Ch. 81..85: The Hidden Princess At All-Boys Alpha Academy Chapter 81-85
Chapter 81
“Cadet Clark, keeping his damn secrets,” Jackson sighs, slipping his hands into his pockets and heading again for the stairs.
“Just for now!” I call after him, smiling.
“Damn well better be for now,” Jackson says, turning to look me sternly up and down for a moment, which just deepens my smile. “Or I’ll…I don’t know, beat you up or something.”
I grin, laughing at the threat. “Oh, come on, Jacks, at least challenge yourself. We all know you could do that with your eyes closed. The secrets are worth the wait, I promise it.”
But he just growls, low in his throat, glaring at me in a way that…
God, but my stomach flips over. Does somersaults, if I’m being honest or more accurately hurls itself of a cliff in freefall. And then my mate smirks at me, laughing as he shakes his head and makes his way down the stairs, ducking his too–tall head so he doesn’t hit it on the ceiling as he goes. The moment Jackson disappears, I slump back against my door, my knees…a little bit weaker than I’d ever want to admit.
Time passes quickly after this, faster than I’d like to see it go because there’s just an incredible amount to do and, it seems, not enough hours to do it.
Predictably, the insane workouts that Rafe and Jesse put me through take up the majority of my time and energy. They really do press me to the edges of my abilities, and while the work is grueling I understand that there’s a great deal of love behind it. My brother and my cousin, I know, are rooting for me and are only making me fall into bed every night in at state of complete exhaustion because they want to set me up well for the Examination.
The rest of my time is spent working quite hard on Chemistry and Marksmanship, which quickly outstrip Magic class as my favorites. I don’t make the mistake of going to Alvez alone anymore, always finding a way to casually ask Rafe or Jesse to come with me, which they always oblige. Alvez, I know, sees right through me –
and looks at me in a way that promises retribution which I know he will enjoy. But…well, I’ll deal with that when I have to.
None of us make any more particular progress in that class, either because we haven’t yet figured out how to work with our powers or like Jackson because we refuse to reveal
– them. Jesse and Rafe, I know, are disappointed that they haven’t manifested anything yet, especially when they see Tony’s demonstration of being able to breathe under water. We all stood around watching him lay in a bathtub for about half an hour, which really was very impressive.
I haven’t figured out how to melt anything besides a little glass marble yet but…well. Considering that Magic is a class that doesn’t have any threats of expulsion attached to it, it does fall a bit to the wayside, which I think pisses Alvez off.
Instead, the majority of my spare energy and attention goes to Chemistry over the next couple of weeks the only class that really challenges me. Marksmanship is kind of a delight – I quickly outstrip my classmates as the Captain’s favorite, ensuring that his bet on me at the beginning of term was made in good faith. We’ve mastered the bow and the crossbow and are now moving on to revolvers, because the Captain wants to make sure we can handle every weapon we come across, not just the fancy one with powerful scopes.
But while I am clearly the Captain’s pet, Dr. Neumann…god, I don’t think he likes any of us. Or, at least the punishing way he administers his grades on our quizzes, exams, and projects suggests that we’re all horrible little toads who are deeply undeserving of his time. and attention.
I groan as my test comes back about a week before the end of the term, missing about twenty points worth of credit. I put my head in my hands as I stare at my grade- because I worked so hard for this, spent hours studying. What the hell had gone wrong…
I begin to flick through the pages, looking over Alvez’s notes as I glance at the other students in the class, wondering if their results were as devastatingly bad as mine. Considering the horror on everyone’s faces, though, I think they might have been. None of us have really become friends, honestly, except for maybe Hai, who I think is funny and clever.
Instead, Neumann pits us against each other in class, I think on purpose. He wants his espionage students, I think, to be quite independent, not to lean on each other for support. In the field, after all, we’ll likely be working solo.
It makes sense, even if it does make for lonely days with no one to talk to about the rigors of Chemistry track.
“This,” Neumann says, tapping on the test still sitting on my desk at the end of class, after almost everyone has already left the classroom, “has to get better, Clark.”
I look up at him, surprised by the stern note of his voice. “I’m working, Sir,” I say, my eyes wide and genuine. “Honestly, I am studying.”
