The Hidden Princess At All-Boys Alpha Academy novel Chapter 420

Around midnight, the family starts to fade.

“Actually,” Rafe murmurs at my side, looking around the room as mom and dad herd a sleepy Mark off to his bedroom, Juniper following close behind, and Roger and Cora bid their farewells to their oldest son, who is staying overnight here so that he can go to school with the rest of us in the morning. “This might…be the perfect time…”

“What?” I ask, frowning up at my older brother, Jackson slumping slightly on my other side, I think already half asleep. I laugh a little as Jacks rests his weight against me, because if he thinks I’m going to be able to hold his weight then he is sincerely overestimating my strength.

“Hey, Jacks,” Rafe says, giving Jackson a nudge on the shoulder as Jesse kisses his mom and gives his dad a big hug before the pair march out with their ducklings in tow. “Do you think I could…steal Ariel for a bit? Just for a few minutes?”

Jackson growls a little, low in his throat, his arm slipping around my waist as he lifts his head to glare at my brother.

I burst out laughing at this, giving him a smack on his chest. “Jackson!”

“My mate,” Jackson murmurs, sleepy and half drunk. “You…can’t borrow her. She’s mine.”

“My sister first,” Rafe laughs, I think as tickled as I am to see the ever-controlled Jackson in this state. Rafe raises an eyebrow to me as Jesse comes to stand with us. “Do you think he can get to his rooms by himself, Ari?”

“Yes, he’s very capable,” I say, grinning up at Jackson, who nods at me with assurance.

“Ohhh, are we doing secret cousin stuff?” Jesse asks, grinning around at the three of us and figuring out what’s happening lightning-fast, as he always does.

“Just for a minute,” Rafe says as I stand on my tiptoes and whisper to Jackson that I’ll meet him in his room shortly, and not to open the present that’s waiting there. Jacks gives me a swift kiss on the cheek and murmurs his assurances that he won’t, waving his goodnights over his shoulder as he heads out the door.