Ch. 851..855: The Hidden Princess At All-Boys Alpha Academy Chapter 851-855

Chapter 0851

Delighted, I drop Gabriel's hand and leap to my feet, dashing for the side of the cage where Jacks stands.

But then I stop in my tracks, stumbling over my feet, my lips turning down in a harsh frown. "Jackson," I growl, standing straight and putting one hand on a hip, using the other to point to the small girl - young woman? - held up high in my place on Jackson's arm. "What is that?"

"Sorry, that's mine," Jesse says, peering out from behind Jackson and grinning at me before turning to frown up at Jacks. "Though I agree, Jackson. You can put her down now, please."

I gasp, relief and shock running through me as I dash for the bars, reaching for my cousin. "Jesse!"

Ben gasps and rushes with me to the side of the cage.

"No!" groans the girl, shaking her head. "I don't want to be put down! It's so nice up high!"

"Hey, Ari,” Jesse says, laughing and reaching for me through the bars. "Hey Ben!"

I grab my cousin's hand, yanking him close and pulling him into a hug even as he shouts at the rough treatment, banging against the bars.

"Are you okay!?" I gasp, desperately afraid for him. "Are you -" I pull back, looking him over again and again, "you're safe!? And how did - what -"

I frantically look between Jesse and Jacks and the girl, baffled, as Ben likewise reaches for Jesse, pulling him into a hug and looking fascinatedly at Jacks. I know he, like me, is wondering where on earth they came from.

"It's a long story," Jackson says, bending to put the girl down on her feet despite her protests. "But I imagine what's going on in this cage is more important."

I see Jackson's teeth flash as he looks in at the Prince laying poisoned on the ground.

"What the fuckkk is going on here," Jesse whispers, looking with wide eyes into the cage.

"Hi, I'm...Elias..." Elias says, giving an awkward little wave.

"What's up, man," Jesse says, giving Elias a tiny wave and the universal bro greeting of a sharply lifted chin.

"Can we come in, finally?" Jackson asks, one hand on the bars, his face very serious as he looks at me, his wolf sniffing at my wolf, sensing that something is... different.

"Yes, you may enter," I say, giving a mocking little bow and gesturing them in.

Jesse frowns. "But there's no..."

His words fade as Jackson grips two bars and, calling on his magic, bends them backwards as easily as pulling open a cabinet.

"All right,” Jesse says as the girl claps appreciatively. "Now...there's a door."

"Who is that," I whisper to Jesse through the bars as Jacks steps in and then lifts the girl through.

"Um, that's Midnight," Jesse says,

giving me an awkward little grimace. "She's my mate. Just...go with it, okay? She's great but...sometimes people take a minute to warm up to her tell you everything later."

I look at Jesse for a moment with

wide eyes, but then am distracted from my shock when Jackson strides over and grabs me to him, lifting me high up into his arms and sealing his mouth to mine in a determined kiss. I work hard to stifle the moan that blooms in my throat as I wrap my arms around his neck and pull him close, deepening the kiss, giving myself over to it.

"How come you never kiss me? That looks nice."

"Oh my stars, Mids," Jesse says on a sigh. "This is...not the time for that conversation."

I grin, breaking the kiss and beaming at my Jacks, my sweetheart mate. "Hey."

He growls, possessive and joyful, tightening his arm around my back. "Anything you want to tell me?"

"Yeah,” I say on a sigh, wriggling in request to be put down. He obliges and I look up into his face, taking his hand. "I kind of...accepted the bond with that one."

-

―

We talked about it, of course – this being part of the plan. And he hadn't been happy about it - which makes sense though he knew it was coming. Still, I see the pain and the jealousy pass over his expression even if he tries to hide it.

Jackson clenches his teeth against his sigh, squeezing my hand and looking over

at Gabriel laying on the ground, his breaths coming slow. Despite his self-

restraint, Jackson can't help flashing his teeth again.

Chapter 0852

"Is this your other mate?" the girl asks me, wandering over to look down at

Gabriel. Then she looks up at Elias. "Or is it that one?"

Elias laughs a little and shakes his head as Jacks, Ben, Jesse, and I join the two of them, forming a semicircle around Gabriel's body.

