The Hidden Princess At All-Boys Alpha Academy novel Chapter 212

I yelp in protest then, grabbing my pillow and starting to thwap her with it, yelling disconnected words about how I didn’t even pick him, the Goddess did, and actually Jackson and dad are nothing alike, just because they’re both big –

But mom just laughs hysterically and eventually I join her, dropping my pillow and curling up at her side, covering my blushing cheeks with my hands and shaking my head at the heat against my palms.

“It’s okay, baby,” mom murmurs, dropping a kiss to my forehead as she shakes with giggles. “Your dad is hot too. Trust me, I get the appeal.”

“I don’t ever want to talk about this ever again,” I murmur, my words muffled in my humiliation.

“Too bad,” she sighs. “Cora’s going to come in here in a few minutes and say the exact same thing –“

“Cora’s here?” I gasp, sitting up eagerly and looking towards the door like she’s going to come through it at any minute.

“We’re all here, baby,” mom says, sitting up with me. “You think Cora and I are going to let your father and your uncle put on this ridiculously dangerous Examination without us at the end to patch everyone up? We come every year –“

“You do?” I ask, my eyes going wide.

“Yes! You didn’t notice that every year around this time we take a little vacation –“

“What a crap vacation,” I say, shaking my head.

But before my mom can agree, the door to the room flies open again and my mate comes stumbling into the room, gasping in fear and surprise.

But…not that mate.

The other one.

I finish the sentence lamely, not knowing how to explain that. But Luca, to his credit, takes it in stride. He sits up straight in surprise but the immediately falls back on his manners, which are impeccable when he wants them to be.

“Your highness,” he says, immediately offering his hand, which my mother takes with a smile. “I am so sorry – you’ll have to forgive me, I was…I was very distracted. I care a great deal about your daughter and I didn’t – honestly, I didn’t even notice you sitting there.”

“You’re forgiven,” my mom says, turning her head at him curiously as she squeezes his hand. “But, if you don’t mind me asking, my daughter told me that she kept her identity and her gender a secret during her time at the Academy. How is it that you know?”

“Because,” Luca says, his eyes wide with his innocence. “She’s my mate.”

My mom’s eyes go wide with surprise and then scandalized delight.

“Well,” she says, turning her cat-like grin on me as I cover my face with my hands. “You really have been busy, Ariel. Very busy indeed.”