The Hidden Princess At All-Boys Alpha Academy novel Chapter 538

He looks up at us and shrugs, his expression wary, like he thinks he might sound crazy.

“That’s…scary, man,” Rafe says, his voice breathy. “But also really cool.”

Slowly, Jesse breaks out into a smile. “Yeah, I…I think it kind of is.”

“Fire goddess, shadow lord,” Jackson murmurs, looking around at us like he’s kind of tickled by it. “Whatever you come up with next is going to be amazing, Rafe, if you’re going to match up with these two.”

Jesse laughs and I grin at my brother, but my smile falters a little as Rafe pretends to laugh before he drops his head, his face falling a little bit.

And my heart sinks again when I realize that my poor brother – who just got dumped – likewise feels left out of this too. Because he’s the only one here whose magic hasn’t manifested.

Which…probably makes him feel more alone than ever.

“Rafe,” I say quietly, reaching for him.

But my brother straightens his shoulders, pretending he doesn’t hear me.

My hand falls before I touch him, sensing that he doesn’t want that right now.

“Well, we have to get up early,” Rafe says, forcing a smile, “especially if we’re going to send word to mom and Cora that we want to chat. Do you think you can sleep, Jess?”

“Probably not,” Jesse laughs, only a touch hysterically, shaking his head. “But…I mean, I can try.”

“Well, what if it happens again?” I ask anxiously, biting my lip.

“I’ll just scream louder, cousin,” Jesse says, reaching out and giving me a pat on the knee, using his sense of humor and bravado to cover the anxiety that I can still see running through him. After all, he’s gone through a big change today – and swirling clouds of darkness are not precisely a warm and cuddly gift.

I mean, not that bursting things into flames is. At least not technically. But…well, I like it.

And I’m not sure that Jesse likes his as much – at least not yet.

“Well, I’m staying here,” I say, crawling quickly across the bed and cuddling up on the pillow on the far side of the bed that Jesse always leaves open. I grin at Jesse as he turns to stare at me. “In case you need me.”

“Ariel, go to bed –“