“You also spend a great deal of time with your family and your friends,” he says, crossing his arms over his chest and glaring at me.
My jaw drops open a little in surprise. How how did he know that?
He just raises an eyebrow, giving nothing away. “This is serious work, Clark, not a game. You have a promising mind – don’t squander your opportunities. Save fun for your winter
break. Now? Work.”
I press my lips together and nod, guilt running through me because he’s right. It’s not that friends and family aren’t important – of –
urse they are but I’ve got a limited time to prove my worth here at this Academy, to demonstrate that I belong here, even though I’m a girl and even though I’m a spoiled royal.
Neumann sees my renewed determination and nods once before turning away.
Exhaling, I grab my bag and my test, heading out the door and up to my room.
My brother and my cousin let me walk through the halls alone now, which is a tiny relief. Wright has stopped bothering me, either because he’s scared of my bodyguards or has his own things to worry about, I don’t know which. Either way, I’ve been deemed “safe enough,” and I think everyone in our year has figured out that I’m off limits for bullying if they don’t want to face any Sinclair wrath.
Which, considering the amount of muscle that Rafe and Jesse have put on this semester is… not a small threat.
As I burst scowling into the room, though, I find that pretty much everyone is here. Rafe raises his eyebrows in surprise. “You okay?” he asks.
Ben sends me a wave, concentrating on his essay, and Luca sits up on the couch, looking curiously at me.
“Twenty points off on my Chem test,” I snap, tossing the shameful paper on the coffee table after I press the door shut behind me. “I can’t believe it – I’m so mad at myself.”
Jesse clicks his tongue consolingly, glancing up at me before reaching for the test. “That sucks, Ari I know you killed yourself studying for this. Honestly, did he make it too hard?”
“No such thing as too hard,” I scowl, flopping down on the couch and crossing my arms, still upset.
Luca turns towards me and stretches out a leg, letting the casual touch of our bodies. his warmth and his condolence and his sorriness to see me upset.
carry
I meet his eyes, grateful, and give him a small smile with a pulse of thanks down the bond. He sends a sweeping sense of faith and affection in response, letting me know that he
in me. It warms me, body and soul, and I can’t keep from smiling at him.
believe, it
“Do you want me to have a word with this Neumann guy?” Rafe asks, taking the test from Jesse and studying it closely.
And I groan, knowing that if I asked him? Rafe probably would.
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“Honestly, Ari, you did kill yourself studying for this test,” Rafe says, looking at me seriously, “and I know you know the material up and down. He must have included trick questions
“Rafe,” I sigh, leaning back against the arm of the couch, “I don’t need the Prince going to yell at my professors for me, that’s not going to make a man like Neumann be any nicer or give me better grades.”
“I don’t want him to be nicer, I want him to be fair,” Rafe corrects.
“Well, at least we’re all doing shitty in Chemistry,” I sigh, “not just me. So. He is technically being fair.”
Rafe shifts uncomfortably in his seat, unhappy to not be able to do something to help me, I know. And my heart warms more to see him like that, to know that I have a big brother who’d tear the world to pieces to make it a cozier place for me.
But still, I want to prove myself here I really do. I don’t want to cut corners and get special treatment, and I know Jesse and Rafe get that.
“Well, we’ll burn an effigy of him on midwinter,” Jesse says, his eyes on his own textbook, studying some kind of military theory. “That will make us all feel better.”
Rafe nods sagely, smirking at Jesse, but he gets up when the dumbwaiter bell rings, heading to the little door to get our dinner.
Luca gives me a little nudge with his toe and I turn to see him give me a little smirk and a wink. I smile, biting my lip and leaning my weight against his leg a little more, pleased to
see him.
Because while these past few weeks and months have been absolutely grueling?
Luca has been….absolutely the best part.
Every day we meet at breakfast and I’m absolutely buzzing to see him. We eat with our legs. pressed together beneath the table, and I kind of forget that anyone else is around, so lost
do we get in our conversations. Luca heads off with Jesse and Rafe to do their warrior stuff all day, and I either head to Chemistry or Marksmanship or study with Ben.
But nights? Nights are where Luca and I really shine.
