The Hidden Princess At All-Boys Alpha Academy

Chapter 0767 It does her good, I know, to see her daughter so loved when she's not around to do it.

My dad inhales sharply through his nose when we step close and I shift my gaze to him. "Things are complicated, Ariel, but we need to -"

He gasps mid-sentence - we all do - as a huge sound breaks through the air, something loud and horrible soaring through the air over our heads. I gasp and clutch Jackson's shirt in my hands, and he wraps his arm more firmly around me, one hand tucked behind my head. We all turn towards the sound as it passes us and then wait a beat before -

BOOM.

A huge explosion sounds somewhere in the distance, but obviously on our side. Clearly, the attack has begun.

I snap my head to my father to see him pale, his jaw set. "Roger," he snarls, a command.

"On it," Roger says, striding away, tugging Cora with him as he goes, unwilling to be away from her any more than he has to.

our circle. "Something - something is happening. We're still scrambling to figure out all the details. We don't know if it was coincidence, or designed to align with the funeral for the two Cadets since they knew I was away from the battlefield, but soon after Juniper was taken the Atalaxians started this assault. It is...a big one." Dad sighs, dipping his face into his hand, clearly trying to hold it all together - his role as King, and as father whose youngest daughter is missing, who is about to ask his eldest daughter to risk her life. "Whatever you need, dad," I say, taking as much of a step forward as I can, wrapped in Jackson's arms as I am. Jackson moves forward with me, understanding the gesture. "I'll do whatever you need." Mom raises her hand to dad's shoulder, her whole heart in

as I do,

me, his throat tightening and strangling his voice in a way I've never heard before. "I know what you've been through these past weeks -

—

want to be here." Onod, looking up at him, my whole heart in my own eyes now. "This is my nation too, right? My people as much

tight hug. "I don't know what this

wel

be your

fighting tears - tears of love for him, and fear about what's to come, and worry

he and Cora stepping

his grip on me, looking over at my