The Hidden Princess At All-Boys Alpha Academy novel Chapter 443

A little knock comes at the open door and I turn, gasping with delight when I see Ben leaning against the door jamb, smiling fondly at all of us. “Well, you Sinclairs are a sight for sore eyes.”

“Benny!” I shout, laughing and launching myself off the couch and towards him. Ben laughs as he catches me in his arms, giving me a warm hug.

“Hey, Clark,” he says, smiling fondly down at me as I hug him back and then tug him into the room.

“Did the train get in already?” Rafe asks, sounding surprised.

“First one,” Ben says, nodding. “The one that came from the city this morning – I was able to get on that, though I didn’t see Daphne anywhere. There will be another later tonight for people coming longer distances.”

“Was Luca on your train?” I ask, eager, as we sit down on the couch together.

“I sure was,” Luca says from the doorway, and I gasp again, leaping to my feet and running this time over to him. Luca laughs as he catches me, spinning in a circle, holding me tight and murmuring his hellos into my hair.

Things are quite cheerful after that as our little group falls into our old routines, chatting happily and joking around. As Ben falls into a serious conversation with Rafe and Jesse about the roles of ambassadors in the upcoming conflict with Atalaxia, Luca tugs on my sleeve and nods over towards the nook, asking me for a minute.

I send an anxious glance towards the door and Luca immediately knows why.

“Just five minutes, Ariel,” he murmurs, leaning close to me on the couch and drawing a hand down the length of my arm. “To make sure we’re good before term starts?”