Dinner in our suite is always the best end to these long and grueling days, with my little. group of friends all cobbling together to study, and eat, and make each other laugh as much as we can. We’re all stressed, I know the program makes us that way. But with Jesse’s wild sense of humor, and Rafe’s wry quips, and Ben’s clever observations and Luca’s bold willingness to say whatever damn thing comes into his head?
–
God, I spent most of my evenings stretched out on the couch, holding my stomach because I’m laughing so hard.
Luca, I know, delights in this, and he’s figured out precisely the things to say that make me laugh the hardest, pushing those buttons expertly like a scientist whose singular job is to make me laugh so hard my ribs ache. We spend most of our nights stretched out on the couch together, beaming at each other, just…so incredibly pleased to be in each other’s
company.
Jesse and Ben smile happily at Luca and me, I think pleased to be able to watch our relationship develop, but Rafe…
Well, perhaps predictably, he’s less pleased.
“You need to be careful with him, Ari,” Rafe says one night after Luca, Ben, and Jesse head down to the gym to do a little boxing practice. Rafe, to my surprise, stays back with me, sitting on the couch with me, studying me carefully.
“What?” I ask, sitting up straight and not bothering to pretend that he’s talking about Ben. “What’s wrong?”
Rafe just slowly shakes his head at me. “You have a mate, Ariel,” he says softly, like he doesn’t want to have to be the one who says it.
I bite my lip, not really knowing how to respond to that. Because, of course, Rafe thinks that he’s talking about Jackson but really, he’s talking about Luca too.
“Look,” Rafe sighs, glancing at the door where the three boys just left, “dad had this chat
O
with me a long time ago, and so now I’m going to have it with you. But can you promise to keep this between us? It’s personal.”
I perk up, curious. I didn’t know that Rafe kept anything at all from Jesse – I mean, the three of us are very close, but I’m well aware that the bond between Rafe and Jesse is particularly close–knit.
“Of course,” I say instantly, meaning it. If my brother asks me to keep a secret, I’m going to
do it.
“There was a point a couple of years ago when dad caught me…with a girl.”
1 gasp, delighted. “Who was it!?” I ask, leaning forward towards him.
“Not the point of the story,” Rafe says, giving me a tiny glare before I grin and he moves on. “Anyway, dad wasn’t mad at me or anything, but we sat down and he told me some stuff that really…stuck with me. And I’m going to say it now to you and you can do what you want with it but I hope you’ll listen.”
Fascinated, I nod.
“He told me,” Rafe sighs, pressing the bridge of his nose between his thumb and forefinger. “that when Aunt Cora and Uncle Roger brought me to the Goddess to have me baptized as a baby that…they saw that I have a mate.”
“Rafe!” I gasp, leaning further forward and smacking him on the knee, “that is amazing! Oh my god! Do you know who it is!?”
He shakes his head, dropping his hand from his face and looking evenly at me. “Dad didn’t want to give me any details because he wants me to live my life as normally as I can. But he saw how much I liked this girl and…” he shrugs, trying to figure out his words, “he just wanted me to think about what it might mean to fall in love when I know that I’ve got something big coming my way that would… interrupt that.”
I sit back against the couch now, seeing where he’s going with this.
“I know you….like Luca,” Rafe says softly, and my heart swells to see how much my brother is working to care for me. “And there’s nothing wrong with that. But just…take care of his heart and yours, all right? Jackson is…”
Rafe looks towards the door, hesitating.
I smile a little, seeing him work to try to understand my complicated, taciturn other mate. Jackson has been around a little bit more, but he hasn’t exactly ingratiated himself with the group over the past weeks – and honestly, I know that Luca has been a large part of turning
him away.
But Rafe, I can tell, doesn’t dislike Jackson. He just doesn’t get our connection, not yet.
“Jackson’s important,” I say quietly, nodding, understanding where Rafe is going with this. “I get it. But Rafe,” I slowly shake my head, silently asking me to trust me on this too, “Luca’s important too, all right?”
Rafe sighs and, to my surprise, moves closer on the couch, wrapping me in his arms and hugging me tight. “I know,” he murmurs, giving me a kiss on the head in much the same way that dad does. “I just don’t want either of you to get your hearts broken, okay? Just….be careful, little sister.”
