The Hidden Princess At All-Boys Alpha Academy

Chapter 31

Jackson takes a long moment to size up Luca, I think feeling more comfortable with direct confrontation than small talk. “No secrets, Grant,” he says quietly. “Just genuinely f**king good at it.”

Luca’s smirk deepens. “At least you’re good for the grunt work,” he says quietly, and my spine straightens at the cruel edge to his words. “Even the military needs its brutes on the front line.”

The table goes quiet at the clear implication in Luca’s words. My eyes flick over Luca again, unsettled by this aggression.

“I seem to recall,” Jackson says slowly, carefully, “that I beat you out on the intelligence exam too, Grant.”

Jesse’s mouth forms into a scandalized, delighted little “o” as he looks eagerly between Jackson and Luca, and a scandalized little laugh stumbles from Ben’s mouth. Rafe and I are completely silent.

Luca just leans back in his chair and grins, flicking his eyes over Jackson like he knows he could take him.

Even though…honestly, he might be the only person at the table who believes that.

“Thanks for breakfast,” Jackson says, smoothly breaking the awkward silence and standing up from his chair.

“Stay,” I say, leaning forward, the word popping from my lips before I realize it.

“Nah, I’m finished, and I want to warm up,” Jackson says, pushing his chair in and looking towards the tray–bussing station. But before he goes, he flicks his blue gaze back to me and holds my eyes seriously. “But thank you for the invitation. No one…no one has asked me to eat with them yet. It means a lot.”

I stay still for a moment, captivated by his gaze, but then he just nods to me.

And I nod back.

And then he’s walking away.

“Ari, why the hell did you ask him to eat with us?” Rafe growls, leaning across the table to yell at me once Jackson’s out of earshot.

“Because I felt bad for him, Rafe,” I say, gesturing in Jackson’s direction. “Didn’t

– no one, for two whole weeks you hear what he just said

“And did you ever imagine,” Luca says, his voice dry, “that maybe there’s a reason why no one asked him to eat with them? Because he’s a dangerous jerk?”

like I’m an idiot, Luca,” I say, my voice low. He blinks at me in surprise. “Don’t try to pretend I’m silly enough to not have bothered imagining why people might not like Jackson. But I also don’t imagine that most people have your particular reason for disliking him, okay? Just because you don’t like him doesn’t

just stares at me, I think a little shocked to see the funny little Shrimp he’s gotten to know push

two talking about?” Jesse asks, leaning

snaps, standing up with his own tray and nodding up towards the clock. “No one’s talking about

to my feet, my hands shaking a little as I grab my tray. Rafe waits patiently for Luca, Jesse, and Ben to move ahead, falling in next to me

glaring down at me, “the moment we

and look up at him, words on my lips

up at my brother. “Does that mean you

assured, and then stalks forward to deposit his empty tray, taking my full one from my hands and putting it on the rack below his. “It does,” he says, his voice sure. “I believe in you, Ari. Even if I’m going to kick your ass for that stunt the moment we get inside,” he sighs, slinging an arm around my shoulders as

my brother’s confidence, and honestly?

think it’s precisely what I needed to hear as I

Chapter 31

my fate.

that I won’t see them again until the ceremony in

pack a status which will surely change after this obstacle run – I don’t

I grin as I turn away from him, hoping to hell he makes it too – Ben, he’s

far away from him. As we pass through the door, I’m surprised to see a small group of Academy professors in

can study him further, I

of the obstacle course, kneeling down and messing with the tie of his boot of all the

mate. I shake my head to clear it and step into place at the back of the line. Once I’m there, the professors begin to move slowly down the line, the handsome professor at the center handing the

candidates looks as confused as I do after the experience, but…I mean, nobody looks

turn comes.

clip board as the professor comes to stand in front of me. When the Lieutenant nods that

me seriously in

take the sphere in your hands, Clark.

pulse. I go still with surprise as I watch the black clouds, and as I stare I even see…little pulses of purple

you.

I jump a little before handing the

do him any favors.

staring after him when someone barks

that all of the other candidates are lined up at the start of the course waiting for

L

line, putting my hands on my left knee in a runners stance, ready to make a break