"It's that one," I say, gesturing to Gabriel as we all look down at him.

Midnight in particular looks back and forth between Jackson and Gabriel, and I grin as I watch her, not fully understanding this strange little creature but liking her immediately. "Hmm," Midnight says, considering. "I mean, the one on the ground is very fancy, but Jackson is certainly better looking. You should pick him."

I burst out laughing. Inwardly, Jackson's wolf preens even if his face shows none of his pride and pleasure at Midnight's words.

"I'm not sure Gabriel is at his best right now,” I say, sinking to my knees by the Prince's side, a hand going to his throat as I check his pulse. "I've just poisoned him with cyanide, after all."

"Eh, I still think Jacks is better," Midnight says, crossing her arms and giving a steady nod, decided. "I am Midnight," she says, almost as an afterthought. "You are pleased to meet me."

I laugh, a bit delighted. "Yes, I am. I'm Ariel, Jesse's cousin."

"I know," she says, grinning at me and then turning her gaze to Jesse. "I like her better than the rat."

"I'm sure the rat will be devastated," Jesse replies, dry.

"What?" Ben asks, confused. "There's a rat?"

"Listen this is all...very nice," Elias says, a little awkward. "But my brother is dying - and even if he's been horrible lately, I...might prefer if he didn't? If there's something we can do to help him?"

"Oh, right!" I say, gasping a little in surprise at how quickly I forgot everything in my shock at Jesse's arrival. "Jacks?" I say, reaching up for him, wanting his hand.

He sighs and snarls a bit, but crouches down and gives it to me, knowing what it is I'm intending to do now and not wanting much of a part of it. "Can't we just kill him?"

"No, baby," I say, patting his hand and shifting my eyes back to Gabriel. "Not right now. Maybe later."

A little wordless grumble passes through Jacks but he doesn't fight me on it. "Um," I say, glancing up at everyone around us. "I'll...be back in a minute." "Where are you going?" Jesse asks, his face scrunching in confusion.

"Inside," I say. And then I close my eyes, sighing but a breath, and shift my focus inward as I reach out my other hand and place it across the bare skin of Gabriel's throat. Then, once have skin contact with two of my mates, I shift my focus to the mark Luca left on my neck and pull on all three magics at once.

Instantly, the magic sings within me, all of the pieces finally coming together like they've been waiting ages to do so. I feel Gabriel's wolf shift in his dark oil, and Jackson gasps, and I do wonder if somewhere on earth - in another Universe - Luca stands up straight, feeling it too. But I can't concentrate on that now because there's a great deal of fuel at my fingertips now, and oxygen, and finally...a spark.

The three come together in my soul just as a great swell of joy passes through me. I feel them combust, feel them join together in the tiny conflagration - a sacred fire warm and delicious.

A collective gasp runs through our little gathered circle - Gabriel excluded - and when I open my eyes there's no surprise in my expression - just bliss.

Because I already knew it would be there.

The little blue flame flickering in the air, floating about a foot in front of my face.

“Hello, you,” I coo, leaning forward to beam at the little fire – at the manifestation of my Grandmother's gift which is now, finally, complete. "Aren't you special?"

Chapter 0853

"Holy shit," Jesse breathes, and I glance up to see him staring in awe at the little flame floating before me, even as Midnight squeaks in fear and tucks herself behind him, clinging to his hand. “Are you - can you do anything with it?"

"I think I can," I whisper, looking over at Jacks, who I know feels the magic more intently than the rest of them. To my surprise Jackson doesn't even look at the flame, staring at me instead, like I'm the marvel. I laugh, leaning closer to him, loving him a great deal.

But then, before anyone can say anything else, I lift my hand from Gabriel's neck and dismiss the flame, standing up.

"What?" Ben gasps, looking at me. "Ariel, you were just getting started -"

"Magic show has to wait," I say, glancing down at Gabriel's pale face. "I have to go get Pippa."

And then, before anyone can say another word or protest, I tilt back to Atalaxia and appear in the room. Almost at the same instant I do, the door opens and Pippa comes bursting through, a plastic box in her hand, her eyes wide.

