The Hidden Princess At All-Boys Alpha Academy novel Chapter 394

I grin a little, thinking of him curled up in it. But then I think about what he’s requested. “Tomorrow?” I ask, biting my lip a bit. “On…Midwinter Eve? Luca…why don’t you just come here for the party?”

He sighs and looks down at me, quickly shaking his head, letting me know that…plans have changed. “Just for a few hours, Ariel, in the afternoon. Just…an hour before sunset, and an hour after.”

I hesitate again, knowing that it’s going to be hard – mom, she makes a big deal out of Midwinter, and even if things will be strained this year I know she’s going to need my help. But when I look up into Luca’s eyes, and see how badly he needs this…

“Okay,” I say, nodding, letting my hand fall from his face and trailing it down the length of its arm. “For a little bit, yeah. And then I have to get back.”

“Thank you,” Luca whispers. Then he dips a quick kiss to my mouth and turns, heading out the door. I blink, kind of surprised at the speed at which he left, staring after him.

When I turn back to my family, I can tell that they’re pretending to not notice how quickly Luca bailed after our official dismissal. Jackson, in particular, keeps himself distracted. But Daphne raises an eyebrow at me, asking if I’m okay. I give her a quick nod, because I am.

I am. Of course I am. What’s mate drama, after all, when your nation is on the brink of destruction?

I exhale a long breath, smoothing my hands down over my dress as I head back to the group at the center of the room just in time to catch a kiss from Cora as she and Roger and Jesse make their goodbyes. Jesse tosses me a wink and I give him a small smile as he goes.

“What’s the plan?” I ask my mom quietly.

“Bed,” she says with a sigh, reaching out and pulling me into a brisk hug. “Unless you need something?”

“No,” I say quietly, shaking my head.

“Don’t let it stress you, baby,” mom says, giving my shoulder a squeeze as she reaches out a hand for Juniper, pulling her up out of the armchair where she’s dozing. “We’ve been in worse spots as a nation. We’ll get out of this too.”

I nod, smiling at her, believing it. She moves away, she and dad shepherding Mark and Juniper to bed. My eyes immediately move to Ben, Rafe, Daphne, and Jackson – the only people left.

“So, what,” Rafe says quietly, raising an eyebrow as the last door snicks shut and the room falls quiet. “Do we stay up and drink away our sorrows? Or sleep ‘em off?”

“Bed,” Ben and Daphne say immediately, and I laugh at their simultaneity as the two look at each other and grin.