Ch. 711..715: The Hidden Princess At All-Boys Alpha Academy Chapter 711-715

Chapter 0711

Tony...floats.

He blinks in and out of consciousness, seeing flashes of the world beneath, between, and around him. Sometimes he's awake for a few moments or more, and then he starts to panic - because where...where is he?

Where is he in space, in time but also...where is he? His body? His...his mind?

His wolf? Tony panics, searching for him -

But something like a soft hand comes to stroke over his brow, and he relaxes, and his eyes close and he's gone again.

Floating still - almost aimless, but always drawn by some current towards some...place.

"Oh no," says a voice, cheerful as a spring morning, soft and lovely as a running stream. "I'm not done with you yet."

The yank is physical and Tony gasps as something pulls him by the back of the neck, almost as if he is a pup being pulled up by his scruff.

He spins and then, somehow, is placed on his feet...

Even though there is no ground.

Tony takes a moment to steady himself, his arms spread wide at his side, finding his balance. Next to him, his wolf taps anxiously from toe to toe, looking up at him, whining with fear. Tony gasps and laughs to see him there, incredibly grateful that he's back.

But still where...

And who...

What just happened? He tries, so hard, to remember anything - who he is, his own damn name -

"There, that's better," says the dulcet voice.

Tony snaps his head up, his mouth falling open when he sees...her.

That magnificent woman he saw before. The Goddess. She smiles as she studies him, her arms crossed.

"You're all right, boy," she says, laughing a little. "I pulled you out of that river of souls. You're steady."

"Out of...what?"

She gestures down and Tony turns his head to look off of some stark cliff that wasn't there a moment ago and sees - indeed - a strange gossamer current of air, all brown and grey and beige, and floating in it...forms. People. All asleep, or half awake, like he was a moment ago.

"Where are they going?" he whispers.

"To the Deadlands," she replies, and Tony looks back up at her, his stomach sinking. "In the Underworld."

"Ah, shit," he mutters, slipping his hands into his pockets.

The Goddess's smile grows and she laughs a little.

"So I'm dead?" he asks, his mouth twisting in disappointment.

"I'm sorry, my boy," she says, turning her head and looking at him like she means it. "But yes, you died."

Tony sighs, hanging his head for a moment, and as he does he sees that he's just like those other souls in the river below - bodyless, transparent, half-formed.

Nothing more than a ghost. Sadness sinks in him that it's over so soon. There's just...a great deal he never got to do.

Did he ever even have a mate? God, if he did...what would she have been like?

"Fortunately or unfortunately, Anton," the Goddess says, drawing his eyes back to her, "there will be no waiting in the Deadlands for reincarnation for you. No, I'm not done with you yet"

He straightens his shoulders, staring at her, wary. "Pardon?"

She grins. "I am very grateful, boy," she says, "for what you did for my granddaughter, saving her like that It was very valiant. But I'm afraid my other granddaughter has gotten herself into quite a bit of trouble."

"Who?" he asks, staring at her hard, trying to remember.

The Goddess clicks her tongue and steps forward, pressing her fingertips briefly to his forehead. "There," she murmurs. "That should be better."

Tony gasps as his whole life comes flooding back to him, all the way up to the most recent memories. Ariel - shoving her behind him - that punk kid coming at him with a knife -

Tony groans, his head hanging for a moment as he realizes what happened.

"Did Ariel live?" he asks, his teeth gritted.

"She did," the Goddess says, calm and serious. "You saved her, Anton. But now we have to concentrate on my little firecracker."

“Juniper?” Tony asks, his eyes going wide as he leans forward to stare at the Goddess in disbelief.

She nods.

Tony stands sharply, suddenly

suspicious. "Wait, so Ariel just got attacked by her schoolmate and is facing the entire Atalaxian army with no one to cool her down if her fire rages out of her control...and you want me to go help... Juniper?"

The Goddess grins, pleased and entertained, and eagerly nods again.

 

Chapter 0712

"Holy crap," Tony murmurs, running a shocked hand through his hair. "What the hell did she get herself into?"

The Goddess laughs, a light and tinkling sound. "Oh, Ariel's getting all the attention right now, but my Juniper..." she sighs, shaking her head and looking into the distance almost as if she's proud. "Wait until the universe sees what she's about to stir up."

"Oh god," Tony sighs, dry.

"So, will you help?" the Goddess asks, cheerful and hopeful, turning her eyes back to him.

"Do I get to be alive again?" he asks, gesturing down at himself.

"Nope," she says, shaking her head. "You'll be a ghost. But..." she purses her lips and then snaps her fingers.