"Oh, Ariel," she says, shaking her head as she dashes to my side, shoving the door shut behind her. "It's...it's getting very bad out there. They've noticed that Gabriel is gone, and the protective shield has fallen, and apparently Moon Valley is sending planes - it's all very bad - the King is very upset -"

"Well then we'd better hurry," I say, taking her hand in mine.

"Ariel, the King can come to the Land of Darkness, and he can send soldiers," she says in a rush, looking at me with wide eyes. "He is corrupted too - has a talisman

I nod to her, understanding her point. That we can't fool around there either - that time is short, even in the other realm.

"You have the antidote?" I ask, glancing down at the kit in her hand.

"Yes," she breathes, nodding eagerly.

"Okay, then let's go. Um...it's a little different, than when we left." I grimace.

"What?" she asks, her brows bunching together in worry.

But there's no time. I squeeze her hand back and tilt us away so that a moment later we appear in the Land of Darkness.

Pippa takes a single moment to look around before she squeaks in fear and then ducks behind me, peering over my shoulder at the whole new collection of Alphas.

"Is that..." she whispers, her voice shaking. "Is that Darkness's girl!?"

Midnight peers from behind Jesse but doesn't say anything.

"My girl now," Jesse says, reaching behind his back to giving Midnight a comforting pat. Then he gives Pippa his best royal smile. "Hi, I'm Jesse, I'm Ariel's cousi-"

But Pippa squeaks again and hides as Elias comes to my side. "Pippa...isn't used to being around this outnumbered by men without a matron," he says, gathering her close to him.

"Well, they're very nice!" I say, stepping aside so she can see and waving a hand at Ben and Jesse and Jacks. "That's Jackson, he's my mate -"

Jackson gives an awkward little wave but I give up on introductions when Pippa's eyes go wide when she catches a glimpse of Jackson's full, moderately feral visage, his imposing height and breadth, and tucks her head tight against Elias's chest, frightened.

"Sorry," Jackson murmurs, looking down at himself.

I just laugh a little and take the cyanide kit from Pippa's hand, sitting again at Gabriel's side.

"So, I'm going to give Gabriel the antidote and try to make him...not die," I say, glancing down at his face, which has grown paler since the time I looked. "But things are apparently very bad up in the Castle.

We need a plan for what the st

We're going to do next. Howell

we get

out of here."

"Are the routes in the castle impassable?" Jackson asks, slipping easily into his Commander line of questioning.

I glance at Pippa, who gives me a little nod. Elias looks down at her and then speaks for her. "I imagine the entrances and exits are locked down and guarded, even without Gabe to magically do it," he says, grimacing a little.

"Well, can we get out...here?" I say, gesturing around at the Land of Darkness. "Run and then shift back into the world when we're outside of the palace walls?"

Jackson nods to me, clearly indicating that he thinks it's the best plan.

"He'll come for you here," Pippa says quietly, her voice still shaking. "He'll figure it out soon, and then he'll come, he'll chase you here too."

"Well then we'll go to the yurt," Jesse says, and I frown because...what? "Right Mids? Mids can take everyone to the yurt." He steps aside, trying to let everyone see the girl, and at first she steps with him, still hiding, until the two have a hushed little fight and

she sighs and steps forward.

Midnight looks around at the group with a frown and then up into Jesse's eyes.

"Are they family?"

"Yes, Mids," Jesse says, smiling

down at her and stroking a hand

softly over her hair in a way that makes my heart swell to see, even if... well. Even if another part of me is remembering Daphne sobbing on her knees, Mittens clutched to her chest. "They're family. Everyone here is family now." I bite my lip against the emotion that races in me - because none of it is a lie.

Chapter 0854

"Okay," Midnight says, shaky. "Um. If they're family, I'll take them."

"And then back to Moon Valley?" I ask, hopeful, knowing that Midnight can do it.

Midnight's eyes fly wide.

"We'll talk about that part of the plan later," Jesse says, shooting me a warning look. At the same moment, Midnight bares her teeth up at him, shadows beginning to leak from her skin. My eyes flash wide because - wait, she can do that too?

