The Hidden Princess At All-Boys Alpha Academy

"Ariel," dad says, his voice low with warning. Rafe, Mark, and Jesse sit very quiet on the couch, looking between us.

But I ignore all of them, shifting my eyes to mom. "And what about everything you were saying this morning," I snap, vanishing my flame away. "About being able to have it all, to not have to limit myself simply because I'm pregnant?"

"Baby, I meant every word of that," mom says, pressing her hands to her heart, her eyes going wide. "But you have to acknowledge the reality that your life is different now - your life is going to change in a very physical way. And if your first pregnancy is anything like mine, you may need a great deal of bed rest! Why don't you simply...delay your education until the girls are born? Take a minute to

"If I stop now," I say, my voice getting creaky with sadness and worry, "I won't go back - how many women does this happen to? Who say 'oh I'm going to just take a step away for a moment,' and then they never go back? Why not do it now!? Just finish while I'm pregnant and the babies are young enough to sleep most of the day -"

"You're underestimating how much care and dedication an infant needs, Ariel," dad says, his voice stern but full of feeling. "Let alone two of them. The Academy is a dangerous place - you were injured and nearly died there several times -"

"So, I won't do any of the physical stuff!" I blurt out, desperate. "I'll - I'll just do the book learning!" I hesitate for a second. "And the sniping!"

"Yes, always a great idea to bring the infant children around the gigantic gun," Rafe says, going for some humor to lighten the situation. I spin my head to glare at him and he grimaces, putting his hands up in apology.

out about your pregnancy you're immediately going to be a target for kidnapping and ransom," dad says. "You'll be much better

look around at Rafe and Jesse and Jackson. All of the air and fury goes out of me, though, when my eyes fall on Jackson and

in one great gush and step away

dad and everyone else in the room. Who doesn't want me to go

voice terribly sad, reaching

want me to back off,

nearly died over and over

just drop my gaze to the floor, not wanting him to see my tears in

understands that I can do this. That I don't want to give up everything I've worked so hard for just because the Goddess decided

hard to keep my tears from falling, not wanting

voice trembling. Jackson reaches out and puts a hand on my shoulder his fingers

come closer. Buti

step away, not wanting that