The Hidden Princess At All-Boys Alpha Academy

"So,” Ben says, his mouth turning down as he heaves an awkward shrug. "In the thousand times that I imagined meeting you... it never went like this."

Elias stays still for a moment before his shoulders twitch and he lifts his head to look Ben in the eyes. "You mean you never imagined introducing yourself to me in the Land of Darkness? Inside a cage that my brother built to keep his mate trapped here? With said brother laying at our feet, gasping for air?"

Ben just stares at Elias for a second before Elias's face breaks into a wry smile and Ben stumbles out a laugh. God - god damn it - but he's hot and he's funny? Shit. Shit, but he lucked out on this one.

"Are you okay?" Ben asks, taking three hesitant steps forward, his hand lifting towards his mate without him really meaning to.

Elias shrugs and, to Ben's surprise, takes his hand - just lightly. "I'm surprisingly okay. Gabriel has been...challenging lately. And he murdered our cousin last night, so I guess I'm not entirely surprised that divine retribution came and bit him in the ass like this. Though I am surprised that Ariel was the one who did it. I... didn't know she had that kind of grit."

"Ariel poisoning someone," Ben murmurs, looking down at the dying Prince, "is... oddly enough the one part of this situation that does not surprise me."

Elias huffs another laugh and glances up at Ben, a little shy. But he doesn't pull his hand away.

They're quiet for a long few moments.

Ben says, trying desperately

says, lifting his head and looking Ben square in the eye. Ben turns towards him and squeezes his hand, hoping that Elias feels his support, that he can tell him whatever he wants.

giving a simple shrug, telling the utter truth. Anyone who is family to

and letting his shoulders slump. "That's...mine. We're going to have a daughter...kind of any day

of...god, is it weird that he kind of likes that? It's going to be insanely complicated, and he has no idea how Pippa will feel about Ben being Elias's mate but... "daughters are amazing, Elias.

his mouth. "Yeah, I'm really excited. Though..." his cheeks puff out with air, an exasperated sigh. I'm not crazy about bringing a little girl into the world

simpler life for her."

says quietly, stepping closer, meaning it with

here for

and eagerly shifts from foot to foot, urging Elias to take it to leap forward and accept this with his whole heart. The help, and Ben,

with a tug on his hand, just one

suddenly, Ariel appears before

drop each other's hands. My smile widens as I take in their blushing cheeks, but as I laugh I go to one knee at Gabriel's side and look him over, giving them the space they