Ch. 36..40: The Hidden Princess At All-Boys Alpha Academy Chapter 36-40

Chapter 36

I hurry along with my brother and my cousin, staring around at the stone hallway that meets in gothic arches above our heads, at the windows scattered along the right–hand wall that look out over the landscape.

I grin, because I thought I’d gotten used to the view from the barracks – but this high? I feel like I can see everything, and the wide grey landscape around the castle is desolate and gorgeous in its own way. My steps slow despite me as I wander over to one of the windows, which looks north towards the palace, towards home, where mom and dad are –

And Mark and Junic too – god, how long as it been since I thought about them I’m a bad big sister-

“Ari!” I jump a little at Rafe’s frustrated bark and then laugh and hurry along to catch up.

We wind our way up the staircase at the far end of the hall, two stories which I’m pleased to see takes my breath away less than I thought it would. I guess two weeks of workouts really has helped me out in regards to my fitness, at least a little bit.

But when we get to the top of the staircase – which must be the highest level of the

Rafe strides eagerly down the hall, leading us to a broad wooden door at the center. I glance around, but don’t see many other doors on this level.

castle

—

“Are we, like, alone up here?” I ask, curious.

“It’s a more private floor,” Rafe answers, inserting the key in the lock and deftly twisting it. “But, the suites are meant to accommodate more than one Cadet, so they’re a little larger.”

The lock clicks and Rafe grins at me before opening the door.

“Jesse, Ari,” he says, proud and eager, “welcome home.”

And then he pushes the door open, and my jaw feels like it hits the floor.

“Oh my god,” I breathe as I step into what has to be the most gorgeous room I’ve

ever seen.

I drop my box immediately on the floor along with my pack as I step in, spinning around to take it all in.

“Whoaaa,” Jesse says, laughing with his own joy. “This is amazing!”

Rafe just grins with pride, striding in like he planned it all. Which, I mean, he probably did.

I cover my mouth with my hands as I stare around the gorgeous room, which has high steepled ceilings like the arches outside. At the center of the room is a lovely little living area set before a huge hearth where the logs are already laid out for a fire, ready to keep us warm. A set of worn furniture couches and chairs before the fireplace, mismatched but looking well–loved and comfortable.

sits

Beyond that, in the two far corners of the room, are two huge beds to accommodate the two huge Alphas for which this room was designed. I grin as Jesse folds back the ornate wooden screen that sets his little bedroom area apart and then leaps onto the plush bed that lays behind it.

“Oh yeah, this one’s mine!” he shouts, already snuggling into the wealth of blankets and pillows waiting there.

“Fine by me.” Rafe says, grinning and tossing his box down on the bed in the other corner, which has rich velvet drapes all around it that he can draw together for his own privacy. Between the beds are two bureaus, and then two desks, presumably for homework –

I mean, if there even is homework. I have no idea what the coursework will be like here or will everything we do be physical? I honestly don’t know

But as I consider it, I turn, frowning a little.

Because where do I…

I mean, Jesse joked about a match box, but…I turn to the corner looking for it. “Over here, little sister,” Rafe says, grinning at me as he strides across the room.

I go a little still to hear him refer to me as his sister, but he just shakes his head and smiles at me.

“It’s just us in here,” he says, passing me and moving towards the hearth. “We can

be a bit freer with our words.”

“And our gendered identities,” Jesse adds helpfully from his place snuggled in his

blankets.

Before I can add any comment, though, Rafe moves to a little alcove next to the fireplace and pulls back a red velvet curtain, looping it behind an ornate brass hook to hold it back. “You’re in here, Ariel,” he says, stepping back with a smile.

I walk forward, fascinated, and I gasp softly as I peer into what is just….the sweetest little nook I’ve ever seen.

There’s a bed squeezed in – smaller than the boys, as is necessary to fit in the space, but just as plush with pillows and blankets. And at the foot of the bed there’s a small chest of drawers and the world’s tiniest, prettiest iron–and–wood desk situated neatly in the corner with an oil lamp attached to the wall above it for light. It’s simple, but it’s so cute, and so plush, and so cozy –

I am instantly at home, and instantly in love.

“I mean, I know it’s small,” Rafe says, running a hand anxiously through his hair, “but we thought you’d want to room with us, and we wanted to give you a little more privacy –”

“I love it!” I shout, hurling myself at my brother and wrapping my arms around his waist. He stumbles back in surprise, but laughs and puts his arms around me too. “I love it, Rafe, it’s perfect.”

head

My big brother hugs me back, rocking me a little in his arms, and I rest my on his broad chest as we both study my nook. “Only takes two weeks in the barracks to be impressed with a little alcove, after a lifetime in the palace,” he

murmurs.

“Nah, this is way better than the palace,” I whisper, meaning it. “It’s mine.”

I mean, we’re not kids anymore, but it’s not like Rafe or Jesse or I ever really left home and got our own apartments or anything. For all of us? This is our first taste of independence, and I know we all feel excited about it, even if it doesn’t match the luxury we grew up with.

