Ch. 331..335: The Hidden Princess At All-Boys Alpha Academy Chapter 331-335

Chapter 0331

I frown a little, looking Jackson over, wondering what his plans are. I mean, he's dressed - he's got a coat. If he was just going back to his room, he'd be in pajamas, wouldn't he?

"I'm going to go watch the fight in a bar," he says, nodding to me. "Actually, the one I used to work at - I'm going with the guys I used to live with, those three months I lived here."

"The rough boys?"

He grins at me. "Yes, the rough boys," he says, a little laugh in his words. He leans forward, conspiratorial. "Don't worry, Ariel, I can take them."

I frown a little, narrowing my eyes. "And they're taking you to the restaurant you used to work at? With the waitresses?"

Jackson bursts out laughing now, but a vicious little snarl slips from between my teeth.

Because I do not like that. I do not like that at all.

"I can take them too, Princess," he murmurs, running his fingers through my hair passively, not even thinking about it. And as he does I can sense his feelings - that he's putting up one hell of a front right now, and is having quite a bit of trouble not throwing me over his shoulder and just carrying me back upstairs. But also, that he genuinely wants to support me, and let me live and explore my life. Even if he can't really bear to think about what it means to be giving Luca a full night alone with me, he pats that emotion away for my sake.

Or at least, he tries to.

I pass my own warm feelings back to my mate, a promise amongst them that Jackson will get his own night. Very soon.

A little smile curls at the corner of his mouth at that, and he nods.

"No waitresses," I snap, pointing a finger up at his face.

Jackson just laughs and bends a little again, pressing a quick kiss to my mouth. "Have fun, Ariel," he commands, hardly louder than a whisper. "I mean it."

And I sigh and stand on my toes again, pouting heartily at him and bringing my lips close to his, but not kissing. He laughs, seeing my game, and grabs me to him, pressing a long and lingering kiss to my mouth before I laugh and make myself push him away, make myself move towards the door even as I sigh. My head hangs a bit, my wolf howling and turning back towards Jackson, nipping at my heart and urging me to go back.

But my mom is waiting for me at the door, and despite what my wolf thinks, I do really want to go to this fight. So, I straighten my shoulders and do my best not to look back.

"Hey, Princess," Jackson calls from behind me.

I pause, curious and still a little sad, looking back at him. He raises his chin towards me.

"What's the mystery? What do you have going on under that coat?"

Slowly, my mouth curls into a grin. "Oh, baby," I say, and I don't miss the way his shoulders straighten at the way my voice has dropped, at the use of his very secret pet name. "You don't want to know."

"Show me!" he calls, laughing a little, pleased.

But I just keep walking, pretending to ignore him. As I go, though, I let the jacket slip from my shoulders, and then down my back, and then all the way off until it's just dangling from my fingertips, nearly brushing the ground.

Behind me a heavy groan breaks from Jackson, and through our bond I can feel all of his emotions at once. It's a mixed bag of joy, and pride, and the sense that I'm the most beautiful creature he's ever seen, and wonder at how lucky he is to have me, and bitterness that he was a stupid chivalric idiot and sent me off into Luca's arms dressed like this. But what traces along all of it is a great deal of desire, and the urge to chase after me and snatch me back.

I laugh, a little delighted, and I turn to walk backwards for a second so that I can grin at my mate and so that he can see the front of the dress. When I do, Jackson's jaw drops, and he groans again - louder this time- and covers his face with his hands as he turns away from me, muttering curses and turning his head up to the ceiling in regret.

"I told you to come!" I call, teasing and laughing.

Jackson doesn't respond, just sends a rather feral impression to me down the bond, something akin to teeth on skin, and ripping black silk, and panting breath in the dark. A shiver runs through me as I turn away from him, his hands still over his face, and I'm laughing as I catch up with my mom.

"Well done, baby trouble," she whispers, grinning at me and slipping an arm around my shoulders. "Making mommy proud! Now put your coat back on, your dad could still make you go change."

Laughing, I do as I'm told, slipping back into my coat and doing my best to tuck my sadness at Jackson's absence away, to concentrate instead on having fun with my family and supporting Luca. Because Jackson is right - it is Luca's night, and he does deserve my full attention.

