The Hidden Princess At All-Boys Alpha Academy

"I think it's nice," Jackson says, looking around the yurt.

"Thank you!" Midnight says, quite pleased, lounging back on her little bed and squeezing one of her new stuffie toys to her chest.

"It's great for camping, but come on Jacks, this is not nice for a house - please don't encourage her," Jesse sighs, a little frustrated with his friend.

"Nicer than a lot of places I lived when I was growing up," Jackson murmurs, reaching for another cookie on the plate and eating it in one bite. "Do you have anything else to eat?"

"We have cabbage!" Midnight eagerly volunteers, dashing for the kitchen.

"Great," Jackson says, his eyebrows going eagerly up.

Jesse just rolls his eyes, because he did indeed forget that Jackson and Midnight are both members of the foundling club, and that in trying to have this discussion with them he was going to be sincerely outnumbered.

After a great deal of negotiation, Jesse convinced Midnight to vanish them back here to the yurt so that they could more comfortably fill each other in on the events of the past week. Talking her into that was easy, but persuading her not to tell Darkness that Jackson is here was much more difficult. In the end Midnight given in, but only when Jesse explained that Jackson - like her - was family.

Family, it seems, is a keyword that means a great deal to Midnight now.

"So, the cages are for Ariel?" Midnight asks, turning her head to look at Jackson with interest as she begins to slice the cabbage with a sharp new knife Juniper gave her. "I was wondering why they built them."

her seriously. "But can we save the cabbage for another time? You'll have to

at him with fascination.

murmurs, dusting off his hands and standing to his full height, his head brushing the

miserable with jealousy. "I want to talk mind-to-mind! That would be so much

Midnight. "You guys

Jesse mutters, looking down

the bond," Midnight snaps out, pissed off. "He's being rude

Jesse asks, lifting his

did," she

his voice suspicious. "Is there

Jackson, aghast at the suggestion, a hand pressed to her

Jesse agrees, waving a dismissive hand. "But her

whipping

him. "How...did you know

she's not the only one," Jackson says, holding out a hand to the girl.

away from him. "What can she

knows someone like you. Could be interesting to compare notes. Especially since he's apparently