"The Ambassadors," Ben says quickly, turning my gaze to him. He shakes his head. "We can't leave them, Ariel," he says. "They'll kill them all if we do."

I curse, glancing at Elias for confirmation. Quite sad, he nods, indicating that it's true.

"All right," I say. "We'll get everyone out. But...this first, yes?" I wave a hand at Gabriel, who looks dangerously close to death. I bite my lip, wondering at my imprecise measurement of the cyanide and how much time has passed. Has it gone too far?

"Can I help?" Ben asks, kneeling across from me.

"Sure can,” I say, taking out the IV pack and the two syringes of liquid medicine, explaining quickly to Ben how to use them.

"I have...a new respect for espionage track," Jesse murmurs as Midnight again peers out from behind him, her curiosity getting the better of her. "You know how to do all of this from memory?"

"Neumann trained us so we could do it in our sleep," I murmur, glancing up at him as I hand the IV to Ben to hold high as I search for a vein in Gabriel's arm and insert the trocar needle there. "It's not all just studying chemical formulas."

"I want to double major now," Jesse murmurs, fascinated. I grin a little, even as I concentrate.

"Um, what's the plan here?" Ben asks. "Why are you bringing him back - isn't he all...corrupted? And violent?"

"Yes. He punched her," Jackson growls, still livid. Ben and Jesse gasp, appalled, which is very satisfying to me and my wolf. But I push beyond that.

"He also made me rub his feet in public. But no, um, we're going to heal him up on the outside...and on the inside."

"What do you mean?" Jesse asks, turning his head at me.

"Well," I say, looking up at Jacks, wanting his reassurance. "I think...that that flame does more than what a normal flame does. I think it's more than just heat and fire - I think it's Goddess-blessed."

Jackson nods solidly, agreeing with me - he felt it too.

"Well with that dark blue color," Jesse says, nodding consideringly. "That makes sense."

"Why does that make sense?" I ask, turning my head to him and cocking it to the side.

He smirks at me a little. "It's just...a very goddess-blessing-y color. Part of the story for another time, cuz. Just keep going."

I frown at him for a moment, not getting it, but then I move past that too. "I think that I can use the flame to help Gabriel, to help his wolf. Perhaps clean up his corruption."

Midnight gasps in horror and I

attempt to peer around Jesse to see what has frightened her so much, but she ducks away. Jesse takes a deep breath, again reaching behind him to comfort his strange little mate, even as he keeps his eye on me.

"Do you really think you can do that?" He asks, working hard to keep his voice serious, though I can hear the hope in it.

Midnight, Jackson says into my mind in explanation. She's corrupted too. But I think she's afraid - so...maybe don't say anything.

Shocked, I turn my eyes up to Jackson and then whip them over to Jesse, who intuits what just passed between us and nods to me very seriously.

I nod back and then fight every instinct I have to reach for Midnight, wanting to help and comfort her too.

But I turn my eyes back to Gabriel instead.

"Do you...really think you can do that, Ariel?" Pippa asks in a whisper. Surprised, I turn to see her peering at me, still pressed against Elias's chest with his arms around her.

I look up at her and give a little shrug. "I can only try. And if it doesn't work I'll reject him and hope that it doesn't go further than that."

I turn my face back to Ben, giving him a few more details of the treatment and asking if he thinks he can handle it. He assures me that he can - it's fairly simple, after all as -it's Jackson folds his long legs beneath him and sits at my side, offering me his hand.

"Thank you, Jacks," I say quietly, taking it. Because this is a choice he's making too – if he wanted, he could refuse to help heal Gabriel. But he's doing it for me, because he loves and trusts me. I sent him

warm pulse of gratitude down our

bond.

"I still think we should let him die," Jacks says softly, a little rueful, his eyes moving

to the bruise still livid on my jaw.

"I know but..." I shrug. "If I can help him? Surely that's better."

He sighs, turning his eyes on Gabriel, his voice dour. "It's what Ella would do."

I smile, squeezing his hand. Then I look around at our collected little group one last time before I reach out and again put a hand on Gabriel's neck, close my eyes, and begin to concentrate.