Tony gasps as his body instantly becomes more substantial and his mind clears even further. He looks down at himself and is shocked to see that he is all blue and white and...well, slightly sparkly.

"And..." the Goddess says, snapping again.

Tony's wolf poofs away to stardust, which drifts towards Tony's chest and comes to settle there, warm and shimmering. Tony groans as he feels it, his wolf returned to him, where he always was. The relief is immense.

"Thank you," Tony murmurs, pressing a hand to his heart, his wolf howling happily inside, pleased to be returned where he belongs.

"I'm sorry it cannot be more," the Goddess says, considering him sadly. “You are a ghost, but you're blessed now. I'll send you to Juniper to be her handmaid."

"Her...her what?" Tony asks.

"Handmaid," the Goddess says, laughing. "The situation that Junie is in is quite tricky - there are lots of rules, but I found a loophole to get her some help. It's traditional in the Underworld - royalty is allowed to bring their servants' spirits to aid them in the afterlife."

"But I'm a boy -"

"Oh, gender is such an outdated construct," the Goddess says, sighing dismissively as she steps forward, a bright blue ribbon with a note attached to it suddenly in her hands. She loops the ribbon lightly around his neck. "We can't call you a handmister, can we? Now, off to the Underworld with you

“Wait, the Underworld?" Tony gasps. “Is Juniper dead?"

"No," the Goddess says, smiling at him. "And it's your job to keep her that way. Alive, I mean."

"But how -"

"Oh, it won't be hard," the Goddess says cheerfully, tying the ends of the blue ribbon into a little bow. "Juniper is very capable. Just be...she doesn't... the Goddess shakes her head, looking away as she searches for the right words. "Juniper doe's not yet understand who she is.

There is a great well of Sheis.

that

dwells in her heart and it frightens her. It makes her different from everyone in her world, which in turn makes her angry at everything, and she strikes out at it all."

The Goddess sighs and again looks into his eyes. "Just be kind to her, Tony - she needs...she needs someone ruthlessly in her corner, even when she tries to push them away."

A small smile takes Tony's lips.

"Yes," the Goddess says, her expression matching his. "Are you starting to recognize some of yourself in my taciturn little Princess?"

He sighs but doesn't answer, looking away.

"Help Juniper recognize her true dark majesty," the Goddess says, putting a hand on his cheek and turning his face back to her. "And I will be forever grateful."

"I will do my best," Tony says, sketching out a little bow to the deity before him.

"Good boy," she murmurs, patting him on the head.

Tony laughs a little, confused but accepting it.

"Now,” the Goddess says, reaching out and tapping him on the nose. "Be a good pet and hurry to her side."

To Tony's shock he suddenly shifts

into his wolf, still made of that blue and white and glittering light but his human body gone. He only has a

moment to stare in shock up at the Goddess before he vanishes away.

And when he takes his next breath, he's somewhere very, very different.

And there's a girl, laying on a black marble floor, her dark hair spread out in a circle around her head, her face...god, her face so similar to Ariel's, if not a bit paler, her bruised-rose lips turned down in a

vel

perpetual frown.

Slowly, Tony pads forward towards her, peering down into her face, terrified that he might be too late –

That she might not even be breathing.

 

Chapter 0713

I lean hard against Jackson, half awake.

We're given the rest of the day to rest with plans to ship us back to school that night. Most of my fellow Cadets and friends sleep in the tents provided for us, but I'm unable to find rest. Instead I just sit in a weird little waking coma of grief, staring into space a lot, thinking about Tony, considering how terribly unfair this world is. Hating this stupid, ridiculous war.

Hating Atalaxia most of all.

Ben comes back and we all stay close, but Jackson stays by my side like a burr. Luca too, but not in the same way Jackson does - Jacks, he tries to hide it by dampening our bond, but he's so, so worried about me, even as I assure him again and again that I'm fine - or, at least, that I will be. He believes me - I know that he does - but still, there's not a moment when he's not touching me, bringing me water and snacks, predicting my needs even before I can think to want something.

Dad and Roger get on a video call with mom and Cora at some point and glance my way, talking low about bringing me back to the city for a day or two to rest and process this -

But I end that idea immediately, insisting that I'm going back to school with the rest.

"Ari," Dad sighs, turning to me. "We're not pulling you out - you could just rest, let your mom take care of you for a day."

"Why aren't you offering this to anyone else!?" I snap, casting out a hand towards all of my friends and family still in the tent with us but

encompassing all the other Cadets in their tents too. "We all lost Tony, but I'm the only one you're offering a luxury suite in the capital. Is it because I'm a girl? Because if so -"

"We're offering it," Roger interrupts, crossing his arms and glaring at me a little. "Because you may need it, Ariel. Don't accuse us of things that you know aren't true."

