The Hidden Princess At All-Boys Alpha Academy Chapter 134

I stand back, looking confusedly between Rafe and Jesse. “What?” I ask my brother and my cousin, “what’s so funny?’

“Ari,” Rafe says, shaking his head at me as he puts a hand around my elbow and tugs me towards the door. “Not hitting on your friends? That has never been a rule.”

“That has always been a rule!” I gasp, staring up at my brother.

“Well,” he says, grimacing at me a little. “Then that is a rule which Jesse has never followed.”

“What!?” I snap, trying to spin and stare at Jesse but hauled along by Rafe. “Who – who have you hit on?!”

“Who haven’t I hit on?” Jesse replies, still grinning at me, wicked.

“Jesse!” I shout, truly scandalized and betrayed. “Annie? Rebecca? Padme!?” Jesse just grins and I gape, looking up at Rafe for confirmation.

“He hooked up with them all too,” Rafe informs me, dry.

I let out a loud screech of protest, spinning to stare at my cousin, who just shrugs at me like he couldn’t help it.

“You bring around these nice girls, Ariel, who fall for all my lines!” Jesse exclaims, holding out his hands and shaking his head like he couldn’t help it. “Pretty ones too – it is like a buffet. And you expect me to do nothing!?”

“Stop making out with my friends, Jesse!”

“No, don’t make me promise that – it’s my favorite hobby -“

“Jesse!” I lash out, trying to smack him, but I’m too far away. Rafe sighs, hauling me further towards the door.

“Did you seriously make out with Annie and Rebecca?” I call over my shoulder, desperate.

Jesse just shrugs, innocent. “Someone had to do it, Shrimp.” He clasps an honorable hand to his chest. “I was happy to fall on that sword.”

I just growl and turn away. Rafe sighs and grabs the door handle.

“Wait, what about Theresa!?” I shout, spinning to look back at Jesse.

“Oh my god, Theresa!” Jesse groans, throwing himself on the couch. My jaw drops as he covers his face with his hands, moaning like he’s mourning the loss of something beautiful he’ll never have again. “Theresa is a freak –“

I let out a scandalized gasp, but Rafe just tugs me along.

“A freak in the best possible way, cousin!” Jesse shouts after me just before the door snicks shut. “The best possible way! Rafe can tell you, too!”

“Oh my goddd,” I moan, glaring at my brother, whose cheeks blush a guilty pink. For the next ten minutes as we wend our way through the halls I pepper him with questions. He answers everything I want to know about Jesse, but doesn’t confess any of his own sins.

“Fine,” I growl when we finally get to Daphne’s door, crossing my arms and glaring up into his face. “But this one is off limits, okay?”

“Okay, Ari,” Rafe says, nodding to me with a smile. “I can make that promise for myself, but Jesse? Don’t hold your breath waiting for him to agree to it.”

“So rude,” I mutter, reaching out to knock on the door.

Rafe and I stand quietly while wait, and I hear a set of footsteps inside. Then, the door swings open.

“Hi!” Daphne says, beaming at me. “Welcome, I –“

But her face falls when she looks up at my brother standing next to me. Her mouth makes a little “o” as she stares at him.

“Hi,” Rafe says, giving her his best Prince Rafe, Heir to the Throne smile and holding out his hand. “It’s nice to meet you, Daphne.”

“It’s…um, hi,” she says, reaching out to shake his hand and smiling up at him nervously. I raise my eyebrows in surprise – she handled herself beautifully with Jesse. Honestly, I’m a little shocked by this reaction to Rafe. “I mean,” she says, blushing as she takes her hand away, “it’s a pleasure to meet you…your highness.”

“Please, call me Rafe,” he says, smiling at her warmly, a little used to people reacting this way – it’s been the same since we were kids. He moves on with the conversation so that she has a chance to find her feet again. “Will you send word up when you and Ari are finished with your visit? I can come back down and –“

“Oh, no need,” she says, and I’m glad to see her relaxing a bit. “I can walk Ari back up to your room.”

Rafe just quirks an eyebrow like he doesn’t believe either of us can protect the other for a second. Daphne, coming back to herself as the moments pass, just smirks at my brother.