The Hidden Princess At All-Boys Alpha Academy Chapter 70

“Mom and dad…might have pulled some strings before we enrolled as candidates,” Rafe says, “just in case we got admitted as cadets.” He shrugs like it’s no big deal, which just makes me burst out laughing.

“Nepotism!?” I chide, shaking my head at him. “You used nepotism to get the best suite in the place!?”

“Hey, we rarely use our royal privilege for anything,” Rafe says, slinging an arm around my shoulders as he starts walking down the hall, taking me with him. “Just this once –“

“Just this once,” I scoff, laughing at him, “how about the fact that we grew up in a palace, and had world-class educations by the time we were sixteen –“

“Or these looks,” Jesse says, gesturing to his admittedly gorgeous face, “completely inherited, I did nothing to earn this.”

“And our titles,” I continue, making Rafe laugh even more at his understatement.

“Really, Rafe,” Jessie considers, nodding, “being a duke has gotten me a serious amount of tail, and your Prince status –“

I gasp, spinning to Jesse, fascinated and dying to know more.

“Enough!” Rafe booms, interrupting and dropping his arm from my shoulder so he can give Jesse a shove. “Fine, you both got me, we’re spoiled rotten, and mommy and daddy got us the nice room. I admit it! But…you’re not going to guilt me into giving it up!” He grins at me. “It’s a really nice room.”

“Who cares about that anymore,” I breathe, rapt, “tell me about the tail!”

But Rafe just groans, shaking his head and striding ahead. “Drop it, Ari!” he calls back. “We’re not having this conversation! Ever!”

I step closer to Jesse as we hurry along.

“Tell me tell me tell me,” I whisper, looking up at him, my face all eagerness.

“It all starts five years ago,” he says, his voice very wise voice as he slides his arm in Rafe’s place around my shoulder, “when Rafe met this very nice foreign exchange student named Theresa –“

“Jesse!” Rafe barks out, spinning in the hall, his expression appalled. “If you say one more word I will tell her everything about you – and there’s way more of that –“

Jesse and I burst out laughing as we catch up with Rafe. “I love this,” I say as we reach the doors of a gorgeous brass elevator that will take us…honestly, I have no idea where it will take me. “I love Alpha Academy – who knew there was so much gossip involved -”

“There is no gossip,” Rafe growls, glaring at me. But then he smirks and raises an eyebrow. “Unless…” he says, his voice slow, “you want there to be. Ari.”

And I gasp, remembering that he does know parts of my mate drama that Jesse doesn’t – and vice versa - and I glare back at him.

“Wait what?” Jesse says, grinning and looking between us. “Rafe has gossip about you?”

“Why don’t we all just declare a stalemate!” I say all in a rush, grinning up at my family. “Full stop on all dramatic news for the time being. Yes?”

And as the elevator doors open with a pleasant little ding, we all step inside and agree to the terms, even though Jesse gives me a wink, letting me know that he’ll spill at the first opportunity. I grin and lean in to nudge him with my shoulder, letting him know I’m ready when he is.

The elevator whooshes us up into the air, faster than I thought would be possible for an ancient castle like this. And as it does, I feel my spirits rise too – if that’s even possible.

Because I’ve certainly got secrets to keep, but right now? For the time being, at least for the next twelve hours, through my first evening and night at Alpha Academy?

It seems like those secrets are going to hold.

And right now, that’s all I can ask for.

When the elevator dings and the doors open again, a little fascinated noise spills from my mouth. Because this – this really looks like a castle.

“Come on,” Rafe says, grinning at me and striding forward, pulling a little iron key from his box.