The Hidden Princess At All-Boys Alpha Academy
Chapter 0266

"You came!" I breathe, thrilled and relieved and nearly insane with happiness as Jackson laughs and lifts me up, holding me tight against his chest.

"I could get used to this greeting," he murmurs, his arms wrapped so snug around me, his face so close to mine that our noses brush.

"You scared me!" I protest, half laughing and half shouting as I smack him on the chest with both hands, one after the other. "Why didn't you come into our train car!? Why didn't you tell me!? I was so sad! I thought you stayed behind!"

Jacks shrugs, smiling at me like he can't keep the joy off his face, his blue eyes shining. "I figured my presence in your fancy royal car would cause more trouble than it was worth. You deserved a minute to be calm and happy, and I didn't mind riding with the other cadets. I just slept the whole time anyway."

"And you didn't think," I say, taking his perfect face between my palms and narrowing my eyes, scolding playfully, "that maybe I wanted you close by?"

"Well, you've got me close by now," he murmurs, lifting his chin towards me in a bit of a challenge. "So, what are you going to do with me?" He tightens his arms, further proving his point as his voice drops an octave to a level that...does dangerous things to me. Emotionally. Physically.

My smile grows slowly, a little devious, but my response is clipped by the sound of Rafe clearing his throat again.

I turn my head and blink in surprise to see my family and friends standing around us now, and the guards grouped around them, all of them staring at us.

Except for Luca. A strong pang of guilt runs through me when I see him staring at the ground to his side, clenching his jaw.

"Ariel?" Rafe says, his arms crossed as he glares at me. "Would you like to...climb down? Before the paparazzi get some great footage of this?"

"Um," I say awkwardly in response before turning to Jackson and giving him a little grimace. Unperturbed, he smiles at me and slowly lowers me to the ground, careful to ensure that my skirt doesn't ride up. "You know, you don't have to pick her up every time you greet her," Rafe says softly, frowning at Jackson.

Jackson just stares at Rafe like that is clearly not true.

Rafe just rolls his eyes, laughing a little as he moves on and I fix my dress into less rumpled lines. Captain Conner looks a little frantically between me and Jackson before moving his eyes to Luca, with whom I was just holding hands. I sigh, realizing that...whatever secrecy I held on to at the Academy, isn't hasn't really disappeared here, has it?

Unless I want the entire nation to know about my complicated love triangle, I have got to learn to cool it.

"Captain Conner," I say, stepping forward towards him and doing my best to be the nation's Princess again. "This is Jackson McClintock. We got accidentally separated from him on the way home, but he'll be joining us at the Palace for break and should have all the rights and freedoms of an honored guest."

"As you will it, Highness," Conner says, giving me a sharp bow. He casts out a hand towards the three-story arch through which the city waits. "If we have our entire party now...?"

His implication is clear and, with another little glare at me, Rafe leads the way out. Luca follows close behind him, not looking at me, and Daphne sends me a little smile and a nod before she hurries her steps to walk with Luca, making a little small talk that I hope will comfort him.

Ben and Jesse fall in with Jackson and I as we bring up the rear, both of them greeting Jackson warmly and likewise telling him that they're thrilled he came along. Jackson's smile in response to their genuine excitement to see him fills my heart with joy, because I'm watching him realize that he truly has friends now.

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