 

Chapter 0332

And even if a little piece of my attention will be at some restaurant bar downtown, baring my teeth at waitresses....well, Luca doesn't need to know that, does he?

"He's too good, that boy," mom says, unable to help a little glance over her shoulder back towards the palace, to where Jackson is presumably still inside.

"I know," I say with a sigh, reaching for the car door, which opens before I can reach it, revealing a great deal of light and laughter inside the limousine as our family waits for us. "But...he gets to make his own choices too."

"That's right," she says, leaning forward to press a kiss to my cheek. And then she gives me a little push towards the car, laughing, urging me to get inside and have fun. And so I do.

Inside our limousine the atmosphere is very bright and vivid, and I'm already smiling as the car pulls away.

"Your highness," Ben murmurs from his spot next to me, slipping a glass of white wine into my hands. "I think you were perhaps wanting this."

"Thank you, Benny," I say with a sigh, grinning and putting my head on his shoulder for a second. "You're so thoughtful."

"Yes, well, I remember that one time when my insanely gorgeous mate declined to attend the national sporting event of my insanely gorgeous other mate," he says, his voice soft and whistful. "It was hard."

I burst out laughing and give Ben a hearty smack on the chest, making him grin. He holds my gaze for a second, letting me know that he really does understand and that he's here for me if I need him. I nod, grateful for my pal, and we turn back to the group when hear a loud pop of champagne.

"To Luca Grant!" Roger says across the huge, packed limo, raising the foaming bottle high before starting to pour it out into delicate flutes. "May he make me a great deal of money tonight!"

"You bet again!?" Cora gasps, smacking him and making him spill the champagne a bit.

Roger just grins at her, pouring quickly and passing the glasses around. On his other side, Jesse laughs, clearly enjoying the drama. "I basically had to, Cora," Roger says, looking at her with wide-eyed innocence and glancing my way. "He is Ariel's mate - I have to support the family -"

Cora rolls her eyes at him and turns away, sipping her champagne, but she perks up a bit when Roger murmurs something in her ear about using the winnings to buy her a new beach house. I grin, sipping at my white wine and looking around the limo at my family and friends, my spirits starting to rise.

I turn my head a little with interest when I note that Daphne is seated on Jesse's other side, and that Rafe is on her left. I wonder, passively, what's going on there - because I know they had their little midnight date down in the kitchens but... has that been all?

Or have there been developments of which I have not heard?

As I consider it, studying Daphne and Rafe, my eyes catch again on the color of Jesse's jacket. And I realize that it's almost the perfect companion to Daphne's dress...

Almost as if he...planned that.

My eyes narrow a little and I lean forward a bit, studying further. Did he plan that?

Daphne catches me looking and raises her eyebrow, questioning. I flick my eyes between Rafe and Jesse, asking silently what's going on there.

Daphne goes still for a second but then is suddenly magically distracted, a smirk on her lips as she looks up at the ceiling studying the patterned lights there. I laugh and turn away, letting her have her secrets. For now.

"To Luca!" Dad calls out, raising his glass of champagne after they've all gone around. Mom and I are the last to get them, and I laugh a little as I glance between my two drinks, wondering if I'm going to be drunk before I even arrive at the fight. "And to Moon Valley!" Dad continues. "This is a big night for our family," he says, raising a glass towards me, "but also for our nation. Let's all cross our fingers that Luca shows that Atalaxians what we're made of!"

Everyone cheers, and raises their glasses, and clinks them together. I join in, perhaps more enthusiastic than most, but as I do a little anxiety begins to twist in me. Because there's a great deal riding on my mate today, and he had a rough morning.

I just hope, very much, that he was able to pull himself together in time for this fight, to get his head in the right space. Because I really, really want him to win.

I grin, tossing the rest of my champagne back as the limo pulls up outside the stadium where the fight will be held, my anxiety mixing with my excitement. Because we're here! And we're all about to find out whether Luca's as good as his swagger would have us believe.

Chapter 0333

"I should probably know more about boxing," I murmur to Rafe, at my side, as we get out of the car to the flashes and the shouts of the paparazzi.