“I will,” I sigh, allowing myself to relax against my brother’s warm side for a moment, letting him worry about me in a way that makes me feel comforted and protected. I fight the desperate urge to just spill everything now, to reveal all the details.
But…we’re just so close to finals and the Examination.. Spilling to him that I’ve got two mates, and that Luca is one of them? It’s going to blow up Rafe’s world and completely freak him out precisely when he needs to concentrate.
Rafe and I stay close like that for the next hour or so, sitting on the couch and studying separately even though I feel closer to him in this moment than I ever have before. We both jump a little, the stillness of our moment interrupted, when Jesse and Luca come back into the room covered in sweat, Ben looking relaxed as he follows behind.
Chapter 83
“Didn’t join in on the boxing, Ben?” Rafe asks, grinning at him.
“Nah, didn’t feel like getting my lights punched out by the national champ,” Ben quips, gesturing towards his face, “I got too much beauty going on here to risk that.” I grin at Ben as he sinks into Jesse’s chair. Jesse gives us a wave as he heads immediately to the bathroom for a quick shower.
“How’d the workout go?” Rafe asks Luca, smiling. “You ready? Fight’s coming up.”
“Oh, I’m ready,” Luca says, pumping a couple of practice punches into the air. My eyebrows raise, because honestly he moves so fast and with such power that I can barely see his hands move when he does that. “Going to knock Atalaxia into the last century, first round.”
“I wish you would,” Rafe sighs. “Their technology, apparently, is getting advanced.”
I half listen as Rafe and Luca chat casually about the war for a few minutes before Jesse comes out of the bathroom in his towel and Luca goes in, taking advantage of our over- luxurious bathroom as he always does whenever he has a chance. The other cadet’s bathrooms are, apparently, a far cry from what we’ve got in here.
When Luca comes out a few minutes later, dressed in a pair of Jesse’s spare pajamas, he immediately flops onto the couch next to me, his eyes fluttering shut.
“You beat?” I ask quietly.
“If you’re asking if your cousin beat me,” Luca murmurs, smirking a little, “the answer is no. He is slow, like fighting a snail.
–
“False!” Jesse calls, yawning, from his bed. “I am swift, like a bunny. I just went easy on you.”
I let my hand fall to the side of Luca’s leg where Rafe can’t obviously see it, letting my fingers idly stroke the fabric of my mate’s pajamas. “I’m sure you beat him soundly, as he deserves,” I reply with a happy sigh. “But, as you realize, I’m asking if you’re tired.”
“Always,” Luca replies, yawning and glancing towards his books with a groan. “Just let me… close my eyes here for a minute or two.”
“Luca,” I groan, slapping the side of his leg a little. “You have to study too!” Of all of us, studies by far the least, which always worries me. He’s not as worried about the
Examination as Ben and I are, but he’s certainly the most at risk of failing out according to his regular coursework.
At least, that’s what I thought until I got my Chem test back tonight. I scowl, looking over at
1. it.
“I’ll study tomorrow,” Luca murmurs, his voice light and unbothered. “You can be the smart one between us, Ari, I don’t mind.”
“It will be sad without you here next semester, Luca,” I sigh, giving his leg another slap and
eyes turning back to my own books. He just smirks and shakes his head, keeping his shut.
When bedtime rolls around a little bit later, I do my best to get up without disturbing him, heading for my nook with chemical equations rushing around in my mind. When Rafe likewise gets up and moves to shake Luca’s shoulder, I throw a hand out towards him, shaking my head.
Rafe frowns at me, silently asking why, and I step close, whispering. “He’s tired, Rafe, what’s the harm? He’ll sleep as well on the couch as in his bed.”
Rafe just shrugs, conceding the point and not really caring. Ben waves his goodbyes to us, heading out the door, as I spread my green throw over Luca, tucking it in around him so that he stays cozy warm. Then I wave my goodnights to Rafe and Jesse over my shoulder as, exhausted, I climb into bed.
I put out my lamp, noting the rest of the room going dark beyond my curtain, pulled shut tonight for a little extra privacy. Then I lay my head down, taking off my cap and unwinding my tight braid, running my fingers along my scalp and wondering if I’ll even see Luca in the dream state tonight when he’s so tired.
