Ch. 781..785: The Hidden Princess At All-Boys Alpha Academy Chapter 781-785

Chapter 0781

"I mean," Midnight says, rolling her eyes, "I don't really know exactly who it was - they never fill me in on anything good. But it was probably those stupid Atalaxians. They're always messing around here, driving their stupid carts around, building things."

"What Atalaxians?" Jesse asks, leaning forward, fascinated. They can come here? They're...building things?

"I don't know," she grumbles, peevish, meeting his eyes with her own dark brown ones. "Not all of them can come through - just the King and his son and the other one - the tall one with the pretty eyes. And then only sometimes. Not like me." She sits up straight, quite proud. "I can go back and forth anytime I want because I am Papa's favorite."

Jesse presses his lips into a thin line, kind of doubting that. "Do they come a lot? And bring stuff?"

"No," Midnight answers with a shrug. "Anyone else who comes here and any supplies those three have to bring through. But they're fancy and busy so..." she shrugs. "They don't come a lot. Not now that they're finished.

"Finished what."

She goes silent, staring at him, realizing that she's said too much.

"Midnight," Jesse says, watching her carefully. "Have you been...spying on the Atalaxians?"

She gasps, her eyes going wide. "No!"

Jesse's face bursts into a grin. "Another lie," he says, closing one eye and pointing a finger right at her face.

She gasps again, a bit in wonder at how he knew, but then she looks around frantically, her full lips turning down into a desperate frown. "Please," she begs, looking all over like someone could be listening, like they could be anywhere. "Please don't tell, Jesse - please - he'd be furious if he knew I spied - I was just curious - and I'm so bored all the time - there's nothing to do -"

She gets to her knees, leaning towards Jesse, her breath coming in quick pants as she shakes her head, desperate for him not to tell.

"Midnight!" Jesse says, his eyes going wide as he catches her shoulders, giving her a small steadying shake. She whips her eyes up to him and he holds her gaze, quite serious. "I'm not going to tell anyone, all right?"

She stares at him, horrified, like she can't believe she told him in the first place. Like she can't trust him. "I'm on your side, okay?" Jesse whispers, surprised to find that he means it - really means it, from the bottom of his heart. "I'm not on Darkness's side, all right? Or the Atalaxians, which means...you and me are still at odds on some things. But I am on your side, okay?"

Midnight closes her trembling mouth, her breath coming a little easier now. "Okay." The word is squeaky, scared.

"I'm not going to tell anyone you told me," Jesse says, quiet, assured.

"Okay," she whispers again, nodding.

Midnight sits back and Jesse drops

his hands from her shoulders. Anxiety rushes through him as he quickly does a check on himself, reaching for his wolf. But his wolf presses himself warm against Jesse's mental palms, assuring him that he's fine that the corruption didn't come through just because he touched the girl. Jesse exhales a shaky breath.

"What else do you know about the Atalaxians?" he asks, his equanimity slowly coming back.

Midnight scowls at him and he smiles. "I'm not telling you. I'm sure I'm not supposed to. You're on stupid Moon Valley's side, and they are bad."

"Moon Valley is great," Jesse says, dismissive and moving on immediately. "But no, you have to tell me." "What?" Her eyebrows go up.

"We're mates," he says, cool and easy. "You have to tell me everything. Those are the rules."

Her eyes flare as she stares at him, clearly buying into it, and Jesse's wolf sighs, glaring at him for lying to this girl, manipulating her with logic that would work on a five-year-old. Hey, Jesse says internally, giving his wolf a little shove. We're at war, and this girl has information.

His wolf just grumbles his discontent as Midnight again crosses her arms over her chest.

"Fine," she says, raising her chin. "But then you have to tell me stuff too."

"I'll tell you whatever you want," Jesse says, giving a shrug, knowing he means it quite earnestly except in terms of state secrets or something. But he doesn't have many of those anyway.

"Fine," she sighs, standing up. "But let's go to my house and talk there. Where there are snacks."

Jesse perks up at the news of food, his stomach growling. But even as he stands, he watches her warily. "Seriously, Mids, where is this house? Is it honestly very far?"

"No!" she says, huffing a frustrated little laugh. "It's really just there! See? You can see the top of it." She casts out a hand and Jesse leans forward, peering in the darkness.

