The Hidden Princess At All-Boys Alpha Academy novel Chapter 402

“Don’t beg,” Daphne murmurs, taking a deep breath and staring at him, unblinking.

“You’re not in charge, Daphne,” he whispers. “I’ll beg if I want to.”

“Not proper, for a Duke to beg.”

He smirks. “Depends on what he’s begging for. And whether it’s worth falling to his knees.”

She laughs a little. “Surely, one more day with me isn’t worth such disgrace.”

“Don’t undersell yourself, Daph. You’re worth a great deal more trouble than that.”

Silence reigns between them as the pair just stare at each other for what feels like a long, long time.

But god, what a silence. Daphne feels that if she had her sewing sheers in her hand she could cut the silence up into bits and sew it into an elaborate cloak, sell it for millions. But she wouldn’t – she’d keep it whole and just wrap herself in it when she’s alone. In the stillness, the peace.

It’s all ruined, of course, a moment later when the kitchen door bursts open. Daphne nearly jumps out of her skin as another blush rises to her cheeks. God, when did she start blushing so much for no reason?

“Unfair, Chase!” Bella calls out, chasing her older brother, her voice thick with tears. “Jesse, he stole all the syrup!”

“It’s my syrup!” Chase bites back over his shoulder, rushing into the room with a sopping wet paper bag in his hands. “Mom bought it for me –“

“Ooookay,” Jesse says, instantly getting to his knees when he sees the impending disaster before him, grabbing the roll of paper towels at his side – which Daphne suspects he always keeps by his side in this house – and reaching for the dripping bag. Chase gives it to him and Jesse instantly begins to wrap it up.

“Daphne didn’t even get to see it,” Chase moans, his shoulders slumping as his breakfast offering disappears into layers and layers of absorbent white paper.

“But I can smell it,” Daphne says, her eyebrows going up as she nods, not lying at all as the thick scent of maple fills the room. “And it is…a valiant effort. Thank you so much, Chase.”

The little boy beams at her, well mollified.

At Jesse’s bidding, the other four children ring around, holding out their offerings, which range from the very practical – Caleb’s croissant and after-dinner mint – to the daringly creative – Bella’s banana-flavored yogurt with a lollypop instead of a spoon.