And though I very much want him to rest, I desperately hope that I do see him there.
friends…
Arcowe while we spend our evenings laughing companionably with him there.
The dream state is where we really light up.
I meet Luca in the dream state pretty much every night now, and, as promised, he spends our time there teaching me a great deal about myself, and my body. We haven’t gone very
far yet, sexually it’s really just a lot of kissing and petting, with Luca respecting the fact that I’m dictating the pace. But in the past week or so, especially, things have gotten… heated.
And I admit that I’m starting to get…curious. About more.
But even if I were curious, I’m not sure I’m bold enough to ask for it yet – or, really, prepared to deal with the consequences of that curiosity. There’s absolutely no part of me that wants to get pregnant
right now, obviously, and while Daphne has helped me with a variety of feminine products it does feel like a step beyond to ask her to start ferrying contraceptives to me.
And I mean…I don’t think I can get pregnant in the dream state but….
I mean, can I?!
I sigh, thinking it through, deciding that I really, really need to have a chat with my mom about this about all of this –
–
But I gasp, suddenly, when I feel the edge of the mattress sink on my left. I instantly spin towards the movement, my eyes wide in the darkness, but a hand covers my mouth to stifle any cry I might make and that scent-
Well, I’d know it in my sleep, wouldn’t I?
I nod, quickly, to let Luca know that I understand and he drops his hand away as he crawls onto my bed. I simultaneously sit up and make room for him, anxiously glancing beyond. him towards my curtain, which suddenly feels very flimsy, and the room beyond.
Luca! I scold, putting the word directly into his mind. What do you think you’re doing!?
They’re asleep, he replies, his mouth silent as he wraps his arms around me and pulls me close, slipping under my covers and pressing a silent kiss to my temple. They’re snoring away, I made sure of it before I moved.
I gasp then, just a tiny sound, as I realize that he planned this, only pretending to be so sleepy earlier. Then I smack him on the chest. Luca! You’re taking unnecessary risks!
Ariel, Luca replies, taking my face in his hands and pressing a soft, desperate kiss to my
–
mouth. Please. I’m dying here. The dream state is amazing but god, please, please just let me hold you in my real arms.
I relent, then, instantly half for the sad, desperate tone of his words, half because I, too, have been craving this. And so I curl up with my mate, tucking my head beneath his chin. and wrapping my arms around him, even letting my legs tangle up with his beneath the
Covers.
Instantly, I feel him relax, feel his breathing soften, sense his heartbeat slowing with the rightness of it all. I dip my head, pressing a kiss to his chest as I let my hand slide down the long length of his torso, dipping beneath the blankets and then untucking his shirt to run my fingers idly along the skin of his back. He twitches a little, ticklish, but I can feel him smile and then lean into my touch.
Wouldn’t think the national boxing champion was so ticklish, I murmur into his mind.
I’m a delightful mix of contradictions, Luca replies, his mental voice sleepy and happy. He rubs his cheek across the length of my hair, feeling the softness of it against his face, a sweet, wolfish gesture that goes right to my heart.
I sigh, nuzzling against him. I’m going to have to burn these pajamas and these sheets, I mutter to him, you’re getting your stinky scent all over me. I’m kidding, though no part
of me is actually mad to have my mate sneaking into my bed in the middle of the night.
–
Could just take those pajamas off now, Luca casually remarks, making my head fly up to glare at him. Let me get my scent all over your body instead..
I pull back a little, narrowing my eyes. We are not doing STUFF in this bed tonight, sir, I let him know, my words stern. Not with my brother and my cousin separated from us only with a bit of velvet fabric.
I know, Luca replies, sighing, even as his hand does drift down my body, lower than it’s ever gone in real life. A shiver goes through me as his broad palm moves over my ass and slides. down my thigh, pulling my leg up over him so that my knee hitches up over his hip. He presses a soft, silent kiss to my lips.
Like I said, he continues, mind–to–mind, I just want to hold you, Ariel. I’ve been sick with wanting you in my arms. It doesn’t feel right, having you by my side all the time and not being able to grab you, and kiss you, and throw you over my shoulder and carry you away
to bed-
Спаркет 0
I laugh now, working to stifle the sound, shaking my head at him in the dark before pressing a kiss to his mouth. Go to sleep now, boy, I say, pressing my eyes shut and letting my head fall to the pillow. We’ll talk there.
