The Hidden Princess At All-Boys Alpha Academy

Chapter 1012

She goes still for a moment and then laces her fingers with his, squeezes his hand. "We're not dating or anything," she snaps. "Just...because you got all rejected and stuff. I didn't come running up here just because you're single - I thought you were going to die -"

"Sure, you didn't," Jesse says, dry, nodding slowly, a smile curling his lips.

She laughs a little, turning her head to look at his profile in the starlight. "I mean it, Jess. I...stand by everything I said before."

"Okay, Daphne." Jesse says quietly. "I believe you. Let's just...see how it goes."

She nods, even though he doesn't see it, and then turns her face up to the night sky.

They lay there for a long time.

Neither drops the other's hand.

“Midnight?" I call, seeing the little figure crossing the grass, dragging her feet and looking down. I frown, standing from my place at Jackson's side on the little wicker loveseat that mom got us for our front porch.

Jackson looks up too, curious, and even Marigold lifts her head from her

a little stuffed tiger taking pride

lap.

front steps, looking a

breathe,

Jackson murmurs. "Are

nudge down the bond that's equivalent to a dirty look, letting me know that that's not what's

back, shoving his little nudge

She eyes the couch and the empty space at Jackson's

can," I say, reaching for her, ushering her over to the

I wait long enough to hear that she held on to part of the bond, and that Jesse is sad but okay, and that she sent Daphne to him. With a sigh and a glance up to the roof of the Castle, hoping Daphne found him, I head inside and make four

them back out and pass them around, I curl up in Jackson's lap and listen to Midnight tell the whole story. It takes a long time, but by the end of

of you, Mids," I say quietly, giving her

at me in

that you're hurting, and Jesse too," I continue. "But...you're going after what you want in this life. And not letting. anyone else define that for you think

swnovel

Midnight says, looking up at me, wiping away a tear or two and then taking a big sip of her cocoa. "You're half the reason I

sensing that her friend might want it, climbs onto the poor strained little wicker couch too and curls up in