of the ones who's been talking about magic all semester, experimenting with it. I've been actively excluded from that group for months and then I'm summoned by your mom and all of a sudden you ask me to hold your hand and there's a fire

lip, a little at war with myself. Because quite suddenly I'm aware of what Tony pointed out earlier - that Luca here is feeling very real emotions, and he's allowed to be freaked out by the magic. But he is again

the incredible things that I did yesterday and today. It's just...all

very much want my mom to send that therapist to the school as fast as she can. Because I am way, way out of my depth regarding how to talk to him and

really sorry that you feel

Luca," I say quietly. “But I'll do whatever can in the future to ensure that you're included. And m sorry ift

this.

better in the future."

reach for him then, and he takes my hands

I'm kicking

at me in surprise. "What? Do you...do you seriously think that I don't support

want

how you were feeling last night instead of just sending me a note. And I think you could be more excited for me at this development, instead of standing around quietly with your

needed space last night," Luca says, gasping a little. "I'm