My gorgeous mate nods, his own eyes drifting shut, and then – nose–to–nose asleep.
we fall
Chapter 84
I’m shocked, however, when I wake up a few hours later to find that we did not, indeed, go to the dream state. I spend a moment wondering what happened but then…well, I guess we didn’t need to, did we? Not curled up as we were all night long, tangled up in each other, sharing our dreams in a completely different way.
So I just smile at my still–sleeping mate, admiring the sweep of his long eyelashes in the dark–blue light of early dawn. After a moment, though, I attune my hearing, wanting to know if Rafe and Jesse are up if we’ve been caught…
But no, I can hear them both still breathing the slow, heavy breaths that suggest they’ve slept soundly through the night. And so I risk it, turning over in my mate’s arms and wrapping his arm around me, pressing my back to his front and giving him a mental nudge down the bond, waking him up.
Instantly, Luca’s arms tighten, pulling me closer against him. He takes a moment to come back to consciousness and I can almost feel him blinking awake before he dips his head, pressing a kiss to the back of my neck.
Morning, gorgeous, he murmurs, his voice somehow still thick with sleep even though it’s only sounding in my mind. I like waking up like this.
Me too, I say back, happiness thrumming through me.
I especially like this part, he says, his mental voice lazy and warm as his hand drifts down to my hip and pulls my ass back hard against him. My eyes fly wide as I instantly go fully awake when I feel the long length of him hard against my ass.
I mean, I’ve gotten used to it in the dream state but…this is definitely the first time that I’ve felt it in person. And honestly, after all of that dream practice…
I have to admit, I don’t hate it. I arch my back a little, pressing myself tighter against him, letting him feel all of me against all of him.
Luca groans quietly, half in my mind and half in real life and I bite my lip for the joy of it, the sheer pleasure of turning my mate on, making him want me. His hips buck slightly as he buries his face against my neck, his hand slipping from my hip upwards along my skin,
Emergency calls onlyMO
over my waist and up my torso until he cups my breast in his palm.
* .096%
15:36
The moan that nearly escapes my lips – he’s ready for that too. Luca slips his other hand around my head, covering my mouth so no one can hear me as he grinds himself against me, softly squeezing my breast in his hand, letting his thumb stroke idly over the sensitive skin of my nipple in a way that has my eyes fluttering shut, my head arching back on my neck.
I can’t wait to mark you, Luca whispers into my mind, pressing his lips along my neck right where, I think, he intends to press his teeth into my skin giving me his mark and letting everyone know, incontrovertibly, that I’m his and he’s mine. I nod, agreeing, wanting it very badly in this moment, losing myself to the very literal reality of him along every of me –
But then Luca sighs, and pulls away, and I turn towards him in surprise.
But he just shakes his head at me, glancing towards the curtain, and I sigh, nodding.
inch
Never thought, gorgeous, he says, shaking his head and stroking the soft skin of my cheek. with the backside of his hand, that I’d be the mature one putting an end to this sort of thing.
Maybe you just….make me throw caution to the wind a little, Luca, I reply, smirking at him and turning over to get one last look at my mate in the secret morning light of our little nook.
He sighs, deeply regretting it, I think, and then leans forward to press a long kiss to my mouth. Before I know it, though, he’s gone through the curtain and back to the couch.
I take a long moment to collect myself, knowing I need a shower, knowing that I’ve got to get these pajamas tucked away in my hamper before Rafe gets a whiff of them…
But then, something completely cruel comes to my mind. And I immediately decide to go
with it.
Two or three minutes later I peek out of my curtain, my eyes instantly darting to Rafe’s bed. and then Jesse’s. When I’m fully convinced that they’re still asleep, I slip out and slowly walk towards the bathroom.
My mate, pretending to be asleep on the couch but secretly watching my every move, lets out a very real, not–too–quiet moan as I walk past him only in a set of girls‘ panties that Daphne set up to me, my naked breasts cupped in the hands that I’ve got crossed over my
chest.
I almost burst out laughing at his reaction as Luca covers his face with his hands, turning to face the ceiling and clenching his jaw.