I sigh, and hang my head, and Jackson quietly strokes my back.

"I'm sorry,” I murmur, shaking my head and looking at the floor. "But I want to go back to school. I want...I want to work."

"I understand," dad says, and I look up to see him giving me a serious nod.

Then he turns away to have a serious chat with Rafe and Jesse about measures they need to take to keep me safe at school, especially since Gibson slipped under our suspicion that whole time.

A few scant hours after that, I'm

climbing the steps onto the train. Dad somehow got the luxury royal caboose sent in time so that I could stretch out and get some rest on the way back to school, but I just cry again the moment I step through the door, remembering that we weren't close enough with Tony at

Midwinter to invite him to go back to the city with us.

And so he never got to ride in it. And he should have.

"Oh, sweetheart," Jacks sighs, scooping me up into his arms and carrying me away to a corner where he bundles me up in his lap, cradles me against his chest, and holds me for hours. Ben, Jesse, Rafe, and Luca stretch out and chat quietly or doze. We ride through the night.

I spend most of the time curled up against Jacks, staring out the window at the black sky, feeling absolutely empty.

When I step out of the shower hours later I don't really feel...better. I'm still exhausted, and sleep deprived, but...it's nice to be clean. When I step out into the main room and all three of my Alphas turn towards me with grim faces, though, I stop in my tracks.

"Oh no,” I say, my shoulders slumping. "What now?"

“We have to tell you something," Jesse replies, his face sad.

My breath starts to come short.

l

"Ariel, please," Jackson says, holding out a hand for me, his voice cracking with the strain of seeing me so continually sad. I cross to him, wanting his strength, feeling incredibly guilty about the fact that he also hasn't gotten a moment of sleep because he's been too busy worrying about and taking care of me.

Don't, he says, right into my mind, as he takes my hand and pulls me into his lap on the couch so I can easily see Jesse and Rafe. I don't need sleep. That's what the magic is for.

Chapter 0714

I press a hand to his cheek and lift my chin to kiss him softly - not something I usually do in front of my brother and my cousin. But everyone lets it pass today.

“What is it?” I sigh, feeling stronger with Jackson's support as I look over at Rafe and Jesse in the afternoon light that streams through the window.

Rafe sighs. "We have to go meet with the captain," he says, gesturing between himself and Jacks.

"Why?" My mouth turns down in a frown because...well, because I wanted to keep them close by today.

"He wants reports on how the Cadets performed during the battle," Jackson murmurs.

"Piss poor," I say, nodding firmly, my eyes narrowing. "They didn't land a single damn shot with those guns -"

"Ari!" Jesse says, his face breaking into a smile to see a bit more spirit come into me. "It's harder than it looks -"

"It's a big bullet and a big chopper, Jess!" I burst out, leaning forward toward him. "It was like hitting the side of a barn with a big fat tomato! Honestly, you should have just let me do it - train me on one of those big guns, I could do that with my eyes closed -"

Jesse laughs at me, shaking his head. "You arrogant little gun nut —“

"You did enough, Ari," Rafe says, leaning back in his chair, a little smile coming to his lips. "We didn't need you on guns too."

"Clearly you did," I murmur, raising an eyebrow at him and snuggling back against Jackson, who tightens his arms around me, his wolf growling his pride and support down the bond.

Rafe laughs, shaking his head. "You have to leave something for the rest of us. We can't just sit around looking pretty."

"But you do that so well," I say with a sigh. And for the first time today a little smile finds my lips.

Of course, grief and guilt crashes into my little sliver of happiness immediately - because how dare I be laughing with my brother when Tony is dead and will never laugh again?

I sigh, hanging my head a little.

"We have to go downstairs for a couple of hours, Ari," Rafe says, seeing my sadness, his voice gentle. "Jesse's going to take you down to Daphne's room for a bit. We figured that might be...nice."

I nod, agreeing to it. It will be good to see her. My friends - they're more precious to me now than they've ever been.

"But you're also leaving our little bubble," Jackson murmurs, pressing his cheek to my hair. "Which means we have to... let you in on some information."

"What?" I say, sitting up straight and looking between them. "What information?" Dread curls in me, wicked and sharp-toothed. More news - and clearly bad news. God, I'm not sure I can take it.

"Tony wasn't the only Cadet who

was hurt," Rafe says, meeting my eyes evenly clearly wanting to tell

me as fast as possible to meet

my dread. "Others were hit with Atalaxian bullets when those first choppers got close, before you took them down. You remember, yes? When the medics were called?"

I go a bit cold, staring at my brother. "Who?" I ask, sharp.