My handsome brother laughs warmly down at me, offering his arm. "Yes, you probably should," he murmurs. "Considering who you're mated to. What do you know?"

I give him a tiny frown and a shrug as the rest of our family and friends climb out of the limo. "You know, all the basics."

His grin deepens. "Which are?"

"Punch punch. Jab jab." I give him a blissful Princess smile, making him laugh. "The one who knocks the other over the most wins!"

"A bit more complicated than that," he says, looking around as the last of our party emerges from the car and offering his arm." But sure, those are the basics. Ready?"

"Ready!" I say, grinning at him and wrapping a hand around his proffered elbow. This is all very deliberate, of course. My family talked it through earlier and decided that I should enter the stadium on Rafe's arm while the paparazzi take their pictures, as everyone knows he's my brother and that we're close. No use stoking the media fire by going in on Ben's arm or something.

The photographers lining the red carpet shout our names as we walk in. I hear my name more than I'm used to people usually call for mom and dad and Rafe much more than they do me. But this time there are a thousand questions for me - asking if I'm Luca's mate, if we're in love, if I'm pregnant with his child. I burst out laughing at this one, and Rafe laughs with me, but neither of us say anything.

Instead, our whole party moves smoothly inside, giving little smiles and waves when necessary. When we get in there's a group of security there who begin to escort us to the Royal Box, but I drop Rafe's arm and turn back to Daphne, who walked in with Ben." So?" I say, grinning at both of them as we're swept along pretty quickly. "Did you enjoy your first red carpet experience?"

"Of course," Daphne says, grinning and flicking her hair back over her shoulders. "I was born for the spotlight." Her voice is mock smug, and she lifts her chin haughtily, but we both burst out laughing when our eyes meet.

"You were, Daph!" I say, laughing and looping my arm with hers.

She grins, shaking her head at me. "It's all a bit of a dream, isn't it, Ari? But I'm having so much fun. And I'm so glad we're friends."

I smile at Daphne, nodding my agreement as I give her arm a little squeeze, pleased to be here with her too. I glance back over my shoulder next to check on the rest of my loved ones, pleased also to see my parents looking so happy, and Markie and Juniper looking around with excitement.

Yes, I think, nodding to myself. It's going to be a very good night.

When we get up to the box, there are already a few people there - my grandpa Henry, of course, alongside some close family friends and some of dad's government associates whom he invited to join us. All people I've known my whole life. When enter the box Ben heads to the bar with Rafe and Jesse, but I tug Daphne forward so that we can get a look of the stadium. I stop to give my grandpa a kiss on the check before I dart to the low wall at the front edge of the box, eager to see out view of the ring.

A big cheer goes out when Daphne and I appear within sight of the public already gathered in the stadium and she gasps a little, taking a step back. "What do we do?" she asks, her eyes wide.

"Just say hi," I say, shrugging and giving a little wave around, which elicits a bigger cheer. Daphne hesitates but then likewise waves, and the crowd cheers again, though I'm not sure they know who she is. But it doesn't seem to matter - the crowds are ready to celebrate tonight, and they embrace Daphne as one of us. Which, of course, she is.

I smile around at the gigantic stadium, at the crowds already beginning to fill it. We're at the top of the first level of the stadium, our box jutting out just a little bit, but there's really not that much distance at all between the low wall before us and the seats below - so close that it wouldn't be hard, really, for someone to jump up here. Of course, we have security to stop anyone from climbing up - but honestly, it's never been much of a problem.

In front of us, and a little below, is the ring, and a swell of excitement goes through me as I see it. The lights are already on it, reflecting off the white canvas so brightly that it almost glows.

"You ready for this?" Jesse asks, coming to stand next to me. He presses a glass of white wine into my hands and passes what looks like a gin and tonic to Daphne. "Reports came in this morning - apparently your boy is going to have one hell of a fight."

Chapter 0334

"He is?" I ask, my eyes going wide. I pass my drink back to Jesse for a moment and slip my jacket from my shoulders, suddenly feeling warmer, probably from the anxiety his words produced.

"Yup," Jesse says, nodding to me seriously. "The Alalaxians have apparently brought one hell of a fighter."