You are killing me. Ariel! He shouts, the words echoing loud in my head as I laugh and pull open the bathroom door, slipping inside. This is cruel! Borderline mental and emotional abuse – god damn it
“Luca?” I hear Jesse’s concerned, sleepy voice ask. “You still here? You okay, man?”
I’m still grinning, wicked, as I pull the door shut behind me.
“Sorry, Jesse,” Luca sighs. “Just a nightmare. An absolute god. damn. nightmare.”
And then I sigh happily, a little too pleased with myself as I skip over to the shower and turn on the water, nice and hot.
Classes go well that day, with me passing marksmanship with flying colors and receiving a great deal of gratifying praise from the Captain, especially after Neumann was so disappointed in me yesterday. But not even that can keep my concentration on schoolwork, because I am so incredibly excited about tonight.
I charge up the steps to our room after class, already mentally composing the note that I plan to send down in the dumbwaiter asking for extra provisions for this evening, because it is Friday and finally finally! – Daphne is coming up for a visit.
–
She’s been very overwhelmed with her work lately, and while I’ve been going down for a few hours a couple times a month to sit and study while she sews, this is the first night when she has some time free. And Daphne – she’s been so overwhelmed lately, and I think she’s quite lonely. Also, I that she’ll get along with our group beautifully and that we can
cheer her up.
Overall, I just really, really want to show her a good time, and I’m going to do everything in
my power to make it happen.
All the boys have promised to be on their best behavior and, as I hurry into the room, I start to move around, cleaning up and getting ready. A little guilt pulses through me as I set schoolwork out of my mind for a moment, though, remembering what Neumann said about prioritizing school while I have the small window to do so.
But…well, friendship is important too, right?
I bite my lip, knowing what he’d say about my evening plans, but there’s no time to think on it when the door opens behind me.
I spin, instructions already on my lips for whoever is there, but I falter for a second when I see that it’s…
It’s Jackson.
“Sorry,” he says, glancing around the empty room awkwardly. “Am I…early?”
“No,” I say, bursting into a smile. “No, Jacks. You’re right on time.”
Chapter 85
“Nah,” he says, grimacing and starting to back out of the door, “I’m totally carly-
“Jacks!” I laugh, darting over to him and grabbing his arm, tugging him into the room. “Everyone will be here in like, thirty seconds. Just come and sit down or, better
or, better yet, make yourself useful –”
–
I drag him over to the coffee table and shove a pen and paper into his hand.
“What am I supposed to do?” he mutters, staring at it.
“Just write that we’d like dinner sent up for two more,” I say, waving a hand at him as I continue to straighten up, setting pillows right and folding blankets. Jackson sighs dramatically but does as I say, heading over to the dumbwaiter with the note even as I marvel that he’s here at all.
I mean I shouldn’t be that surprised that Jacksons‘ here I invite him to come over all the time. He’s gotten closer with Rafe and Jesse over the past two weeks during magic class, and I know that they like him. Plus, like Daphne, I suspect that he’s lonely and could use a night.
of fun.
I know that it will be awkward with Luca at first but I mean, Luca’s going to have to get used to it too, eventually, isn’t he? I mean, I have to imagine that at some point…Luca and Jackson are going to like, know about each other. And I figure….the more used to each other they get now, the easier that will be?
Right?
I sigh, shaking my head, not wanting to think about that now as I put my hands on my hips, looking around the room.
“What’s next?” Jackson asks, walking slowly over to me, his hands in his pockets, just the touch of a smile gracing his lips.
I start to say something but then forget my words, captivated as I am by the sight of him. his broad shoulders, his strongly featured face, that long, straight nose. Instead of speaking. I just smile.
Jackson laughs at me, shaking his head. “Why do you do that?”
“Do what?” I cock my head to the side.
“You just stare at me sometimes,” he murmurs, stepping close.
“Well have you seen you?” I say, my eyes going wide as I take a long moment to look at him from head to toe. “You’re kind of a surprising specimen.”
“I am not,” he sighs, looking away from me and grinning nonetheless. “I’m just big, but you’re used to that, in the family you came from.”
“You’re more than just big, Jacks,” I say with a little sigh, drawing his eyes back to me. It smile at him again. “I’m really glad you came. You’re going to like Daphne.”