And to his surprise, there actually is something there - just a little bit of canvas peaking out over a hill. Jesse stills and then turns to Midnight with a groan. "Midnight... is your house...is it just a tent?"

Chapter 0782

"Yeah!" she says, excited, almost skipping forward. "Isn't it great?" She clasps her hands excitedly under her chin.

Jesse groans, his head falling back on his neck. But he slips his hands into his pockets and follows his strange, tiny mate to her bizarre little home.

Its difficult to wake up, to pull myself from the fog of sleep. I groan, rolling over in my blankets, burying my head in the pillow and fighting against the headache that pounds in the back of my head. I stretch my hand out, looking for Jacks, wondering why on earth he's not beneath me like he always is but -

I lift my head when my hand just stretches out across cool sheets, finding no one there.

And then I gasp, sitting up straight, spinning and staring around the strange and luxurious room. Because I have...absolutely no idea where I am.

I begin to pant as my memories come back to me all in a rush. The battlefield - and sending flames

everywhere - and being thrown aside, Jackson running for me, and that man grabbing me, pulling me into another world-

I groan again, putting my hands over my face and sinking back into the pillows, because it's not just some man it's my mate.

A mate - another mate. And god, a fucking Atalaxian royal at that.

What on earth was my grandmother thinking?

"Hello?"

I go quite still at the sound of the soft voice, keeping my hands over my face, too shocked to move. "Ariel?" Footsteps come into the room and I sit bolt upright as my instincts send me on the defense, my canines elongating, ready to fight.

A very small woman with shiny chestnut hair jumps when she sees me, flinching back, her eyes going wide as she lifts her hands close to her face. "I'm sorry!" she gasps, stumbling back over her feet. "I'm so sorry! I - I didn't mean to scare you!"

My hand immediately flashes to my mouth, covering my fangs, because this woman - she's tiny, and demure, and beautifully dressed, and very, very pregnant. Clearly, she is not my kidnapper, and very likely not someone who means me any harm.

"I'm sorry," I say too, forcing my fangs back. "Um - you startled me."

"Oh, you poor dear," the girl says, rushing forward towards me, her eyes wide. "You must have had such a shock." She reaches for me, warm and motherly even though she's so young - god, is she more than sixteen? Her hands are soft and warm as they smooth over my hair and press my cheeks.

I just stare at her because...

Honestly, she is being very, very sweet. And after last night, this is not at all what I expected.

"This isn't what you expected, my dear, is it?" She tilts her head as she stares at me, clicking her tongue in concern.

I go even more rigid when the woman repeats my words. Is she...a mind reader? Or just very, very emphathetic?

"Listen," she says, sitting on the edge of the bed and letting her hands drop to my shoulders, giving me a steadying squeeze. "It's just you and me for now - those are the rules. The boys can't come into the room until we say that they can, alright? I know it's different in Moon Valley where men just invade your space whenever they wish -"

I frown at her because...what? But she moves blissfully on.

"But here," she gives me a happy grin that crinkles her pretty brown eyes. "We have rules to protect our women! And you're quite safe. All right?"

"All...all right," I say, my words breathy. Because even if I don't understand it, honestly it does give me peace to think that my mate won't be bursting through the door at any moment.

"And how are you doing, darling?" The girl asks taking her hands from my shoulders and folding them neatly in her lap, still looking at me with concern. "Are you hungry? The bathroom's just there if you want to get cleaned up," she points over to the right. "Or! I can just sit with you? And we can talk, until you feel calm?"

I just...stare at her, wondering at how fast my life has changed and how easily I've fallen into this woman's world. I look around the room again in a bit of wonder, noting the

incredibly lush furnishings - far net

—

fancier and more expensive than even anything in our personal chambers in the palace. Then I look down at myself, noting that I'm in a very elaborate white nightgown. My eyes go wide at this and I wonder who... who on earth changed me.

Terror races through me at the idea.

