The Hidden Princess At All-Boys Alpha Academy

He smirks at me. "And why on earth would I agree to negotiate with you? I have you completely under my thumb."

I straighten my shoulders a little, pretending that it takes a bit of courage to do so. "You wish me docile, don't you, Gabriel? I can continue to make this hard or..." I shrug. "It could be pleasant."

Gabriel smirks at me like a man indulging a child and then moves to the table, lounging in his chair. Inwardly I roll my eyes at this smug prince who thinks he is completely in charge. I sit as well and take one of the wine glasses, lifting it towards him. "To your health, Prince."

He smirks at me. "I don't drink from glasses I haven't prepared for myself. Or haven't you heard that there is someone on the loose, killing Princes?"

I stare at him a little for a moment, letting him wonder at my motives, and then I shrug and take a sip of the wine. "The death of the Crown Prince seems to be in your favor, Alpha. And it puts me in a much more interesting position."

"Oh, really?" he asks, a bit dry. "How so?"

"You think you know me," I snap, putting my wine back down on the table, pretending an anger I don't feel. "But have you not considered that I have also long been second in line to the throne? And that I, too, might have wanted it for myself?"

Gabriel raises his eyebrow at me. "What are you saying, Princess?"

"I'm saying that I want this war done," I snap, slapping my hand on the table and pretending to be the foolish girl he expects me to be, playing at negotiation with a prince. "And if you were to become King, and to end it the war..." I shrug. "I might enjoy being Queen of a peaceful nation. Even if it were Atalaxia."

He raises his eyebrow at me. "So that's your offer? Become King, end the war, and you'll rule peacefully at my side? Or, not precisely at my side." He smirks. "At my foot, perhaps."

raise my chin. "I can live with that. And I'll give you children. Beautiful ones." I smirk

leans across the table towards me, studying my face. "Our children will rule the world, Ariel, if you would just trust me

I pretend it's temptation, letting my eyes

out for me. "It's a deal. We'll seal

and then stand, looking up into his face. "You won't

around my waist and pulling me tight against him. "But I

beg, pressing my eyes shut,

me to believe that," he says, low and sardonic, his left hand raising to brush at Luca's mark on my neck.

head to

My other mates

say," I whisper. In

creeps close to the abyss

– the place where the bond would be. She taps her feet, anxious and curious, urging Gabriel's wolf to

a growl forming in his throat as his wolf appears at the edge of his soul, ready to pounce on mine the

as I raise my trembling hand towards

holds out

wolf, trembling