I don't really know what that means, but it can't be good. I take my drink back from Jesse and squeeze it between my palms. "Don't let that rattle you, Ari," Rafe says, and I turn to see him on Daphne's other side, looking at me seriously. "Luca's one hell of a fighter - he's the champ for a reason, nobody in Moon Valley can touch him in the boxing ring -"

"Although Rafe can beat him at wrestling and other forms of hand-to-hand stuff," Jesse says, gesturing to my brother and then pressing his hand delicately to his chest, "and I, obviously, beat him in all trials of wit."

Daphne and I burst out laughing at this, but Rafe just ignores him. "And despite what Luca's uncle thinks," Rafe continues, drawing my gaze back to him, "being at the Academy all semester only made Luca better. He's strong as hell now, and faster than he's ever been. I think his odds are good."

I bite my lip with anxiety, glancing back towards Jesse, wondering if Rafe is just saying that to me to make me feel better. But Jesse gives me a serious nod, letting me know that it's true and he agrees with Rafe.

I open my mouth to ask more questions, to try to learn how the scoring works, but suddenly I hear my dad call my name, and we all turn to him.

Dad stands against the low wall at the edge of the box about ten feet away, his arms crossed, glaring at me. My mom is pressed innocently to his side, smiling prettily like butter can't melt in her mouth. I grin too, taking up mom's patented defense, as dad's eyes deliberately move over me, up and down, and he cocks a clearly displeased eyebrow at my dress. Then he snaps his fingers once and points to the ground in front of him, his command clear.

"Come on, Rafe!" I say cheerfully, grabbing my brother's arm and tugging him over.

"No way!" he hisses, digging his heels in. "He wants you, Ariel - he's probably wondering where the other half of your dress is -" "Daphne made this dress," I inform my brother sharply, raising my eyebrows at him, trying to make him feel guilty.

It works, and Rafe's mouth drops open, and he glances back towards Daphne, who is laughing, watching us with a bit of glee as Jesse steps closer to her side. "It's a beautiful dress," Rafe says, shaking his head like he didn't mean it like that. "Dad's just not going to "

"Ariel!" Dad barks, pulling both of our attention to him. "Rafe! Over here! Now!"

"Seeee," I say, tugging on my brother's arm again. "He wants you too!"

Rafe sighs, and hangs his head, and accompanies me to have a quick chat with our glowering father and beaming mother.

As we step away, Jesse steps closer to Daphne, taking a sip of his whiskey. "What do you think, will Dominic Sinclair just make Ariel wear his suit coat all night to cover her up? Or will he banish you for dressing the Princess as the brazen hussy she is inside?"

Daphne laughs and turns towards him, smacking him on the arm. "Ariel looks beautiful, and I don't think Mr. Sinclair really cares," she says, grinning up into Jesse's smirking face. "I think he just likes to keep his kids on their toes."

"Look at you," Jesse murmurs, one corner of his lips turning up, "calling the King mister, calling the Crown Prince and the Princess kids. Getting awfully comfortable with the royals, are we?"

Daphne just huffs a laugh and leans closer, narrowing her eyes. "Getting a little jealous, are we? I mean, even Luca's Gran probably knows who I am at this point," she grins and tosses her hair back over her shoulder. "Can't say the same for you."

Jesse bursts out laughing at this, his head tilting back, and Daphne laughs too, delighting a bit to see him do it. It's always very satisfying to break Jesse Sinclair out of his playful, sarcastic persona - to surprise him, and see him genuinely laugh, to get more than a wry quip or a joke on top of a joke.

Yes, stopping Jesse Sinclair in his tracks....it's more satisfying than Daphne knew it would be.

When he brings his head back up, Jesse gives Daphne a sunny smile and shakes his head. "It's a shame you have to go home after the fight," he says, and the happiness with which he says makes Daphne realize that it's not just conversation, or a compliment. That he really means it. "Anything we can do to make you stay? You could bring your mom to the palace for Midwinter."

"Not to your house?" Daphen asks, tilting her head.

Jesse gives her a slow smile. "You want to come spend Midwinter at my house, Daphne?"

