The Hidden Princess At All-Boys Alpha Academy Chapter 30

“Maybe you should learn not to underestimate me so much, Grant,” I say, my voice dry as I pretend to concentrate on my food. “Or I’ll take you out next.”

Luca laughs a little at my hubris and grins at me. I can’t help the little smile that pulls at my lips. My brother looks up at me then with a small smirk on his mouth, pleased with me and proud. Because even if I didn’t really win the match? I’m at least learning how to handle myself around these guys.

I burst into a smile at that and we fall into an easy conversation then, eating our food hastily because we know the day isn’t nearly over.

We’re all shepherded into what looks like a classroom after lunch, with one hundred and twenty little desks all lined up in neat rows, a pack of paper and a pencil neatly set on each one. New ratings haven’t been calculated just yet, so I’m in the back row again with Ben Ternicki. He nods to me with a little smile and I shrug at him, communicating without words that I’m sorry my brother beat him in the match.

Ben just shrugs like it was inevitable and I grin, liking his easy sense of humor. My eyes pull away from him, though, when I notice a bunch of figures in black enter the room, spreading out behind the head table and observing the candidates.

“Who are they?” I whisper, leaning over to Ben.

“Professors from the Academy,” he whispers back. “They’re probably specialty subjects. They’re allowed to come down and note any candidates who they think might be worthwhile, even if they don’t otherwise stand out.”

“Oh,” I say, my eyes going wide as they focus on one professor in particular with a handsome, angular face, his dark hair pulled back into a knot at the back of his head. “I didn’t know there was a…way in. Beyond the examinations.”

Ben nods and I look down at the papers on our desks, the cover sheet marked with our candidate number and name. “What are these?” I ask as the Captain commands us to sit.

“Logic test,” Ben answers as we take our seats. “Basic math, word problems, that sort of thing. It’s a thinly veiled IQ test.”

“Oh,” I say, my eyebrows going up. I’ve never taken one of those – at least not to my knowledge.

“Begin,” the Captain calls from the beginning of the room, his voice dry. “Bring your test up to the front when you’re finished with it. And then you’ll be dismissed.”

I nod to Ben, wishing him luck, and then I flip to the first page, sinking into a calm, almost meditative state, moving through the exam pretty quickly as soon as I realize that these are the kinds of problems our have tutors trained us on since we were kids. It’s a relief, honestly, because this? This is my wheel house. I was always good in school.

The exam takes almost two hours, but I write my answer to the last problem and set my pencil down with a satisfied smile. I mean, it was tricky, and the problems got harder as the test progressed. But…I know I got them right. Every single one.

I sigh, pushing my chair back, and I jump a little at the screech it makes as it slides across the floor. Awkward, I look around the room to see if I’ve disturbed anyone…

And my eyes go wide to realize that I’ve disturbed everyone. And they all turn to look at me.

I glance down at the test in my hands, wondering if I missed a page or something, because…I mean, I know I’m smart. But I can’t have finished first, right?

Another chair scrapes across the room and I flinch when I realize that I recognize the giant form that stands up next. He turns and looks back at me and my eyes meet flinty blue steel. He stands still, and I realize that he’s waiting for me.

Because I stood up first.

I stumble a little as I move away from my desk and then, scowling, I hurry to the front of the room. To my chagrin, Jackson starts in that direction so that we get to the head table at the same time. Heat rushes to my face as I look down at my shoes and my mind spins because – what the hell is going to happen?

Is he going to like…punch me? For taking his victory from him? My shoulders seize despite me as my whole body tenses, waiting for him to act.