The Hidden Princess At All-Boys Alpha Academy

Chapter 0732

"Oh, you keep it," she says, holding up a hand. "It's good to see you drink something."

I nod and look around for a minute, continuing to sip from the cup. "Where is Mittens?" I whisper, intuiting that he's a secret.

"He's been hiding," Daphne says, unable to keep the little smile from her lips as she pulls back the blankets a little bit to reveal the little cat curled in her lap. "He's very good at it, unsurprisingly."

I reach out a finger and stroke it over his tiny head a few times, enjoying the soft shadowy feel of the tiny cat. Daphne and I silent for a long, peaceful few moments.

"Are you okay, Ari?" Daphne whispers, breaking it. But I don't begrudge her that I know she's worried. "I mean, I know you're not - I just - these past few days."

"I know," I whisper, opening my eyes a little and looking down at my cup. "A few days ago I had...all of them. And now Tony is gone. And Luca is..." my lip trembles and my throat seizes up. Daphne squeaks sadly and moves closer to me, wrapping an arm around my shoulders and tilting me a little so that I lean against her.

"I'm sorry, I shouldn't have brought it up," she whispers.

"It's okay," I sigh. "I mean, it's kind of the only thing on my mind anyway."

"Oh good!" mom says, beaming as she bustles into the room in her own fancy robe. "You're up! Now we can get started with step 2!"

"What's that?" I ask, frowning at her. "What was step 1?"

sure you survive," mom says, plopping down on the bed and leaning close to give me a kiss. "Step

my woe a little bit. I don't know why -

says

"Bloody revenge."

us a little deviously. I laugh - I can't help it. "You have many options, baby," Cora says, coming close and stroking a hand

my god," I say, looking at my aunt

been asleep a long time,

shock at my three lovely defenders and can't help smiling again when

"Now...can we have wine? And maybe...more ice

mom murmurs, pressing a kiss to my

has gone through four treatments that have left it shiny and

of wine deep and

as it would if

my soul has been wrapped in a comfortable quilt of pampering

She really does

a shame," I say with a sigh, looking at my fingernails as I sit with my three companions on the wide plush couch in our sunny suite. "I'm going to

says, taking a big bite of a pretzel slathered in mustard. "Boys can wear nail polish too." She returns the half-finished pretzel to the wide coffee table, which is predictably

of your secret is intact though," Daphne says, frowning at me a little, her voice gentle. "After Rafe carried