“Daphne?” he asks, the smile falling from his face.
“My friend!” I say, grinning anew and moving to the fire. “Didn’t I tell you she was coming? I figured that’s why you came you’re probably sick of our faces, but you’ll get to meet
someone new
–
“A girl!?” he asks, and I look up in surprise to see him looking towards the door with real anxiety on his face..
“Yesss,” I say slowly, watching him curiously. “Is that a…problem?”
Jackson spins his head back to me, his brow furrowed, but before he can say anything else the door opens again, Jesse and Ben coming through.
“Hey!” Ben calls, grinning between us. Jesse beams, crossing the room quickly and shaking Jackson’s hand, giving him a warm welcome and working very hard to make him feel at home.
“Wow,” Ben says, kneeling down by the fire with me and starting to hand me wood, “I can’t believe you finally got him here. To a social occasion. How long do you think before he
bolts?”
“About five minutes,” I say, giving Ben a sad little look. “I just told him a girl is coming and he flipped.”
Ben bursts out laughing at this, shaking his head at me. “Oh, if he only knew that he’s been in the presence of one all this time.” I grin too, stacking the longs on the fire and speaking softly to Ben as I light a match.
“Take him under your wing a bit, okay, Ben? I want Jackson to have fun, and you’re nicer than the rest.”
“Aye aye, Princess Captain,” Ben says happily, giving me a little salute before moving to Jackson’s side to say a real hello.
1 sigh with contentment as the fire catches on the little bit of kindling I’ve shoved beneath the logs, starting to burn warm and cozy. I sit back on my heels, watching the fire lick up the cool wood, pleased again to have a fireplace in this castle, which is getting colder and colder as the nights pass.
“What the hell is he doing here?”
I jump almost out of my skin, so lost was I in contemplating the fire, before I look up to see Luca staring down at me, his hands tucked deep in his pockets.
I sigh, exasperated, the moment I recover from my surprise. “Luca,” I growl, grabbing his wrist and tugging him down next to me. “You’d better be nice to Jackson tonight he’s my guest –”
“Yes, Ariel,” Luca growls back, using my name as a way to suggest to me that he’s being very serious, though he pitches his voice low enough that no one will hear. “And why have you, in particular, invited him?”
–
I shake my head at him, not wanting to have this fight again. Because of course Luca and I have talked about Jackson at length in the dream state and Luca just absolutely does not get my insistence on continuing our friendship when it bothers him so much.
We need to tell him, my wolf says in my mind, giving me a determined little nip. We’re not being fair – it’s getting close to blatantly lying to him, at this point.
I nod, agreeing with her, determined to do it over winter break. But god, it’s going to break his heart, and maybe mine too. Luca – he’s become so important to me over these past weeks and months. I just…don’t want to ruin what we have.
Selfish, my wolf quips, nipping at me again. But I roll my eyes at her, turning my attention back to my angry mate. Because even if it is selfish, I can’t just blurt it out right now.
“Please, Luca,” I say, reaching out and putting a soft hand on his forearm. “Jackson’s really nice, and he’s lonely. Can you please find it in your heart to just be nice to a poor guy who doesn’t have any friends?”
Luca sighs but then glances up to where Jackson is standing at the center of the room, towering over everyone but Rafe, chatting amiably with all of our friends.
“He doesn’t look so lonely now, does he?” Luca says, a little bitter.
And my heart swells because….well, no he doesn’t. Jackson – in this moment, at least, he looks… warm. Accepted. Like he’s having fun.
Of course, his face goes pale when a little knock comes at the door.
“Daphne!” I shout, jumping to my feet, knowing there’s only one person it could be.
Her face bursts into a grin as she sees me and I hurry to her side. I wrap her in a warm hug. tugging her into the room. “I love your dress!” I whisper, my eyes roving over the pretty purple fabric with blue flowers printed on it. “Did you make it?”
“Of course I did,” she says, flipping her hair back over her shoulder and pretending to be smug about it even though she glances in towards the room, her hands tight around the bottle of wine that she’s brought. She leans in closer to me. “Do I really look okay?”
“You look gorg,” I say, grinning at her, meaning it. Daphne – she really is very pretty, isn’t she? “Come in, please!”