Or, well, some of it. The amount of pillows and linens heaped on each of our beds that just screams mom’s motherly touch, wanting us to be cozy and comfortable in our own little nests.

nook “Very swanky spot, little Shrimp cousin,” Jesse says, coming over to see my and looping an arm around Rafe’s shoulder. I wiggle my way between them – my habitual spot – and wrap an arm around Jesse’s waist too. “Perfect little matchbox

bed, just like I said.”

“We tried to get you a bigger one,” Rafe murmurs, looking down at me with a little. guilt in his eyes, “but they said this is the only one that would fit

“It’s great!” I say, laughing and wrinkling my nose up at him, not wanting him to feel bad about it for even a moment. “I’m not a gigantic Alpha like you по chance of my feet hanging off the edge of a standard–sized bed.”

“I think I need to commandeer some of these pillows, though,” Jesse says, moving forward into my nook and reaching for my bed, “far too fluffy, there won’t even be room for you –”

“Hands off!” I snap, jumping forward and swatting at his arm. He laughs, backing away, and I turn around again, looking for another door.

“So, do we share a bathroom with everyone else, like in the barracks, or something?” I ask, curious. My heart drops a little at the idea it would be so great to be able to have some privacy, not to mention control over how filthy the shower gets.

“Nah.” Rafe says, smiling again and walking over to a bookcase in the corner. “Are you ready for the best part?”

I frown at him, not getting it yet, but then my jaw drops again – god, I’m going to wake up with sore cheeks tomorrow, after all of these surprises – when he pulls on a book and the case itself swings open – revealing a huge bathroom beyond.

“Oh my god,” I gasp, darting in and spinning as I stare around in the room. Honestly I mean, it’s a bathroom that rivals even mom and dad’s at home. A wide tiled shower with a rainfall shower head at the top and multiple jets along the wall – and two wide sinks, even a little vanity in the corner next to an ornate full- length mirror. God – why would boys need a vanity – why would they need a

mirror –

But the true triumph is the huge soaking tub sunk into the floor, probably about five feet deep by the looks of it, to accommodate Rafe and Jesse’s huge Alpha

bodies.

“Wow,” Jesse says, looking at the tub with wide eyes. “God, you could do laps in that thing.”

“Dad had it put in for us,” Rafe says, a little smug. “You can turn it into an ice bath too, for when your muscles get sore-”

“Out!” I say suddenly, knowing immediately that I’m getting first dips on this. The boys stare over at me in surprise. “Out!” I say again, striding back across the room and shoving them both on the chests to back them out of the room. “I’m taking thirty minutes in here, and I do not want to be disturbed.”

My brother and my cousin start to laugh, pretending to put up a fight, but eventually they allow themselves to be shoved from the room. They call their farewells after them as they go, but I don’t even listen, pulling the door shut and immediately moving to the soaking tub, flicking on the industrial faucet and starting to strip off my clothes.

Chapter 37

The next thirty minutes are…the most indulgent of my life.

I think I groan in pleasure at least sixty times as I soak my body in the steaming hot water, as I soap every inch of my skin, as I finally finally wash my hair with real shampoo and conditioner instead of that horrible stuff we were supplied with in the barracks, which stripped my hair of all its oils and left it dry.

I find a little basket next to the tub that, like all the pillows outside, just shouts mom. There are lots of bath salts and scent bombs and oils.

I mean, is this standard issue for new cadets, a gift from the Queen? Or….did mom somehow arrange for this to be waiting here for Rafe and Jesse, who honestly might not even notice it?

Either way, I spend a good long time adding bubbles to my bath, pouring in some nice salts to soften the new callouses on my skin, and finally sniffing all of the bath oils and adding my own particular cocktail of scents so that my bath becomes a blissful, delicious haven.

–

I rest peacefully for a long time in the bath, only interrupted when Rafe cracks the door open and shoves my uniform box in so that I’ll have something to change into when I come out. I call my thanks to him before I seat myself in the tub there’s actually a seat at the far end, like a jacuzzi – and breathe deeply, closing my eyes and letting myself relax.

The past two weeks wash over me, and I shake my head, wondering if it was all a dream. So much has changed in that time. I went so abruptly from the engaged Princess who was eager to be a bride so that she could help her nation to, the next day, the Academy’s shrimp – lowest–ranked candidate and least likely to get through the doors.

And, I went from being engaged to a horrible man who completely fooled me to…

To what?

Having two mates, who think I’m a boy?

I sigh, resting my head against the edge of the tub and taking a second to try and piece my identity together.

I mean, I was the Princess, and then I was the Shrimp.

Sun,

And now…who am I?

Who is Ariel?

My eyes slowly open as I start to realize that maybe…I don’t really have any idea anymore. I mean, I know Ari Clark is a cadet at the Alpha Academy, and I’m thrilled to be here. But…I’m not really Ari Clark either, am I?

