The Hidden Princess At All-Boys Alpha Academy novel Chapter 915

I bite my lip, fighting a smile, and Jackson sends me a nudge down the bond. When I look up at him and he frowns at me, clearly wanting to know what’s going on, I break into a laugh.

He just scowls and shakes his head, wanting to know but not pushing it, knowing I’m not giving him any secrets until he tells me what Jesse told him about the Underworld. So, we are, essentially, still at a stalemate.

“Did you ever find Maryam?” Jesse asks, leaning forward towards Rafe even as his hand snatches out, grabbing a piece of Midnight’s cake and making her squeak in protest as he quickly pops it in his mouth.

Ben and Elias perk up just as Jacks and I do, all of us turning towards Rafe.

“Yes,” Rafe sighs, leaning back against his hands, rolling his eyes up towards the roof of the yurt. “I found her. She’s…back.”

“How’d you convince her to come back?” I ask, my voice a fascinated whisper.

“Um,” he says, looking down at his lap, grimacing. “I…kind of didn’t.”

“Rafe,” Jesse says, laughing and already shaking his head. “What’d you do, carry her?”

I laugh and turn back to Rafe, but when he doesn’t answer – his grimace deepening and his cheeks going red – we all burst out into laughter.

I whip a hand across Jackson, smacking my brother hard on the arm. “Rafe! Seriously!? You carried her back, kicking and screaming!?”

“Well, she didn’t kick and scream the whole time,” he mutters.

I lose it, falling onto Jackson’s side, who likewise laughs and wraps his arms around me, holding me close.

“Oh, come on, what was I supposed to do!” Rafe groans, looking around at all of us for some sign of pity. “She was at the fucking train station with nothing but a backpack and a one-way ticket to the North –“

“You’re supposed to let her go, Rafe!” Ben calls out, laughing. “She’s a grown ass woman – she can decide where she goes! What, is she like your, prisoner now!?”

“No, she’s not my prisoner,” Rafe growls.

“Is she locked in a room somewhere?” Jesse asks, leaning forward, fascinated.

“The door isn’t locked!” Rafe bites out, glaring at him.

“Is it guarded?” I ask, a sneaky smile spreading over my face.

Rafe just scowls and looks away again, making us all crack up.

“It’s not safe out there!” Rafe bites out, though he too starts laughing. “She’s my fucking mate, I can’t just let her go on a train all alone to –“