The Hidden Princess At All-Boys Alpha Academy

Chapter 0704

When Jackson, Luca and I find our spots, Jackson passes me a pair of binoculars from around his neck. "Check it out," he murmurs.

I frown up at him and then do as I'm told, looking through the lenses, observing the cliff's edge in front of me where the Atalaxians have entrenched - a spot which they've been defending for months and which, tonight, we plan to break. To my surprise, while the sky is bright and shining on our side, clouds hang low over the Atalaxian cliff, lightening striking every few minutes. "Oh, holy crap," I murmur, lowering the binoculars and passing them to Luca so he can see too. "Is that...is that Cora's doing?"

"I think so," Jackson says, glancing at me. "I mean, it wouldn't do any good to spread that news widely - Cora's powers aren't well known. But I know I'd rather fight dry than sodden and constantly worried that I'm going to be hit from a bolt from the sky." "Speaking of which," Jesse says, coming up from behind us as Rafe finishes getting our set of troops into position and sending the transport van off. "Mind juicing me up, Jacks?"

"You got it," Jacks murmurs, reaching for my hand. Jesse places his hand on the back of my neck, knowing a little contact will do it, and I sigh in a bit of relief when Jackson's energy hits. I've been so, so tired all day since Gibson's attack - the energy feels good coursing through my veins.

I fill up my own reserves before passing some to Jesse. Then I turn to Luca with a frown. "You want to try it?"

"Try what?" he asks, frowning at me.

""Energy," I say, tilting my head towards Jackson. "From Jacks."

seems to rile something. "Fine," Luca snarls, grabbing my hand. "I mean, nothing's going to happen, but

begins to flow into him. I turn my head, interested, because honestly I wasn't sure

don't have magic, man?" Jacks asks, leaning around me to frown at Luca. "I

I don't," Luca mutters, even as he shivers at the energy now coursing through him. When I feel him filling up - faster than Rafe and Jesse do I cut off the supply and turn to nod at Jackson, letting him know that's

gives my hand a squeeze, even if no more energy comes through. When I turn to Luca again he's

nodding to him. "Don't be afraid. We'll get

the massed group of Cadets, looking every inch the commander as he stands in front of us all with his hands neatly placed behind his back, his face

"The Commanders and Generals

should we see any action I expect you all to perform admirably to turn the enemy. It's imperative that

my eyes, letting my mind drift just for a moment to Tony to his dark sense of humor, his wry smile, his canny observations and his easy laugh swallow hard, loving him, praying that he's all right, knowing that he already did what Rafe

give his life for this

I open my eyes again and focus on my brother, I know that Tony was right to do it, even as guilt pounds in every beat of my heart. Because I am powerful, and this war needs me, even if we are in a small and negligible

the next battlefield, I will be central to