So…

I laugh a little at myself, at these big questions I’m not going to be able to answer with the simple aid of a hot bath. But, it’s a good start

And honestly, I’m really excited to find out.

As the water starts to cool I sigh and flick the switch for the drain, climbing out of the tub – there’s even a little set of steps! – and toweling myself dry as I hum softly to myself. Then I take my time combing

my hair out, putting on moisturizer – also mom’s favorite brand, I smirk to see, waiting by the edge of the sink indulging in a good long moment to brush my teeth.

–

and

Feeling much refreshed and more at home in my skin, I finally dress in my black uniform, smiling proudly into the mirror as I take the time to braid my hair in a neat arch on top of my head instead of hastily just tucking it up onto my cap like I usually do when I don’t have time. The effect is much neater and more comfortable as I pull my cap on, exhaling a satisfied breath.

I give my reflection one last nod in the mirror, and then head out the door.

“Hey Rafe,” I say as I push into the room, “did you see that mom –

“Ari!” Rafe says, interrupting me and smiling at me anxiously from his place on the couch. “Did you see? Our friend found us!”

And my eyes immediately move to Ben, who turns and waves to me from his spot on the couch. And I go dead pale, because…

Because I haven’t been scent marked yet.

Cousin!” Jesse shouts, bounding across the room and grabbing me close, pretending to roughhouse with me a little bit, teasing me about hogging the bathroom for an hour as he subtly wipes his scent on all the usual parts of my body. I pretend to protest, laughing and pushing at him, but when I glance up into

his face he gives me a wink, letting me know he thinks I’m safe.

So I smile, and nod, and head over to the fireplace where I flop into an armchair, grinning over at Ben and Rafe on the couch. “Are you close by, Ben? I

Do you your room?”

like

“I’m two fights down and do like it,” he says, giving me a warm smile. “I mean, it’s nothing like this…” he gestures around at our rather expansive room.

“Really?” I ask, genuinely curious. “What’s different?”

“Well, it’s just me,” he says, shrugging. “I think that’s pretty normal though – after two weeks in the barracks, I think that most of us want our privacy.”

“Do you have your own bathroom too?” I ask, cager.

“Yup,” he says, grinning, “but by the sound of it…it pales in comparison to yours. The rooms are nice – I have a window, a bed, a desk, a place to put my stuff. But it’s pretty small – no place to entertain guests like you have.”

“Except your bed,” Jesse comments, a wicked grin on his face as he lowers himself onto an armchair, one of his legs draped over the side.

Ben blushes a little. “You inviting yourself over, Sinclair?” he counters, raising an eyebrow Jesse’s way.

Jesse grins. “I’m flattered, Ben, but my tastes don’t swing that way.” Ben clicks his tongue and shrugs like it’s a great loss, making Jesse laugh.

Before I can ask any more about his room, though, a bell rings somewhere in the room, making me go still.

“What the hell is that?” I ask, a little freaked out, looking everywhere for it.

“Dinner bell,” Rafe says, and I look at him curiously as he stands up and heads to a little door at about chest–height in the far corner of the room.

“How do you know this stuff?” I ask, getting up and following him, immediately curious. What’s this little door – how did I miss it before?

And what the hell does it have to do with dinner?

“Because I read the handbook, Ari,” Rafe mutters, swinging the little door open

and revealing – of all things – a little wooden box waiting on the inside, the edge

closest to us open.

“Oh my god.” I breathe, peering around Rafe, “it’s it’s a tiny elevator…”

“It’s a dumbwaiter,” he corrects, laughing at me and pulling out the fairly large cardboard box that’s waiting inside. “This is how food is delivered

apparently, packages.”

and,

“That’s so cool!” I cry, laughing and following Rafe as he carries the package back to our little living room area by the fireplace.

We all lean forward and watch as Rafe pulls a pocket knife out of his new black pocket – where did he get that? – and quickly cuts the tape to the box, opening it and revealing…

“Oh my GOD!” Jesse shouts, grabbing for the packet of his favorite cookies that is sitting on the top. “I love these! Mine! No touching! No takebacks!”

I gasp in excitement as I realize that it’s a care package from our parents. Rafe starts to sort through everything, beaming like the rest of us. “Wait, we can get mail here!?” I gasp, delighted.

“We can,” Rafe says, grinning at me and handing me a packet of the peach–ring candy that we’ve both loved since we were kids. “Ben, help yourself – do you see anything you like?”

“You can’t have my cookies, Ben!” Jesse shouts, his words muffled around the ones that are already in his mouth. “Don’t even try!”

There’s a little bit of mayhem then as we sort through all of the stuff, pulling it out and trying to decide which bits belong to whom, encouraging Ben to take what he likes and trying to ensure that he feels welcome and included in our haul.