 

Chapter 0783

"That was me, darling," the girl says, seeing me look down at my white nightgown and again seeming to read my mind. She reaches out a hand to softly pat mine. "Don't worry, dear - like I said, we have rules here. As soon as Gabriel brought you to the palace I took you in hand." She grins at me like it was a great pleasure to her to keep me safe. "I got you changed and cleaned up and put to bed. Don't worry, love." I exhale slowly, absurdly believing her even though I should be much, much more wary now. But something about those sweet brown eyes - god, it's impossible to think that she might be lying. My wolf yips confirmation in my soul, still wary of everything else but believing her.

"And who are you?" I whisper, shaking my head, still not believing it. That I'm here, that I was stolen away from my life.

"I'm Pippa," she says, giving me a happy smile.

"All right," I whisper.

Then I jump nearly a mile in the air as soon as a soft knock comes at the door.

"Oh, don't worry, Ariel," Pippa says, turning towards it. "That's just my Alpha, bringing you some food. Do you..." she looks at me, hesitant. "Do you...mind? If he comes in?"

"Um," I say, hesitating, looking towards the door - completely unsure about what I want.

"Oh, don't worry," Pippa whispers, leaning close like a conspirator. "He's really nice - the sweetest man

you'll ever meet. Not..." she hesitates, looking around like someone might be listening and not like her words. When she looks back at me and speaks again, she lowers her voice. "He's not nearly as... challenging. As Gabriel."

Gabriel. Is that his name? My mate?

I just stare at Pippa and the knock comes softly again. She grimaces and looks towards it.

"All right," I whisper, nodding to her. "Um, sure. I guess he can come in?"

"You're a peach," she says, standing and dropping a kiss to my cheek. I turn towards the door with absolutely no idea what to expect as she dashes towards it. When she gets there, though, she hesitates and nods towards the bathroom. "Would you like to...go put on a dressing gown, Princess? To...be more comfortable around a man?"

The lovely, encouraging smile she gives me lets me know that...I should probably go do that.

"Uh, sure," I say, hesitating but then pulling myself out of bed. I wince a little at the bruises and stiffness that radiates through my body but then move towards the bathroom that she indicates. I give Pippa a small smile as I pull the door shut behind me. As soon as I'm through press my ear to the wood and hear the outside door creak open and then soft voices as Pippa greets her Alpha, welcoming him to the room.

I exhale slowly and quickly move about the bathroom, first taking the opportunity to relieve myself and then moving to the mirror to wash my hands. I peer closely at my reflection, noting that I look pale but... fine. And that the slap my damned mate gave me yesterday didn't leave any mark behind, probably as he intended.

Then, squeezing some toothpaste

onto a toothbrush I find by the side of the sink, I begin to brush my teeth as I turn and look around the

bathroom which is...honestly

probably the fanciest one I've net

been in in my life. And, considering that I'm a princess who is not a

newcomer to luxury, that is saying something. Gold leaf and ornament covers nearly every available surface and every corner is stuffed either

with some comfortable chair or

shelving with bath products.

I mean, it's all very nice but it is...a lot.

Suddenly, I wish with all of my heart for the stupid Academy bathroom that I share with three Alpha boys. I groan, slumping back against the marble counter, my eyes pressing shut and my toothbrush stilling as I hang my head, wishing for Jacks, and for Rafe, and for Jesse.

God, they must all be so worried about me.

What...what on earth am I going to do? If only I could get out of here.

My eyes flash open and I spin towards the sink, spitting out my toothpaste as I look down at my wrists. Because those manacles - the ones made of blue light - they're certainly gone. I press my eyes shut, willing myself to that other world.

And then I gasp as it...as it works.

My eyes fly wide as my feet hit the dirt, my toothbrush still grasped in my hand. But then I spin, horrified, as I realize that...

That I'm in some kind of insane

cage. I turn in a full circle, looking around baffled at the iron that surrounds me. I move hesitantly towards it, reaching out first with the tip of my finger and giving it a prod. It's cold but... very real. Then Pgrasp it in my hand, still looking around in every direction, and pull as hard as I can.

But the iron stays firm. I peer out between the patchwork bars, realizing that this isn't even the only cage - that there are dozens of them, cages within cages. For...miles.

What...what on earth?

Freaked out, I head back to the spot where I originally landed and beg to be sent back, wanting the calm familiarity of a bathroom while I put the pieces of that all together.

Chapter 0784

Why the hell...

A little knock comes at the door.

"Ariel, sweetheart?" It's Pippa. "Are you okay?"