"Warrior cadets," Rafe says, "I'm not sure if you know them. One is in hospital, probably going to be attended to by mom. And two more had superficial wounds - they came home on the train with us. But Redman Blythe..."

My lip starts to tremble as I anticipate his words.

“He died, Ari,” Rafe says, even, holding my gaze. “On the battlefield, instantly. He was shot in the head.”

I clench my teeth and turn my head into Jackson's neck. He wraps his arms around me and holds me tight as I press my eyes shut, tears already leaking from them.

Because Blythe - I mean, we weren't friends, he was nothing like what Tony was to me. But, I mean, I knew him – he drafted me –

And god, I was such a dick to him...

I groan, regretting everything, crying quietly into Jackson's shirt as he holds me tight through it. When the worst of it passes, I turn sniffing to my brother and my cousin.

"Someone needs to tell Juniper," I whisper, my voice still shaky.

Chapter 0715

 

I open my mouth to say more, to explain everything, but Jackson wraps a gentle hand around my arm.

"They already know about what Blythe said about Juniper," Jackson whispers to me. I turn my face up to him in surprise. "I told them when you were in the shower."

"We have a call out to mom," Rafe says quietly, looking at me curiously. "But you don't have...like any idea about how he knew her? Just that she said something to him about...you?"

I shrug, shaking my head. "I don't know anything else," I say. "I was trying to get out of there as fast as I could. God, I should have -"

"Don't, Ari," Jesse says, looking at me sadly with his kind brown eyes. "There's no way you could have known."

I let my eyes drop to the floor. "Two," I whisper, exhausted. "Two boys dead in one day."

"It's horrible," Rafe agrees, nodding. "But if it helps...you saved a great deal more."

I look up at him, not understanding.

He leans forward towards me. "You're right, Ari - we were shit with those guns. We had one, maybe two full days of training on them. If you hadn't used your magic and taken down those helicopters, they'd have continued firing. They'd have taken many, many more of us out and gotten behind our lines. You saved a lot of lives yesterday."

I swallow hard around the thickness in my throat, considering that. And even though it does nothing to dull how much I miss Tony, how sorry I am about Blythe...it does help.

I nod to him, grateful for the perspective.

But Rafe just sighs and stands. "We have to go."

Jacks stands up and puts me on my feet, clearly hating to do it but knowing he has a responsibility.

“Come on, trouble," Jesse says, holding out a hand to me. "Let's go bother Daphne. Drink a bunch of her wine."

A little smile turns the corners of my mouth as I slip my hand into my cousin's and give it a squeeze.

A little cry bursts from Daphne's lips

as she opens the door and sees us standing there. I frown in confusion at the little grey cat sitting on her shoulder, but there's no time to think about it as she falls forward

wrapping me in a hug the moment I step into the room. Content belongs

"I'm so sorry," she whispers, holding me tight. "I heard what happened - it's so horrible -"

I start to cry again, unable to help it, hating myself for it just a little bit. But hating so, so much more that Tony's gone.

"Now now, don't get her started Daphne, we just got her dry," Jesse murmurs, his voice filled with sad humor.

"Oh, I'm so sorry," Daphne murmurs, pulling away from me and wiping at her own wet face, the little cat peering at me curiously.

"When...when did you get a pet?" I murmur, lifting a hand towards it.

"It's Jesse's," Daphne says, turning now towards him with her arms open. Jesse steps immediately into them, wrapping her up in a hug, pulling her tight against him. I can't help but smile a little to see them together like that, even as sniff and shut the door.

"How was mittens?" Jesse murmurs, pressing a kiss to her hair. "Did he behave? Sometimes he gets creative with his definition of a litter box."

"Oh, shut up and kiss me, you idiot," Daphne snarls. Jesse just laughs and complies with her demand, kissing her deeply. I let them have their moment, following the little cat as he jumps off of Daphne's

et

shoulder and walks over to the bed.

“Hello,” I murmur, bending down to study his pretty little face, but then I gasp when I realize that he's not quite real, is he? No, he's not just smokey grey - he's made of shadows. "Jesse!" I gasp, spinning towards him.

"What?" Jesse asks as Daphne turns in his arms and leans back against his chest. He rests his chin on her head and I pause a second, smiling, because the two of them together is just so...

Cute.

Daphne's face breaks into a grin as she senses my thoughts, and I can't help smiling back at her.

The kitten jumps on me though, distracting me into a little laugh as he climbs from one of my shoulders to the other, scrabbling across the back of my neck. "Are you making him do that?" I ask Jesse, fascinated.

"Sort of," Jesse says with a little frown. "But when I made him I gave him like...a personality, so he would make Daphne laugh while I was gone. He didn't disappear?"