Jesse and Rafe go out of their way to make me feel included too, because obviously

mom and dad still think that I am, the package was intended for them

mysteriously, somewhere else. But Rafe immediately presses the fuzzy green throw blanket into my arms, saying it’s for me even though I know mom picked it just because it matches his eyes. But I accept it, because it’s cozy to have something mom picked out, and because Rafe is being nice.

And Jesse – he makes sure that he gives me half of his candy and snacks, which is

truly a great sacrifice because my cousin is a notorious bedtime snacker sometimes he’ll fall asleep with his hand still in a bag of chips.

But the thing that really breaks my heart is the two thick envelopes at the bottom of the box. Rafe and Jesse’s names written in mom’s and Aunt Cora’s handwriting. respectively.

Rafe and Jesse look up at me when they see them, guilt all over their faces.

Because there is no envelope for me.

Chapter 38

Rafe looks at me with a little grimace, slowly taking the envelope out of the box and moving to tuck it into his back pocket for later, not wanting to make me watch.

“No, read it!” I say, flapping my hands at him and working hard to tuck my disappointment low in my stomach. Because, I mean, I know that if mom knew I was here she would never have left me out would probably have written me the longest letter of all. I can’t be hurt by this, and I don’t want him to have to wait.

“Are you sure?” he asks, hesitating, turning the envelope over in his hands.

Jesse rips his open, digging in, giving me a little shrug. I nod eagerly at Rafe, encouraging him, as Ben gives me a soft pat on the shoulder, not saying anything but…letting me know that he’s here for me.

Rafe sighs but can’t help it. He settles back into the couch cushions as he opens and unfolds his letter, a smile already on his lips as he reads through the first

words.

“Did we miss anything?” Ben asks cheerfully, tipping the box towards the two of us as we sit together on the rug, giving Rafe and Jesse their privacy.

“I don’t think so,” I say, peeking into the box again, willing to take up Ben’s offer of a distraction so that I don’t get overwhelmed by my jealousy.

“Yes, we did,” Ben says, laughing and reaching into the bottom of the box.

“What?” I say, surprised, leaning closer. “What is it?”

And my heart absolutely falls to pieces when Ben pulls from the bottom of the box a very, very pretty blue velvet hair ribbon, already tied into a bow with a silver clip. at the back.

I give an unintentional little gasp when I see it, as my eyes rove over the soft fabric, the little silver trim that runs along the edge-

Because I know, without even having to read the little tag attached to the clip, that this is from my mom, and that she sent it for me.

But my stomach plummets as Ben picks up the tag, his eyes moving quickly over my mom’s small, swirling handwriting.

Rafe-

I know that this box is to celebrate you, but I couldn’t help myself.

When you next see Ariel, will you please give this to her?

I know she would like it.

Tell my beautiful girl we miss her and that she is much loved.

-Mom

My eyes fill with tears as I read the note over Ben’s shoulder.

Very quietly, almost gently, Ben turns to me with the velvet hair ribbon flat on his palm.

“Here,” he says, giving me a little smile. “You should have it.”

1 stare at Ben with wide eyes, all the blood draining from my face as I lean away from him in shock, the heels of my hands hitting the ground behind me and taking all of my weight.

Because he…

Why is he giving this to me?

What does he….

A snarl suddenly rips from Rafe’s throat and Ben goes very, very still, the ribbon balanced on his hand. I whip my eyes to my brother and my cousin and sit up very straight and very still as I realize that this…

This just got quite dangerous for Ben.

“Ben,” Rafe says, leaning forward on the couch, his eyes focused solemnly on Ben’s face. “What are you doing with that?”

“Um,” Ben says, his eyes flicking to the blue velvet ribbon on his palm.

“Why,” Rafe continues, his voice rumbling low with menace now, “are you giving

that to Ari?”

My eyes flick back to Ben, whose gaze I’m surprised to find already on me, wide

and frantic, looking at me for answers. I stay very still for a second and then as he tilts his head to the side with a little bit of irony, looking at me like this is all my fault-

I realize that he definitely, definitely already knows.

“Oh god damn it. Ben!” I shout, lashing a foot out and giving him a good solid kick in the thigh. “How long have you known!?”

His face suddenly bursts into a grin as he flinches away from me, a relieved laugh stumbling from him as he sees that I’m not going to kill him, just kick him. “From like, the first time we did after–hours

training, Ariel –”

Jesse gasps to hear my name coming from Ben’s mouth.

Ben turns when he hears it. “I mean, that’s it, right?” he says, looking between my brother and my cousin before coming back to me. “She’s – she’s Ariel Sinclair, right? The Princess?” he turns to Rafe now, who still has his teeth bared. “Your sister, not your cousin?”

Jesse groans, covering his face with his hands and falling back in his chair, but Rafe just leans forward, his tone still dangerous even if Jesse and I have given it up.

“Who the f**k have you told, Ben?”

Ben is silent for a second, the picture of shock. But then he leans forward, staring little angrily. “No one, Rafe! Obviously, I haven’t told anyone, or

into Rafe’s face, $

else she wouldn’t be here!”