Chapter 0335

"I don't know," Daphne says, tilting her head and narrowing her eyes a little in a challenge. "Are your Midwinter cookies any good?"

Jesse sighs sharply. "Nah, our cookies are crap."

Daphne bursts out laughing again, and Jesse goes with her.

"Seriously," Jesse continues, shaking his head. "Mom isn't particularly domestic, so all our cookies are store bought, and they're gone in like eight seconds. You have to fight to the death to get your hands on one. Chase - he'll bite you, and Bella, she has this really pointy stick -"

"Oh, I'm sure it's not all that bad," Daphne murmurs, still grinning, her eyes slipping down over Jesse even though she didn't mean them to.

"No," he sighs, leaning against the wall and giving her a smile. "I assure you, it is. In fact, mom, dad, and I aren't out on the town tonight - the children have staged a coup and barred us from the house. It's chaos over there - complete child anarchy. We fear that we're going to return home to all of the living room furniture torn to pieces, scrapped for firewood and spare parts for their tree fort."

"And yet, something tells me that's precisely how you like it," Daphne says, leaning against the wall with her chin in her hand, studying him.

"Well," he says, leaning a little closer like it's a great secret. "Someone had to teach them what a coup was. And they let me sleep in the yard, which is more than they allow mom and dad. I get a little bowl of scraps and a torn blanket when I come begging."

Daphne laughs again, light.

"Come on," Jesse murmurs, his face falling into more serious lines. "Stay. It's...good, having you here."

"Is it?" she asks, wrinkling her nose a little bit. "I've barely seen you, Jess."

"Well," he sighs, leaning a little closer, folding his arms on the wall so that his face is level with hers. He hardly blinks as he stares at her, his eyes moving slowly over her face. "That's not my fault, is it? Someone is letting her time be rather monopolized by one of my cousins. And not the cousin I would prefer."

Daphne's mouth twists a bit as she fights a smile. "And which cousin would you prefer?"

"Oh, Mark, for sure." Jesse says, his eyebrows going up, completely honest. Daphne bursts into laughter. "Mark is a lot of fun - he knows a lot of strange animal facts." She laughs harder. "Honestly, Daphne, its for your own edification, really! You should definitely hang out exclusively with Mark."

Daphne laughs harder now, her eyes almost shutting as she does, and Jesse can't help it. He leans closer, just incrementally, breathing deeply from the air between them, hoping desperately that she doesn't notice the way that her scent - nutmeg, and fresh linen, and spicy white roses - makes his shoulders unwind, his breath echo more deeply in his chest.

But if she does notice, she doesn't let him know. She just smiles and shakes her head a little, like she doesn't know what to do with him.

"Come on, Daph," he murmurs, staring into her eyes. "Stay. We so rarely get pretty girls around here, especially ones who make me laugh like that."

"Jesse," Daphne murmurs, hanging her head a little, her stomach tightening in a way that surprises her. And then she lifts her head, slowly meeting his eyes again. "I thought you weren't going to hit on me anymore? Just...be my friend?"

He stares at her for a long moment before he sighs, and smiles slightly, and lets his lashes fall down over his eyes. "Apologies, Daph," he murmurs. "You'll have to let a man have his weaknesses, especially at Midwinter." He raises his head again, holding her gaze steadily with his own. "And especially when the weakness itself looks very pretty in her red dress."

Daphne can't help it. She bites her lip, and grins, and stares into Jesse Sinclair's brown eyes. Inside, her wolf trips over her own feet as she turns towards Jesse, shocked.

"Won't happen again," Jesse says softly, giving Daphne a little wink and standing up straight before he downs the rest of his drink in one go. "Because you are right. We are... friends." He straightens his shoulders and looks down at his glass before looking back up at Daphne with a grin. "Well, I need a refill. You?" He nods towards her half-full gin and tonic.

"I think I'm okay for right now," she says, watching him carefully.

Jesse just nods once and strides away.

And Daphne watches him go. Every step.

"That's one hell of a dress, young lady," dad says to me, a little bit of a growl in his voice.

"Juniper stole mine!" I say, my face the picture of innocence as I point at my little sister, completely ratting her out. My mom works very hard to hide her smirk. "This was the only thing that was left in my closet."