The Hidden Princess At All-Boys Alpha Academy novel Chapter 804

“I’m sure,” Ella says, giving the guard a steady nod.

The guards hesitate for only a second before they step back, letting the soaking wet boxer stumble into the palace, panting, looking exhausted, his eyes filled with tears.

“Well, Luca,” Ella says, looking over the young man who rejected her daughter with a raised eyebrow. “I admit that I’m surprised to see you here.”

“Please,” Luca begs, shaking his head, desperation all over his face. “I – I know you all must hate me – but please – let me do anything I can to help – I can’t believe –“

“Oh, come on,” Ella says with a sigh, holding a hand out for Luca. “No need for the hysterics, boy.”

He stares at Ella for a second and then down at her hand as if he can’t believe she’s offering it.

“You’re lucky,” Ella says, a little smirk in her voice. “Jackson just left. So the chances of you getting murdered in the next few minutes just dropped significantly.”

Luca clenches his jaw but steps forward, taking her hand, clearly accepting whatever fate awaits him.

“Come on,” Ella sighs, squeezing his hand and giving him a little tug towards the stairs. “Let’s go see the big guy. See if he has a job for you.”

“Thank you,” Luca whispers. And Ella just nods, pressing herself to Luca’s wet side and letting him feel her warmth. Because even if she hates this boy a little bit right now…

Well. She also loves him too.

That’s family, after all.

I gasp awake at the sound of feet hitting packed dirt, my head flying up as I try to make heads and tails of the sudden noise, the shape storming towards me.

“What the hell are you doing here!?”

I reel away in horror when I realize that it’s Gabriel – that Gabriel has found me –

“You scared the hell out of Pippa!” he shouts, casting out a hand. “No one had any idea where you were or how you got out –“

I shout in fear and immediately throw myself backwards out of this realm, instantly transitioning and appearing back in my bed – a much softer landing, I might add, than the one I had in the Land of Darkness.

“He needs to wait,” Elias says, smirking a little as he crosses to me again. “For the talisman to recharge. Why, how long does it take for yours to regenerate?”

“What?” I ask, peering at him like he’s crazy. “What are you talking about?”

Pippa and Elias both go a bit still and then lock eyes with each other, some communication going between them. I frown because…are they just best friends who have known each other since childhood? Or is there some kind of mate-speak passing between them?

“Ariel,” Elias says, focusing on me and crossing his arms over his chest. “When you go to the Land of Darkness…you can just…go?”

“Yes?” I say, staring between the two of them, curious. “Why, what’s a talisman?”

“She’s been gifted since she was an infant,” Pippa says, nodding eagerly to Elias like she’s figured it out. “Just like the girl. Darkness’s girl.”

“Yes,” Elias murmurs, curling a finger around his chin. “Yes, that does make sense, doesn’t it?”

“What,” I ask, seriously confused, staring between them. “What makes sense?”