“I think he’s telling the truth, Rafe,” I say, turning to my brother with a grimace. “They wouldn’t have let me in if they knew who I am.”

Rafe glares at me for a second before turning his eyes back to Ben. “That doesn’t. mean he didn’t tell any of the other cadets.”

“Who the hell else would I have told,” Ben says, leaning forward with his open palms out, “I only hang out with you guys

Rafe sneers. “You could have told anyone for the leverage.”

“Oh my god,” Ben says, exhaling and shocking me because he actually has the nerve to roll his eyes. “Whatever, Rafe – I mean, I get that you’re protective, but honestly if you trust me this little after everything then maybe I should just go-

Ben starts to push himself to his knees.

“You’re not going anywhere!” Rafe shouts, leaping to his feet.

“Well, what the f**k am I supposed to do!” Ben shouts back at Rafe, genuinely pissed. “Do you want me to just sit here all day so you can glare at me and accuse me of selling your sister’s secrets for leverage? Honestly, like that’s something I’d even do.”

“He has a point, Rafe,” Jesse says, his voice tentative. I shift my eyes to him now. “If Ben was going to tell…he’d probably have done it by now. And he’s met you, he knows that any leverage he got from spilling the secret is probably not going to outweigh the risk of you ripping out his throat.”

“Or,” Ben says, turning his anger on Jesse now, “one of you could just consider that maybe I’m not holding Ariel’s secret because I’m scared, but because I like you guys and we’re friends.”

“Aw, Ben.” I say, genuinely touched now. “That’s sweet! I believe you.”

“Thank you, Ari,” he says, sighing hard and relaxing a little bit. “Can we seriously take the murderous tension in the room down a notch? I’m not going to tell anyone. Nothing has changed. You guys just… know that I know now. Okay?”

Rafe and Jesse look at each other for a long moment, but then Rafe scowls and sits back on the couch, folding his arms over his chest, glaring at Ben even as he gives in. “You’re sworn to secrecy, Ben,” he snaps, still mad. “All right? You tell anyone, and you’ll pay for it. Big time. Like, your sons and heirs for generations will pay for it.”

“I swear,” Ben says seriously, holding Rafe’s eyes and then mine, which I appreciate. And then he turns, picking my little ribbon up off the floor and handing it over to me. “Your ribbon, Princess. It’s pretty!”

“Thanks!” I say, taking it from him cheerfully and tracing my finger over the soft velvet. “It is, isn’t it?”

I lean close to Ben, bumping his shoulder with mine, letting him know that as far as I’m concerned, he’s good. And I grin, because honestly – I don’t mind Ben knowing. Over the past two weeks I’ve really come to trust him without, I think, even realizing it. He gets my experience here more than the others, after all they didn’t have to worry about being cut like the two of us did.

“All right.” Rafe says, cutting through our buddy–buddy atmosphere. “Tell us how you knew, Ben, so that we can prevent others from figuring it out.”

“And also.” Jesse adds, getting in on the interrogation now, “do you think anyone else has guessed as well?”

“I really don’t.” Ben says, smiling now, I think glad to have his knowledge of our secret out in the open. “You guys do a really good job of sticking together as a trio, not really letting anyone else in. Though I can’t believe Luca hasn’t figured it out yet.”

“Yeah, me neither.” Jesse says, shooting his eyes to me with a clever little smirk that makes me want to punch him. God, he’s being so obvious – Rafe’s going to figure it out if he keeps smirking at me like that.

Chapter 39

I continue glaring at Jesse, but Rafe moves on with his interrogation of Ben.

“What makes you think Luca hasn’t figured out that Ariel’s a girl?” Rafe says as he leans forward, eager for Ben’s answer and apparently deciding to trust him.

“I don’t think Luca knows because he hasn’t tried to hit on her yet,” Ben replies, laughing. “Didn’t you see him this afternoon with the seamstress? Luca loves women – he’s dying for some female attention. If he knew Ari is a girl, he’d be all over her.”

“True,” Rafe murmurs, leaning back against the couch cushion and staring into space a bit as he thinks it through.

Jesse’s eyes sparkle as he again catches my eye. My mouth draws to a thin line as I stare at him, shaking my head at him because he is loving this just a little too

much.

God, I want to smack him right now.

But that would give way too much away.

“Well, how did you know?” Rafe asks, blinking back to reality and turning his attention back to Ben.

“Because,” Ben says, turning to smile at me. “I have four younger sisters. You guys – you protect her the same way I’d protect my sisters if they were sleeping in a communal room with a bunch of guys for two weeks. Plus,” his smile widens now as he settles onto the carpet and leans back on his hands, clearly feeling more relaxed. “You laugh like a girl, Ari.”

“What!?” I shriek.

And Ben bursts into laughter at my reaction, and then Rafe and Jesse do too, and I blush, because I hear it now – it was a very girly shriek.

And so I start to laugh too, and we all laugh harder as we hear it, because my laugh – it really does hit higher notes than theirs, lilting above over their low, resonant

tones.