Chapter 0855

I do my very best to imitate my mother in this moment, trying to fall into that deep mediative state she uses when she heals people. Because I have to go into my soul now, and into Gabriel's, to try and help him. Ben – he's handling the physical healing of Gabriel's body.

But I'm here to concentrate on my new mate's soul, and his wolf.

When my inner eyes open, I see that I am indeed in the world of my soul, my body appearing there next to my wolf's in a way that it never has before, except perhaps in dreams. "Oh, hello," I say, laughing as she bounds over to me and gives my face a few happy licks. I run my hands quickly through her soft, pretty fur

- something that I've only done in pieces before, rushing a hand over it or grabbing it with my fingers.

Yes, here in my whole body for the first time, it's different.

A little whine makes me turn, and I laugh when I see Jackson's gigantic dark wolf standing there too.

"Oh, you're here!?"

He huffs and steps forward, his head lowered towards me, as if to say where the hell else would he be. I laugh and scratch his head too, smiling when he turns his face into my palm in the same wolfish way that Jackson does in the real world. He gives my hand a playful nip before bounding off after my wolf, heading towards the edge of my soul where she stands, her paws shifting anxiously, looking over the edge.

I follow them there and peer across the little soul bridge towards Gabriel's soul, seeing his wolf still there sunk into that pit of oil and tar, just his nose and his eye above the line of it like a crocodile. That is, if a crocodile also had pointy tufted ears that stuck out a little bit too.

My wolf whines and looks up at me, desperately wanting to help.

“I know,” I murmur, reaching over and patting her head. "I want to help him too."

I take a deep breath and step forward onto that bond, the bridge between our souls.

But Jackson's wolf wines and

my skirt with my teeth, pulling me back,

crying anxiously in his throat, not wanting me to go.

"I have to," I murmur, reaching out stroke a hand over his lovely, strong face. "I'’II be safe, I promise."

He whines again, doubtful, but then huffs and drops my skirt. I hate this, Jackson says, directly into my mind. I smile and lean forward, pressing a kiss to his wolf's face, but then turn to my wolf, who is already halfway across the bridge. And I follow.

The first thing I recognize when I stand on the steady ground just at the edge of Gabriel's soul, the last bit not yet consumed by oil, is that it is....so much colder on Gabriel's side, within his own soul. I glance

over my shoulder to where

Jackson's wolf stands, Sve

at

the bridge, clearly trying to see if he, too, can cross. But it's not his bond. Stuck, he howls softly, calling to us, and my wolf howls back to him even as we both turn to peer at Gabriel's wolf.

Gabriel's wolf gives a burbling sort of snarl that chokes him, even as he gives a last-ditch sort of lunge for my wolf, clearly wanting to pull her in. She steps away, lifting one foot up high and looking down at the oil in distaste.

"Save your energy, little wolf," I say to Gabriel's wolf on a sigh, going to my knees and already beginning to pull on my magics - on Luca's wind, and Jackson's fuel, and Gabriel's own spark. "We've got work to do, and we'll need your help on the other side."

The blue flame appears in my hands, burning and bright, and my wolf spins in eager circles, delighted by the sight of it. Gabriel's wolf shrinks away, floundering in the oil. I sigh and get to work, knowing that he might not have a great deal of time left.

I urge the fire to burn even hotter and then slowly reach it towards the dark substance that traps Gabriel's wolf.

It doesn't...quite burn, not really. It's not true oil after all, and it doesn't burst into flames or anything. Instead, it merely seems to shrink away, or to dry out, losing all of its power when faced with the

Goddess's heat and light, e

I begin to experiment when I realize how it works, my wolf staying close at my side, panting eagerly as the oil begins to recede. When I think that I've got a hold of it, I really let it rage, the fire burning wide and hot through the darkness.

Slow at first, but then faster and faster, the pit of oil in which Gabriel's wolf has sunk begins to recede, leaving a dry hole behind. Piece by piece his wolf's head appears, and then his neck and shoulders as he gasps for air. He snarls at the fire at first but then as the flame comes closer, and warms him, he gives the most pitiful little cry, reaching his

snout towards it.

I reach for him too, leaning far out across the pit and taking his little snout in my

hands as the fire continues to burn, shrinking the darkness inch by inch.