The Hidden Princess At All-Boys Alpha Academy Chapter 172

I usher Daphne into the room then, where she’s warmly greeted first by Rafe, who presses a brotherly kiss to her cheek – making her blush – and then by Jesse, who kisses her hand like a Duchess, making her laugh.

“Hi,” Luca says, stepping forward with his hand out, his dimples on full display as he greets my friend. “I’m Luca Gra-“

“Oh, no need,” Daphne interrupts, smiling at him as she presses his hand. “I know who you all are – Luca Grant, Ben Ternicki,” she peers around Rafe to where Jackson is hiding, “Jackson McClintock.”

“Impressive,” Rafe says, raising his eyebrows at her. “How do you know all that?”

“Well,” she says, grinning at my brother, “your dad pays me a lot of money to keep all of this information ready in my mind,” she says, tapping her temple with her forefinger and making me grin. “Honestly, I could probably rattle off all of your measurements, too.”

“Oh really,” Jesse says, a wicked grin on his lips as he leans forward. “And who amongst us has the largest…inseam.”

I groan, tilting my head back, wrapping my arm around Daphne’s – honestly, that’s precisely the kind of joke I told him not to make –

“Oh, Jesse,” Daphne says, tilting her head and pouting her lips a little in mock pity as she steps forward, patting him consolingly on the shoulder. “Do you really want me to answer that?”

The entire room bursts into laughter, Jesse laughing especially hard with delight at my clever friend. I tug Daphne away to the couch, glancing at Jackson to see him smiling as well, though I can tell that he’s still uncomfortable.

“Did you bring us wine?” Rafe asks, taking the bottle from Daphne like a gracious host and raising his eyebrow at it. “You trying to get us kicked out, ma’am?”

“Oh, I figured,” she says, laughing just a little, “perhaps for later? For a little toast, just to say thanks for having me over?” She shrugs, anxious. “I mean, one bottle split between…” she takes a second to count, “seven? Honestly, no one’s getting drunk off of that.”

Rafe concedes the point and thanks her graciously for the gift, placing it on the side table of his own little chair as the dumbwaiter’s bell rings. He and Jesse go off to get the food while Luca settles in on Daphne’s other side, chatting with her while I take a second to glance over at Ben and Jackson, who settle onto the floor on the other side of the coffee table.

Ben, I’m pleased to see, is being very warm to Jackson, as I knew he would be. A little thrill of happiness passes through me because Ben – he’s really wonderful, isn’t he?

We’re so lucky to have him here with us.

Hope he makes it through the Examination, my wolf says suddenly, pacing anxiously in my soul.

I go still at the thought.

The Examination – it’s scheduled for next week, and even though we all know it’s coming inevitably along, we’re all anxious about it. There have been no hints – absolutely none – about what it will entail.

But Ben – even beyond the Examination - is he even doing well in his studies? He’s been working out alongside Jesse and Rafe just like me but…has it been enough?

Is there more I could have done?

“Right, Ari?” Luca asks, and I turn, suddenly distracted.

“Hmm?” I say, glancing once more towards Ben, still worried, but my Princess instincts take over and I turn my mind towards my guest, wanting her to feel at home.

“I was telling Daphne she should come to the City for midwinter,” Luca says, smiling at me, and I burst into a grin as I look between them.

“You should!” I say instantly. “I would love it – I can introduce you to so many people, and we can go shopping –“

“Excuse me,” Luca says, pretending to be offended as he presses his hand to his chest, “I invited Daphne to come see me at midwinter, at my fight. Not to hang out with you.”

“Oh, boring fights aside,” I say, flapping a hand at him, “she’s my friend, Luca.”

“The fight’s not going to be boring,” a voice says, and I turn in surprise to see Jackson sitting with his arms looped around his knees, clearly listening in on our conversation with Ben at his side. The room falls quiet even as Rafe and Jesse come back, laying plates on the table as we all give Jackson our full attention.

“No?” I ask, raising an eyebrow, perhaps the most shocked of us all – except for maybe Luca, of course.

“No way,” Jackson says, shaking his head and meeting Luca’s eyes. “It’s going to be the show of the century – there hasn’t been a fight against the Atalaxians in decades. Not only do we get to kick their ass, but we get to see what fighting techniques they’re developing over there.”