My face reddens even further, and I press my hands to my cheeks. And then, experimentally, I try a lower laugh, seeing if I can make it more boyish

But the result is just ridiculous, obviously fake as I try to mimic Rafe, which sets us all off again. I can’t help it then, the peels of laughter that come from me as I grab a pillow off the couch and hurl it at Rafe’s face, because he’s laughing the hardest. But he just catches it out of the air and tucks it behind his head, sighing as he leans back.

“Well, you’re part of the family now, Ben,” Rafe sighs when his laughter fades, shrugging and giving in to it. “Thanks for keeping our secret.”

“I think it’s cool.” Ben says with a shrug, reaching for my packet of peach rings on the table and grabbing one from the edge. “Plus, I like girls. It’s nice to have one around.” He sends me a little wink as he pops the candy into his mouth.

“Don’t go thinking that it’s too nice,” Rafe says, his voice a low growl again. “I said you’re family now, which means hands off the little sister.”

“Oh, don’t worry,” Ben says, continuing to grin at me. “I don’t think I’m Princess Ari’s taste anyway.”

My mouth falls open in a little appalled sputter, but before I can protest further a knock comes at the door.

“It’s open!” Jesse calls, and we all turn in time to see the door swing open, revealing Luca looking… devastatingly good in his black uniform.

“Finally found you,” he says, leaning against the doorframe with a smirk, a little pasty box balanced in his hands. “Can I come in? I brought coffee cake. My nan made it.”

“Sure!” Jesse calls, grinning at my mate. As Luca walks in I take the opportunity to slip the velvet hair ribbon into my pocket.

Rafe and Ben greet Luca but I don’t say anything, because…honestly, I’m still trying to catch my breath. God damn it, Luca in that high–collared black uniform, with the dark grey belt around his trim waist…

My wolf howls inside me, rolling onto her back like she’s been knocked out cold. We’re never going to make it here, I whisper to her, laughing inwardly, but she doesn’t even bother to respond. This secret… might as well just spit it out now.

“Nope,” Ben whispers, pitching his voice low enough that only I can hear the words as well as the humor lacing them, “I don’t think I’m the Princess’s taste at all.”

Sun, Tu Mar

I screw up my face and lean over, smacking Ben hard on the arm.

But we both laugh, because we know he’s dead right.

Luca comes in then, tossing the pastry box onto the coffee table just as the bell to the dumbwaiter rings again. I perk up, completely fascinated by this crazy aspect of on new life, and dash over to it. Even though Rafe beats me there. I’m in time to see him open the door to a covered silver tray.

I cock my head to the side, wondering what it could be, but then the smell hits my nostrils and I groan, reaching immediately for the covered tray which I now realize holds some delicious dinner, but Rafe just laughs and swats my hand away. “That’s too heavy for you,” he says, smiling at me cheerfully and lifting the whole silver tray out with his big hands, balancing it carefully as he maneuvers around me. “You get the drinks.”

I scowl a little as the food moves away and my stomach growls – I didn’t realize that I was starving. But I cheerfully grab the pewter pitcher and the little metal cups that come along with it, surprised to see that there are five, not three, as I’d have expected.

Still considering the strange number, I wander over to the couch area in time to see Rafe lift the cover from the tray. “Five!” I say, slipping over the back of the couch so that I’m sitting next to Luca, leaning forward with interest. “How did they know I mean, Luca just got here –”

–

“I left a note,” Ben says, looking up at me and shrugging. “Asked them to please send mine here. I didn’t think you’d mind. I guess Luca did the same –

“Who cares,” Jesse murmurs, reaching eagerly for a plate and a set of silverware rolled in a white napkin. “Seriously, why are we still talking? Everyone shut up and

eat.”

I just grin and start to pour the glasses of water and hand them around.

“Wish it was something a little better than water,” Luca murmurs when I hand him his cup. “We’re celebrating, after all.”

I grin a little, sitting next to Luca on the couch and considering that though he might be right, I’m a little glad that we’re obliged to keep sober tonight. With a few drinks in me and him looking like that? I’d probably have to sit on my hands to keep myself from reaching out and stroking his face.

“What are those?” I ask noticing some folded up pieces of paper in the corner of the tray as Rafe hands me my plate. I balance the dish on my knees as I dig in to my meal steak, roasted potatoes, green beans lathered with butter, fresh brown rolls. A shiver goes through me when I realize how amazing everything tastes.

God, food really is better up here than it is in the barracks. I had no idea we’d be living in relative luxury candidacy really lowered my expectations.

But after the bath I took this afternoon and the evening meal tonight? I think I’m going to like life in the Academy.

“I don’t know,” Ben murmurs, and he leans forward to grab them off the tray, as he’s closest. He takes a bite of his meat as he sorts through them, unfolding the one with his name on it. “Oh, schedules!” he says. “Class schedules, for tomorrow and the rest of term!”

