The Hidden Princess At All-Boys Alpha Academy novel Chapter 396

“More than I have ever been,” he says, heaving an exhausted sigh and then draining his glass. Rafe laughs and pats him on the shoulder.

“Come on, then,” he says, nodding back towards the family bedrooms. “Bunk with me tonight, like you did the first night. No sense in wandering the palace trying to remember which room is yours when you’re already dead on your feet.”

“Youuu got it,” Ben murmurs, smirking at Rafe and wandering away with him.

I smile after them, shaking my head a little, because…well, in many situations, I imagine that Rafe inviting Ben to his room for the evening would be kind of a dream come true. But are things different now that Ben has discovered that he has a mate? And a really cute one? Or does he still have a crush?

“What’s going on there?” Jackson asks, making me jump a little out of my reverie.

I turn my head to stare at him, my mouth making a little “o” of surprise.

He just smirks at me. “I know something’s up. I felt your shock and surprise and delight coming down the bond. Are you going to tell me?”

Grimacing a little, I step to Jackson’s side and wrap my arms around his waist, careful not to spill my glass of whiskey. “I promised Ben that I wouldn’t,” I say in a whisper. “Do you mind?”

“No, I don’t mind,” he murmurs, lifting a hand and drifting his thumb softly over my cheekbone. “Keep your promises to your friends, Ari. Though…” he hesitates here, and I grin. He just sighs, shaking his head down at me. “I never liked gossip before I got all wrapped up in your family, Ariel. But now I’m like…dying to know. What have you done to me?”

“You’re one of us!” I squeak, delighted at the revelation, smiling so hard my eyes crinkle up into little half moons. “We’ve converted you! Aw, Jacks, that makes me so happy – I’m going to tell you everything –“

He laughs, pulling me tighter and taking a tiny sip of his drink. “Please, start me off easy, Clark. I’m a gossip novice, after all.”

“Okay,” I say with a sigh. And then I surprise myself by breaking into a big yawn.

He grins down at me. “Tired, little mate?”