The Hidden Princess At All-Boys Alpha Academy Chapter 61

As I walk with the group of ten through the entrance to the course, I’m a little chagrined to see that Graham Wright is part of my pack. But I sigh and just do my best to stand far away from him. As we pass through the door, I’m surprised to see a small group of Academy professors in black waiting there, making us all stand in a straight line. I’m studying them, my eyes catching again on the handsome brown-haired professor who I noticed at the intelligence examination. Today, he holds a shiny black orb in his hands.

But before I can study him further, I do a bit of a double-take, because –

Because Jackson is there, at the start line of the obstacle course, kneeling down and messing with the tie of his boot of all the things. What the hell…

“Clark!” Someone barks, and my attention is pulled away from my 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 orb to each of us in turn and observing us carefully for a few seconds before taking it back.

Each of the candidates looks as confused as I do after the experience, but…I mean, nobody looks any worse for the wear. So I attempt to pat down my anxiety as my turn comes.

“Candidate Ari Clark,” a Lieutenant says, making notes on a clip board as the professor comes to stand in front of me. When the Lieutenant nods that he’s ready, the professor looks me seriously in the eye.

“Please take the sphere in your hands, Clark. Nothing else is required of you.”

“What is it?” I murmur, looking down at the glass ball. But no one answers me. As I stare at the orb, I realize that it’s not a solid ball of obsidian glass, but instead…clear glass, in which shadows swirl and pulse. I go still with surprise as I watch the black clouds, and as I stare I even see…little pulses of purple lightening flash through them, as thin as thread and so fast you’d swear your eyes were playing tricks on you.

“Thank you,” the professor says, and I jump a little before handing the sphere back to him.

“You’re welcome,” I reply, and then I blush, because I feel a little ridiculous. I mean, I didn’t actually do him any favors. He smirks at me, looking me up and down before he moves with his colleagues to the back of the room.

I’m still staring after him when someone barks my name again.

I twist and then curse as I realize that all of the other candidates are lined up at the start of the course – waiting for me.

I run over, falling in line, putting my hands on my left knee in a runners stance, ready to make a break for it when the whistle sounds.

To my shock, a tall form takes the spot next to me in line.

But, of course, I know immediately who it is even though I don’t look up. I can tell by sense of smell.

“Why are you still here?” I whisper, feeling like it is…not chance, that Jackson is running this route with me and not with my brother. But why would he do that? Does he…does he mean me harm again?

“Problems with my shoe,” Jackson says, his voice light as he too bends over, ready to run.

I exhale, trying to put my anxiety out of my mind – because whatever Jackson’s going to do in the course, I have no control over it now. Better to concentrate on what I can handle.

“Did you read the handbook?” Jackson asks suddenly, and this time I look up at him, completely baffled. Why – why on earth is he asking me this seconds before we enter the course?

“What handbook?” I ask.

He turns a little to look down at me, frustrated. “The one your fucking uncles wrote, Clark.”

I scowl, realizing that I never even knew there was a handbook because Rafe and Jesse – they’ve probably had it memorized since they were kids. “No, I never read the handbook,” I murmur, turning my eyes back to the gauntlet ahead of us.

“Interesting phrasing,” Jackson murmurs, glancing over at the Lieutenant at the sidelines, who starts to raise his whistle to his lips. “When they describe the rules for going through the course, it’s very clear that candidates will be disqualified for actively helping each other. But, there isn’t any language that prevents you from using other candidates’ bodies as leverage.”

“What?” I breathe, staring at him in utter confusion.

But Jackson – he just turns his face away.

And suddenly the bell whistles, and I swear he’s gone in a flash –

And I’m just left standing here alone on the start line, wondering what the hell –

“Go, Clark!” the Lieutenant barks. “The trial has begun!”

Cursing at my idiocy for letting him throw me off the game, I launch into a sprint, heading into the course already behind on my time.