There’s a great clattering of forks, plates, and words as we all eagerly reach forward, desperate to find out because beyond our class schedule, this also going to include information on our educational track.

–

And this I am particularly dying to know.

paper is

I put my unfinished plate on the floor, still chewing a crispy piece of roll as I snatch my schedule from Ben and eagerly unfold it. My eyes flick over my false name at the top, take in the spreadsheet of class information at the bottom, and…

There.

Right at the top of the sheet, in small letters below my name:

Espionage Track.

I let out a little squeal of delight, falling back into the couch cushions and kicking my feet in excitement. Luca laughs, looking over me, pleased to see me pleased –

And I go a little still, sitting up straight, trying to be just a little less girly. But still, I can’t wipe the smile from my face.

“Get what you wanted, Shrimp?” Luca asks, leaning sideways to bump me with his shoulder as, beyond him, Rafe and Jesse shout with joy, snatching their schedules from each other and comparing their schedules.

“Yup,” I say, my smile growing. “Did you?”

“Sure did,” he says, holding out the schedule so that I can see it. “Warrior Track.”

I grin at him, taking the schedule and looking it over. “Ohhh,” I say, noting that he’s got a 7 am workout scheduled tomorrow and every other day this week, “you have to get up early.”

“What, you don’t?” he asks, reaching for my paper.

I squeak a little, appalled, and hold it to my chest. “You don’t get my secrets that easily. Luca Grant.”

“Oh, don’t I?” he asks grinning and raising one eyebrow.

Chapter 40

“What, you’re not going to show me!?” Luca presses, laughing and reaching again for my schedule.

my

“No way!” I shout, turning so that my back is to the arm of the couchand I’ve got feet between us, ready to kick him away if I need to. I grew up with brothers and cousins, after all I know how to do a couch war. “I didn’t even get a look at it yet!”

“Well, then just tell me what your track is –”

“I cannot,” I say, holding my paper close so that it mysteriously covers half my face. “It is…a state secret.”

Luca laughs again, leaning forward. “You spy,” he hisses, and then quick as a snake he snatches the paper from my face, immediately leaning away and holding the paper far out of my reach.

“Give it back!” I demand, laughing, and throw myself after him, landing half in his lap as I reach for it. Luca laughs hard, but holds his long arm even across Rafe’s body. Rafe, grinning and obliging, snatches the paper out of Luca’s hand and gives it to Jesse.

“Not fair!” I shout, glaring at my brother and my cousin, even though I’m still laughing. “I didn’t even get to look at it yet –”

“Well you’re a shit spy, Ari,” Jesse says, grinning at me and lining my schedule up with his and Rafe’s on his lap, “if you don’t get the information and keep it to yourself for more than ten seconds.”

“Well, I haven’t learned anything about being a spy yet, Jesse,” I say, rolling my eyes at him even as I grin. “That’s why I’m here.”

“Congrats, Ari,” Rafe says, grinning at me. “I know you wanted Espionage Track.”

“Seriously, Shrimp, congratulations,” Luca says, smiling down at me, and as I turn my face to him I realize that I’m…well, I’m kind of still sprawled over his lap, aren’t

I?

I blush beet red, mumbling something about how I’m happy too, and do my best to gracefully crawl off of my mate and back to the corner of the couch.

Luca grins at me, his smile widening as he notices my awkwardness and my blush. “You’ll be great at it at least you’ll definitely be able to squeeze into all sorts of

tiny spaces.”

I prove him right by pressing myself deep into the corner of the couch, and when I glance to my side to I see Ben grinning at me in absolute wicked delight. I give him a dirty scowl, which just makes him laugh harder.

“Looks like we’re all teamed up tomorrow afternoon,” Jesse says, looking up at me and Rafe with raised eyebrows, leaning over to pass our schedules back.

“What, all of us?” I ask, taking my paper from Luca when he passes it to me, glad to have a minute to look at it. “Are you guys Espionage too?”

“No, we’re both Warrior,” Jesse says, leaning back in his chair and studying his schedule. “Ben, do you have a weird unnamed class in the afternoon with the three of us? What track are you, anyway?”

“I’m Ambassador,” Ben says, studying his schedule, “and no, I’ve got diplomacy every afternoon this week. Weird, though, that you guys have a cross–track class. I didn’t think those existed.”

I study my schedule, surprised and interested to see that Jesse is right. Almost every morning this week I’ve got Chemistry and Marksmanship, but twice this week – tomorrow included – I’ve got an unnamed seminar in Room 1260.

“You’re not in it either, Luca?” I ask, lifting my chin to peer over at his sheet. Seeing my interest, he hands his schedule to me and scooches closer so that we can study the papers together. He presses his shoulder to mine to do so, and I pretend not to notice the tingles that immediately flood my left side. I guess he does too.

“Nope,” Luca says quietly, his eyes moving back and forth between our schedules. “Looks like we don’t have a single thing together, Shrimp.” He sighs and sits back, studying me with a sad twist to his mouth. “Well, it was nice knowing you.”