"Yes!" I call, my voice tight. "Um, just a minute."

Panting, I turn back to the mirror and spit out the toothpaste, scowling when I realize that I'm still a prisoner, even if my magic somehow bizarrely works here. But, is that the only magic that works?

I take a deep breath, shifting my eyes to a towel rack against the wall and calling upon my gift of heat, willing them to burst into flames. I also pull on my mark, my connection to Luca, hoping desperately for any stir of wind, but...

I huff in disappointment, my shoulders drooping, because even if I can shift into the Dark world and the bizarre cages there, I can't pull on my fire magic.

What the hell is going on here?

Slowly, I turn back to my mirror, my mind racing as I try to decide what to do. My wolf paces in my soul, anxious and worried, plans flitting through her own mind - all of them aiming in one direction: to get us home, to get back to Jackson.

I look down at my chest, relieved at this, because honestly half of me was worried that she'd want me to pursue things with this new mate. After all, when I first came in contact with Jackson and Luca - even walked into the same room as them - she'd gone absolutely mad, encouraging me to find them, to get naked, to crawl into their beds.

No, my wolf says, shaking out her fur and baring her teeth. This one - he is our mate. But he is wrong - his wolf is off. Wrong, like that Prince we saw at Midwinter, at the meeting. The one standing next to Ben's mate. He was wrong - incorrect - unnatural -

I exhale slowly, nodding, knowing that she's right. That Gabriel - we knew, instantly, that he was right when he claimed to be our mate. It is...undeniable, as true as it was when I saw Jacks and Luca at that spring the first night and knew that they were mine.

But my wolf is also right that the Prince is...wrong. Something is strange about him, and we have to find out what.

I lift my head, dread coiling within my belly, and look closely at myself in the mirror. At my pale face, my worried eyes. "What the hell am I going to do?"

My wolf howls, anxious and completely without answer.

My lips draw to a thin line as I consider my options. Obviously, my best and most powerful tool - the magic is not available to me. So? What else do I have?

I can't...I can't fight my way out. Not against Atalaxia, not with all these Alphas running around. My mate- Gabriel made that perfectly clear

ret

last night. That I'm just not a physical match for them. Quietly curse that my parents didn't get me fighting lessons as a girl and that I didn't have enough time with Blaze atthe academy. Even as my mind turns to more important things, some part of me makes a mental note to get all of my little girl cousins immediately enrolled in some form of fighting art the moment I get out of this, the moment I get home.

Because one thing is for sure. I am not giving up.

I am going home - home to my mate, and my family, as soon as I can.

But...how do I do that?

I twist my mouth to my side, again going through my arsenal of tools. Obviously, if had a rifle things would be different but...yes, an unlikely plan. Or, access to any poisons? I look around the bathroom but, come on, they're not going to stock anything beyond the mildly toxic in here. I mean, Newman taught me enough that I can mix something up if I can find the right supplies and I'll keep my eyes peeled for those but still...

-

It's not much of a direct path to getting out of here, is it?

I focus again on my reflection in the mirror, one single resource left to me

What, I ask myself quietly, would Faiza tell me to do?

The answer comes immediately to me, as if she lives in my mind.

Survive.

She would telkme to survive. To do whatever it takes to persist in this world, to keep myself intact, to look for every opportunity to escape and to make a plan to get myself out. To survive as long as necessary in order to find that escape path.

To...to make my enemies trust me enough to drop their guard. To convince them that I'm not a threat. Even if in my heart I want to rip every single one of their hearts from their bodies and set them all ablaze. Well. Maybe not Pippa's. But my horrible mate's - his for sure.

Slowly I inhale, knowing precisely what Faiza would tell me to do.

Play dead, Cream Puff, she'd say, giving me that patented wink, her feet propped up on her desk. Let

think you're as stupid and vapid as they want you to be. And then when the time comes?

"I'll cut their fucking throats." I toss the toothbrush into the sink and turn towards the door, not bothering to clean up.

 

Chapter 0785

Steady and bold, I walk back to the bathroom door, slipping an elaborate blue brocade robe off of a hook and slipping it over my arms. As I tie the belt around my waist, I let myself slip into that Cream Puff Princess attitude that Faiza and I spent hours practicing.

