The Hidden Princess At All-Boys Alpha Academy novel Chapter 864

“Jacks,” I say quietly, stroking a thumb over his bloody beard, loving him a great deal. “I need a minute with Gabriel alone.”

His eyes flash, accompanied by a rough snarl. Gabriel flinches back, but I just smile.

“No,” Jackson growls, pulling me closer.

I laugh a little and shake my head. “It wasn’t a request, baby.”

He takes a deep angry breath in through his nose, clearly mulling it over in his mind. When he exhales, his breath carries a heavy growl. “I am not leaving you,” he says, shaking his head.

But I just sigh and vanish us away to the Dark world, where we stand alone. “I’m going to take two minutes, Jacks. And then I’m coming back here.”

“Ariel,” Jackson snarls, shaking his head, not letting go of me.

But I step away, gently twisting my wrist in a request that he let me go. Not forcing him but…letting him know that I wish to be free.

“Two minutes, Jacks,” I say, looking him clear in the eyes. “And then the rest of our lives. Me and you. Okay?”

He huffs out a sigh, putting his hands on his hips, and then he hangs his head and nods, I think unable to turn down that offer.

“I love you,” I say, beaming at him.

“Any sign of danger, Ariel,” he snarls, lifting livid eyes to mine. “And you cut that two minutes short.”

“I promise,” I say, pressing my hands to my chest. And then I vanish back to Atalaxia to say goodbye to my Prince.

When I appear back in the room with the Prince and the corpse of the King, I find Gabriel looking very pale.

“What am I going to do?” he murmurs, shaking his head. “How will I explain this?”

“Tell them the truth,” I say, kneeling next to him and looking a bit sorrowfully at the dead King. I mean, he was a horrible man, but the end of a life…it is always a weighty thing, always significant. “Tell them Jackson did it. Or that I did. Blame Moon Valley, we’ll be happy to take the credit.”

Gabriel looks at me, his eyes full of wonder and a bit of fear. “I’m King.”

“You’re King,” I say, reaching out to stroke a hand over his hair. “Can I trust you to rule well? Or do I have to kill you too?”

Gabriel narrows his eyes. “Yes. I do. I know all about him, Ariel, and the Community too – probably more than you do. I also know that McClintock isn’t even a real surname. You’d pick a nameless brute over a Prince? Over being Queen?”

“Your prejudice is showing, highness,” I say with a smirk, my wolf growling warning in my soul. “Besides, you forget that my mother was an orphan too, that she was also nameless. But she’s a Sinclair now. And she’s made a magnificent Queen. I think Jacks and I will do quite well as a Sinclair.”

Gabriel blushes and looks away, rueful. “I can’t live up to him in your eyes, can I?”

“If it helps,” I whisper, truly feeling sorry. “No one can.”

“I still think I’m better looking,” Gabriel grumbles, discontent.

I just settle back my shoulders a little and smile. Because he is getting dumped, after all. I don’t need to rub it in by telling him that he’s wrong.

“Anyway, Gabe,” I say quietly, rolling up my sleeve and extending my arm to him. “I have to go. But I want your mark, if you’ll give it to me.”

He turns to me, his eyes wide. “What?”

“Your mark, please,” I say quietly, nodding down at my wrist. “Granny’s orders.”