The Hidden Princess At All-Boys Alpha Academy

Chapter 0689

My mouth turns down in a desperate frown, because even if he's relieved...

God, but I love being an Espionage Cadet. I don't want to be reassigned - I want to study it all.

"I'll talk with the Captain," I say, giving an assured nod. "I'll...I'll do both tracks."

Neumann smirks at me and nods. "We'll see," he says, quiet and sure. "Upon your return. Now you'd better head out - you have other professors to meet with before you get some rest." I hesitate. "Faiza?" I ask, just a whisper.

He smirks. "Don't you worry about my dashing girl. She will be fine."

"You haven't heard from her?"

Neumann quirks an eyebrow at me. "What kind of spymaster would I be if I told you that?"

"A nice one," I growl, showing my teeth a bit. To my shock, he actually laughs.

"Go!" Neumann says, giving me a little shove on the shoulder. "I have work to do, and so do you."

the hall, my head hanging as I

"Ariel."

name rings out after me and I turn back, meeting my

stay alive, all right?" he says, clenching his jaw, working hard to

tiny grin takes my lips.

at all, Cadet," he says, his eyes crinkling at the corners. "Just issuing my standard orders. You're very important to this world, as well as to me. Just...make sure you come back." "Yes,

hard, moving down the hall and not letting myself look

gym, it's empty, all the lights

and lifeless. But then I realize that I'm just insanely early for our lesson and cross to the little door in the back,

in the room changes. I call for him a few times, louder and louder, but again -

the way up through the castle

course, I'm the only one here because

at a loss for how to spend my time, and I hate it, because right

strategy textbook and trying to read through the maps, quizzing myself on the little exercises that he sometimes puts me though in the dream state when we study together. But when that fails to occupy my mind, I put myself to busier tasks, straightening up the

that's agony too far too much space for my mind

I just groan and throw myself on the couch with a packet of cookies, stuffing myself silly and passively watching TV on Jackson's little DVD player while I wait for everyone to get back. When the door finally opens