The Hidden Princess At All-Boys Alpha Academy

"No, Jesse!" Midnight laughs, stumbling forward outside of her yurt and grabbing his shadow panther right out of the air, making it dissolve away to smoke and reeling it into herself. Jesse gasps as he loses control of it, letting it pass into Midnight's capable hands. "Why do you keep making animal shapes? You don't need to - that's a crutch. It's just a shadow - the edges are the only things that matter. The edges are the only things that exist."

Jesse scowls and frowns at his little mate as she very capably releases shadows from her own skin, sending them out in all directions, formless and yet powerful. "Well why can't I make animal shapes?" he asks, crossing his arms. "If it helps me? And I like it? And it's cool?"

"Because then you're limiting them, mentally," Midnight says, tapping her temple as she sends the shadows streaking for him. Everywhere they touch Jesse the shadows buzz dangerously and he shudders, realizing that Midnight is of course obliging the shadows to go easy on him. Should she wish it, they could cut or burn or slice.

"Can you...help me understand that?" Jesse asks with a sigh, impressed with her power and control but still not getting it.

"If you limit them to animals," Midnight says, pulling the shadows back and making a panther like Jesse usually favors - though, predictably, her panther is more detailed and refined than his ever are. "Then you're limited to what you think animals can do. A panther can bite and scratch, so his dangerous parts are his teeth and his claws." She shrugs. "If you just let the whole shadow be a weapon... then all of the shadow is a weapon."

Jesse sighs, pulling the shadow back from her and letting it take a nebulous shape, shifting and ephemeral. "I still think the panthers are cooler."

"Power is cooler," Midnight says, a bit cold, and he turns his head to her. "Control is cooler. The better weapon is cooler."

"Midnight," Jesse says, quietly studying her. "Against whom have you ever had to use a weapon?"

She shrugs. "When I have to, I'll be ready."

passes

suddenly, Midnight snaps her head to the side

asks, stepping towards her. She holds a hand

Midnight moves again, her eyes narrowing on Jesse. "I have to go somewhere.

"No way!"

eyes going dark.

"What job!?"

out into the night. "Darkness has sensed an intruder. He wants me to

wide. "Fine, but I'm coming with

here! In this

so their eyes are even, his voice low and dangerous. "If you leave me here alone here in

Midnight gasps, pressing her hands

he says, shaking his head. "Those are

scowls and reaches for his hand.

squeezes her hand and makes no promises

feet and stumbling towards him. Jacks - I've only been away for a week, but he looks