“I’ll remember you fondly,” I reply with mock seriousness, making him burst into a grin.

“Nah, you guys will see me all the time. With a sweet place like this?” Luca leans forward, grabbing his unfinished dinner off the coffee table and starting to dig in again. “I’ll be here all the time.”

12:48 Sun, 10 ar

I smile a little bit at the prospect, leaning down to pick up my own unfinished plate.

“Someone light a fire.” Jesse says, leaning back in his chair and still studying his schedule with interest. “Let’s get cozy. After all, I heard someone say there was coffee cake.”

“Best coffee cake in the world,” Luca says, nodding towards the pastry box as I take my last bite and move eagerly to the fire, starting to re–stack the logs so that they suit my liking a bit more. “You’ve all got to try some. Nan would die, if she knew a Prince and a Duke were eating something she baked…”

And a Princess, I think to myself, opening the flue to the chimney with a little smirk on my mouth. But, at least some secrets have to be kept tonight, right?

Ben and Luca stay late, but not too late – walking a fine line between knowing that they’re not going to be able to sleep tonight for the sake of excitement, and wanting very much to get a lot of sleep tonight so that they’re fresh for tomorrow.

Plus, our little room is very cozy at night, it turns out. We spend a couple of hours laughing and chatting around the fire, the oil lamps that Rafe lights around the room giving everything a particularly comfortable glowing ambiance. The coffee cake really is very good, and I think we all over–do it a little bit on the sugar and snacks after two weeks of eating the bland suppers that the barrack cafeteria provided.

As the hours pass I relax, wrapped up in the fuzzy green blanket Rafe gave me, warm and calm, a little unable to keep my eyes from drifting back to Luca’s laughing face. I let myself fall quiet, allowing the boys take over the conversation, and instead I just…listen. As their words fade to a steady hum I drift away into my own thoughts, thinking about how much I like my life right now, how lucky I am to be here.

How much I want to tell my mom everything, all about it.

My hand drifts to the hair ribbon in my pocket, and I doze off a little while I stroke the soft velvet with my thumb.

“Hey,” a soft voice says I don’t know how long later, and my eyes slowly drift open. It takes a second for me to focus on Luca, leaning towards me a little, but then I gasp with guilt as I realize that in my sleep I stretched out and my feet have drifted

into his lap. “Oh, I’m sorry.” I gasp, starting to pull them back, “I’m hogging the

couch –”

“No,” he says, laughing, putting a warm hand on my calf, letting me know I don’t have to jump away. Slowly, liking the feel of his hand on my leg a little too much, I relax. “I’m just leaving now.” He murmurs. “But I wanted to say goodnight.” Slowly – almost like he doesn’t realize it, Luca’s thumb drifts across my calf, slowly pressing the soft muscle there.

It’s almost the sort of thing he wouldn’t notice that he was doing. But when I move my eyes back up to his, and find his intense stare already on me?

Yeah. He knows what he’s doing.

“Oh…” I say. kind of at a loss for words, but when I glance up at the clock I startle. “Luca!” I gasp, leaning forward to smack him on the shoulder, “You have to get up in seven hours!”

“Eh, I’ll be all right,” he says, shrugging and ignoring my weak blow. “Besides, it was

almost meditative –” very relaxing listening to you snore just now

I gasp, sitting up straight. “I did not –”

–

“You did,” Jesse calls over his shoulder, heading to the bathroom.

I look around, seeing that Ben is already gone, and Rafe is carrying the tray full of empty plates over to the dumbwaiter.

“Good night, Shrimp,” Luca says, laughing softly feet from his lap

at as I move my and let him stand up. “I’ll see you tomorrow.”

“Okay,” I say, yawning and watching him pull his boots back on. “Sleep well.” “Oh, I will,” he says, glancing over at me. “I just hope I have some…good dreams.”

I go still, pink creeping over my cheeks as I look sharply up at him, trying to figure

out…

But he just smirks at me, shaking his head a little as if I just confirmed something. He stands up straight, putting his hands on his waist, studying me.

“Oh, go away,” I sigh, standing up too, “I’m too tired for this.” I wave a dismissive hand at him, tossing my pretty throw blanket on the couch.

48 Sun, 10 Mar

Luca laughs, but I just give him a shove towards the door and head for my little nook.

my

My mate calls his goodbyes to us and closes the door behind him as I jump into.

little fluffy bed, snuggling down into the pillows and pulling the warm blankets over me. I’m very pleased to find that the bed is already toasty warm- probably due to the way the nook is nestled in next to the fire place.

“Night, little sister!” Rafe calls to me from across the room.

“Night, Rafe!” I mumble back. “Jesse!”

But honestly? I’m basically already asleep again as soon as my head hits the pillow.

Because tomorrow is a big – big day, and I can hardly wait for it to get here.

Presuming, of course, there are no nighttime interruptions that get in the way…