The Hidden Princess At All-Boys Alpha Academy

Chapter 18

I’m almost too exhausted to notice how fast the next week passes. Jesse wakes me up early every day, and I scowl at Rafe. who snores peacefully while Jesse drags me out the door for our run. He seriously puts me through my paces, too, not even relenting when I try to bribe him.

“Please.” beg. “I’ll give you my crown –”

“Why would I want your crown. I’m a duke –”

“But dukes,” I pant, “don’t get anything pretty to wear on their heads –”

But Jesse just laughs, and makes me run harder.

The candidate lessons are no less brutal. Every other day is spent running through that damn obstacle course, and even though Jesse and Rafe make me work out every night I still can’t climb that damn chain. I mean, I am getting better, which is satisfying, I can pull myself up about three feet of it now. But still, every day, after ten minutes of trying, the Lieutenant at that point on the course blows the whistle and lets me climb the ladder, putting a further demerit on my time.

Even Ben gets up faster than I do now, looking down at me with apology in his eyes as he does. But I just scowl and wave him off.

Rafe and Jesse really put the time in with Ben and I every evening, which has actually become as fun as it is useful. Ben has proven himself to have one hell of a sense of humor, and he makes me laugh so hard it feels like my sides will split. Even Rafe, as he pushes us around and tells us to get back to work, can’t help but smile.

Still, it’s nice to have made a real friend.

Every day the four of us eat our meals together and every morning our eyes go immediately to the ranking list to see what the previous day’s exams – if any have done to our numbers.

And while I’m never, ever going to beat out the big guys like Rafe and Jesse – I have to say, I’m holding my own.

This morning. I grin when the numbers come up to see that I’m ranked at 75 – a personal high spot. for me. Jesse slaps me on the back, laughing and grinning.

“Nicely done. Ari!” he says, smiling at me with true pleasure. “Looks like the marksmanship competition yesterday did its work.”

He’s not wrong. There are still enough hand–to–hand bouts that while my win against Jackson and my second place on the logic exam pulled me out of the cut zone above 96, I’ve been hovering right on the edge for days. But yesterday, when they finally put a crossbow and then a gun in my hands?

Then I really showed them what I could do. Because even if dad didn’t let me train like Rafe did, he always made sure I could handle myself with a gun more than handle myself, really. I came in

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Chapter 18

second, talling only behind Rafe ben beating Jesse, who came in at

digitory pancakes. But when

I feel instant galt. Because here I am celebrating, and I didn’t even look

eyes fly back to the hoard, where Ben is ranked at 100. Four spots.

really are getting faster, Ben,” I say, nodding to him encouragingly.

face breaking into a smile as he waves a hand around at us. “I’m

great deal of trouble. None

Ben and I: Even despite our extra credit work after hours with

at it.

can even get, or what the other exams will be.

encouragingly, prancing around inside me. We are

over her fur, grateful for her high spirits

Academy, she babbles, we can get a private room! And invite

head and brushing her

words.

admit…the lure of the Academy itself? It’s starting to

– presuming, of course, that I get there. It just sounds amazing – you get

espionage track. Because while I am clearly not a warrior – I don’t have the brute strength for that the hours

I’ve always wanted to do

Chapter is

as an arm slides around my shoulder. giving me a squeeze as Luca sits down next to me. He’s frequently a 5(th) at our meals, or at least stops by once a day to

and drops little hints about things that know. And I swear to god, one of

believe he hasn’t already sense’s going

–

me, even if he

high–fives. He offers one to Rafe, who just gives him a little glare, but Luca laughs it off as he takes his

turn to look at him. And seriously,

Every time I do. I get this stupid smile on my face, and can’t help feeling like

have this stupid, ridiculous

that perfect face, his dimples flaring, his

my mate and I’m unendingly attracted to him on a soul level?

back on her haunches and

reach out and run my fingers

interrupting my own thoughts and doing my best to keep my voice dry. “I noticed I kicked your ass in marksmanship. What, you can’t hit something if it’s not three