Dumb as a rock, I say to myself, emptying my mind of anger and violence and pain. Pretty as a picture. No thoughts, just a desire to please.

I paste my best Princess smile on my mouth, but then alter it slightly, reminding myself that I'm not supposed to be deranged. That I'm also scared, and new to this world, even if I'm going to pretend to be happy to be here.

"You saved me," I whisper to myself, practicing my lines as they come to me. "Thank god, you saved me and took me away from that horrible world."

And then exhaling deeply, I push open the bathroom door and step into the room.

Of course, all of my plans to play Princess Cupcake are immediately wiped from my mind the moment I step into the room and see the couple standing before me.

"Ariel!" Pippa says, turning to me and clasping her hands sweetly under her chin, giving me a bright smile. "Oh, that color looks lovely on you - I thought it might. Do you - would you like some coffee?" She asks, eager, gesturing towards the little table they've set up with a nice spread of breakfast supplies.

But her smile begins to waver when I don't say anything, just staring slack-mouthed at the man she said was her Alpha.

Because I recognize him.

Of course I do - I'd recognize him anywhere, both by his face and by the way my wolf perks up, sniffing the air between us, even as that same shudder passes through me as it did that day, so close to Midwinter, when he'd stood in my palace across the room from me. Next to that horrible one with the

crown.

But this one - I know instantly that it's him. Elias. The cute one.

It's...it's Ben's mate.

And...he really, really is cute.

But I turn my head as I stare at him because...am I mistaken? And why did I never notice it before? That this man - Ben's mate - the cute one...does he...does he suddenly look a great deal like Tony? I mean, Elias's eyes are a bright and shining blue - Tony's were grey - but that lanky frame and that dark hair... Elias shakes me out of my reverie when he gives me warm smile and steps close to Pippa, slipping an arm around her waist.

"Hello, Ariel," he says, his eyes crinkling a little at the corners with what looks like real pleasure to see me, the same way Tony's did. "I'm so sorry you're here on such terrible terms but...it really is wonderful to meet you."

My mouth continues to hang open as I just stare at this man, at my friend's mate. And then I shift my gaze to Pippa, who looks at me anxiously now.

And then down to her very pregnant belly.

And then back to her Alpha who...I mean, who obviously did the job.

Right?

Slowly, the smile fades from Elias's face as he realizes that I know everything. Absolutely everything. That whatever ruse he's got going on with Pippa here? I know that it's fake.

That I've spoken to Ben and know precisely who he is.

Elias's face goes pale as my wolf nips me inside and I realize that in my first trial as a spy, I've made a terrible mistake and shown my cards.

As quick as I can, I wipe my face of any surprise and replace my shock with my best Princess smile, stepping forward with my hand out. "I'm so sorry, I'm being so rude, say, laughing at myself a little and shaking my head like I can't believe I was such an idiot. "I'm Ariel – it's very nice to meet you!"

-

Elias looks down at my hand, his own smile returning to his face, but he makes no move to take it.

"Oh," Pippa says, reaching out and taking my hand in her own, giving it a little squeeze that makes me turn to her in surprise. Softly, she shakes her head at me. "In Atalaxia, dear, women don't shake hands with men

it's just not done. But of course you don't know that! I know things are different in Moon Valley. I hope you don't mind."

"Oh!" I say, turning to Elias in surprise and forcing a blush to my cheeks, even as I smile. "Oh, I'm so sorry, I hope you're not insulted -"

"Far from it, Princess," he murmurs,

giving me a little bow and then gesturing again to the little breakfast table. "Would you eat with us? You must be starving. Again, we're so sorry for such an abrupt introduction to our nation. I promise, it will all be better from here."

"Oh, that's all right," I say, taking my seat with a pretty little laugh. "A good breakfast wipes away almost all woes." To my surprise, my stomach grumbles as I look around the little table, which is packed with food that all looks absolutely delicious.

But, then again, I've always had a good appetite.

"Coffee?" Elias asks, reaching for a pot. "Or tea?"

"Coffee, please," I murmur, demure, allowing Pippa to fill my plate as it seems to please her to do so. She murmurs the names of all the little pastries and tarts, telling me a little about them as she goes, and quietly I wonder if she made them herself.