The Hidden Princess At All-Boys Alpha Academy

He blinks once, I think shocked.

"I'm serious,” I say, squeezing his hand, holding his gaze. "I've had time to think in here - time is the only thing I have - and when I get home? You're the only mate I want. I don't want Gabriel – and I don't want Luca, okay? I just want you. Me and you and that's it forever."

Jackson swallows hard and I can see hope filling him.

I turn my head to the side, a little surprised by his silence. "Isn't that what you want too?"

Slowly he nods. "But...I don't want to hold you to it, Ari. If that's not the destiny your grandmother wrote for you."

"Yeah well," I sigh, frustrated. "Granny and I need to have a chat. But what she said was that she wanted me to have my mate's marks - not that she wanted me to live in some kind of bizarre foursome. And that's why I don't want to run right now, Jacks - because..." I bite my lip. "I think I need to explore the magical connection between me and Gabriel. I think that my grandmother gave this link not because she thinks he's some great match for me - but because his magic can lend something to mine."

Jackson sighs and looks away. "It would be easier if he were ugly."

I laugh a little, squeezing his hand. "Nobody's as pretty as you."

Jackson raises his head and an eyebrow along with it. "I'm not sure I'm precisely pretty."

"You're very pretty."

Jackson murmurs, looking away and – I suspect –

Jacks" I say, wrinkling my nose at him. "And

smile and blushes a lovely raspberry

you know Faiza just refers to you

"Stop, no she doesn't."

mean come on, Jacks, you're gorgeous." I grin at my mate and tug on his hand again. "So, Gabriel's lesser attractiveness aside,

bite my lip, looking him up and down, tempted to throw my national duty to the wind and júst let him take me

mark soon enough," I sigh, knowing that

just...give you

my nose and shake my head, even as my

her approval of the idea. "You'd change my scent and then the ruse

magic," he points out, tilting his head. "Which means you could blow the whole place up. And then there would be no need for a

grin at him. “There are people I like in there. Benny and

worrying me. You could die, Ariel, he says, holding my gaze quite seriously. "If this Gabriel is as unpredictable and power-hungry and violent as you say he is? He could kill you, and then...the world would lose its flame.

thinks the universe would come to a grinding halt without me. And while I think that's ridiculous - obviously, I can't be that important - I see the

he loves me, desperately. And he wants me to