The Hidden Princess At All-Boys Alpha Academy

Jesse's eyes open first, and then Midnight's, slow and sleepy.

"How do you feel?" I ask quietly, leaning towards her, able to see her better now in the dawn light that streams through the windows.

"What happened?" Jackson asks. I turn to see him standing at the door and I smile, reaching out a hand. He frowns at me, sending me a little pulse of worry that I didn't sleep, and then passing me some magic energy. I grin, quite pleased as he steps close enough to the bed that I can lean against him.

"Jesse and Ariel cleared my wolf," Midnight says on a happy sigh, just before she yawns. I laugh a little as she cuddles up in my pillows, clearly exhausted and intending to sleep right there.

"Do you still have your magic?" Jesse asks, leaning towards her, curious.

"Jess, let her sleep, she can answer that -"

But suddenly shadows burst from Midnight and she fades into the shadows behind the pillows, almost indistinguishable. "Yup," she says on a hefty yawn. "Still got 'em. Darkness lied to me. They must have come from someone else." "A gift from the God of Death?" I ask, turning up my face to Jackson, curious. He shrugs down at me. "Or Life. I don't know."

I nod, intrigued, but then I yawn - despite my magical boost, I'm still tired.

"All right, come on," Jackson says, scooping me up off the bed and nodding to where Jesse has laid out along the edge, his hands tucked behind his head, his eyes already shutting. "These two have clearly claimed the bed. We'll tuck you into Marigold's."

"They're very rude," I murmur, narrowing my eyes at Mids and Jesse, not meaning a word of it. But then I just wrap my arms around my mate's neck, letting my own eyes fall shut as he carries me away to our daughter's room.

I grin, several hours later, when Jesse comes out of my bedroom, yawning his head off just in time for dinner.

"Yay!" I say, clapping my hands a little and gestoring towards the very filled coffee table, which has plenty of food and several plates which we've set aside for him and Midnight. Seeing my excitement, Marigold cheers too, clapping andnoveldrama

holding up her hands. Rafe and

Jackson, seated on either side of the

little Princess, grin down at her.

"I like this," Jesse murmurs, smiling at us a little and sauntering over. "I think I

could get used to applause, whenever I enter a room."

"How is she?" Jackson asks as Jesse flops down on the floor next to me, reaching for a cheeseburger and taking a big bite even without a plate. I grin and toss a napkin onto his lap.

"She's good, I think," Jesse says, nodding as he looks down at his food. "She's still asleep but...it's weird how much I can feel. Through this...bond, or whatever."

Jackson nods, smiling a bit, while Rafe's mouth twists to the side and he looks down. My heart breaks for him, because I know he wishes he had an accepted bond. Quietly, make a note to myself to ask-Rafe a

about his plans to see Maryam again, which I'm sure he's dying to do.

"How are you doing with that?" I ask quietly, reaching out and rubbing circles on Jesse's back, wanting him to feel support. I know that he'd been holding out, that he doesn't have romantic feelings for Midnight. But still, it's done now, isn't it?

He just looks over at me and shrugs and my heart breaks again, wishing this was easier.

"She scared the shit out of Daphne last night," Jesse whispers, shaking his head and dropping his gaze to his food. "I feel horrible."

"I'm sure it will be fine," I say, hoping desperately it will be true. "If we can just –“

The door to my room opens, though, and all eyes turn to Midnight as she strolls into the room, humming happily, her hands behind her back. "Hi!" Midnight says, grinning around at everyone. "Is there any desert?"