The Hidden Princess At All-Boys Alpha Academy

Chapter 27

I hurry my own pace, darting for an empty shower stall now, willing to take whichever is free- however filthy-

“Ari!” Jesse hisses behind me. “Are you – are you kidding me-

is he your

I squeak a little in dismay. “Don’t know what you’re talking about. Jesse!” I hiss, darting into the stall and yanking the curtain closed behind me.

“Ari!” Jesse shricks, and then he lowers his voice. “Are you with him?”

– are you f**king using the dream state

“I can’t hear you!” I shout, desperate, flipping on the water even though I’m still dressed. Jesse starts

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to tug at the curtain but I snap it shut. “You can’t come in here!” I protest. “I’m n*ked!”

“ARI!” Jesse shouts, completely freaked out.

But suddenly he goes silent, and I

go still.

“What the hell is going on here?” Rafe’s voice asks, just outside the stall.

My eyes dart around as I pray pray that Jesse holds his tongue

“Nothing.” Jesse says, laughing and playing it off. “Ari just…played a prank on me. Lunchmeat…in my bed.”

“That’s not a prank,” Rafe says, confused. “That’s just…gross.”

“Yeah well.” Jesse murmurs. “He needs to….work on his practical jokes. I guess.”

“Whatever,” Rafe says, sighing, his voice tired as he moves away, heading back to the bunks. “You guys got this? I’ll see you in a few?”

Jesse calls confirmation over his shoulder before turning back to my curtain. “This conversation is not finished, Ari,” he says, spitting my name out like it’s a dirty word.

I don’t say anything, but when I hear his angry mutters move away, I exhale a deep breath and begin to strip down, using the entire length of my very long, very hot shower to decide what the hell I’m going to say to my cousin.

When I finally step out of my stall, damp but dressed and tugging my hat down over my head, I have a plan.

mean, it’s a very basic, stupid

over the chest of his clean uniform, glaring at me beneath his freshly–washed hair. “You need to

Chapter 27

my best baby–cousin look. “Just can you scent mark me first?

across my neck and my own wrists, perhaps a little more roughly than normal. “All right, with

I shout, and then I bolt–dropping my towel and running as fast as I can for the bunk room and the safety

as well as his week of training me to run faster, and by the time he reaches me? I’m already throwing myself

jumping a little as I

and panting a little. “Just a race! I win!”

cousin, my eyes pleading – because he did

right now, at least.

reaching behind Rafe to smack

me half- heartedly until, laughing, I cry mercy and Rafe pulls me safely to his other

sighs, though he smiles at both of us. “We’re

me a little kick as he settles against Rafe’s pillow.

you’re stuck with me,” I say, peeking out from behind Rafe and grinning

at me a little, but he smiles, and I know we’re all

on

the bed and telling us the story about how they couldn’t catch any fish and almost came up the time limit, but then he

congratulating him on his last–minute pass. Ben looks down, though, even if he smiles. Because, technically, his team didn’t fully pass – they didn’t make the ten–mile hike home. Anxiety is tight in my chest as I consider what this is going to do to his ranking, which

Chapter 27

cusp of failure.

stand up, all hungry and ready for dinner–and the rankings that are going to come along with it.

as candidates. Ben does his best, keeping his head high and laughing along with Jesse’s

celebration because there is tender steak, and gravy, and baked potatoes, and flounder so flaky and buttery it falls apart when

sit down at our table, and I don’t even notice who sits down

at Luca, his eyes are already on me. “Hungry tonight?” he asks, flicking

help my

–

stare at each other for a long moment

our thing, I guess – someone across from me clears their throat. I turn my head to see Jesse looking at both of us

his food, digging in, while I purse my lips and give Jesse what

and I do the same after a moment, and honestly the dinner is a good time. We all have full bellies and high spirits by the time

room.

for silence. “Tomorrow is the last day of your candidacy and your final examination. Your semifinal rankings will be posted in just a moment. This is your last opportunity to know your spot before

time.”

tomorrow – the obstacle course which I still can’t get through, not

“I sugge

little bored. “You’ll have a chance to clean up tomorrow before final rankings, which will be announced