The Hidden Princess At All-Boys Alpha Academy



I call the little drone back to me with the handheld base, grinning as it lands in my hand like a bird and reattaching it to my belt. "Thank you!" I murmur to it. "I'm asking for one of you for my birthday."

It really was incredibly useful to be able to send the little drone out ahead of me to scope - it's small and quiet enough to go mostly unnoticed and it allowed me to see a whole pack of what I assume were Wright's soldiers running straight for my base, probably intent on overwhelming Blythe and I from the start.

But, since I knew their path and where they were heading, I just headed slightly west and stayed out of their way, keeping an eye on them with the little drone and continuing my trek north while they headed towards my empty camp.noveldrama

I take a deep breath and start up the slight hill towards Jackson's camp, doing nothing to hide the sounds of my approach or otherwise disguise myself. Instead, I pull a little white napkin out of my pocket - one I stole from our breakfast tray this morning - and start waving it over my head.

I see the flurry of activity that breaks out in Jackson's camp as soon as I'm spotted and can't keep the little smirk from my mouth as I approach. “Halt!” comes a voice from above, and I turn my gaze on a couple of Cadets peering over the edge of a hill at me. “Stay there!"

"I'm not going to shoot!" I call out, still waving the little flag. It's a lie, but...well. If they fall for it, that's their problem.

"Just stay there!"

I do as I'm told, dropping my arm and waiting, grateful that they didn't shoot me on sight.

But if I know my mate, they're under distinct orders not to.

Jackson appears a moment later, his huge form cresting the hill and standing on top of it, glaring down at me like he's already worried that what I'm going to say and do next is going to ruin all of his plans.

Which it is.

"What the hell are you doing here?" he calls.

"I come bearing gifts!" I say, holding out the gigantic assault rifle.

Jackson's eyebrows go up, liking that one. "Where's Blythe?"

“He died,” I say, heaving a big dramatic sigh and twisting my lips like I'm sorry about it.

Jackson sighs again but orders his troops not to shoot and waves me forward.

I grin, setting forward at a jog and heading directly into the camp.

Unable to hide their curiosity, the soldiers in Jackson's camp peer at me from their assigned locations. Jesse gasps, immediately striding forward, and I hear Tony give a whoop as he likewise rushes over.

"Hey!" Tony says, dashing in and wrapping me in a hug just as Jacks opens his mouth - probably to scold me.

"Hi, I brought you a present!" I say, hugging him and then detaching the little drone from my belt and pressing it into his hands. "It's super cool, it —" "Ari," Jesse growls, "You can't just —“

"And this is for you!" I push the assault rifle at my cousin, making his mouth form into a little stunned "o" of delight as he takes it and begins his inspection.

"You can't just abandon your team and join ours, Clark," Jackson says, his voice dark. "You can't just give us your supplies."

"Well, then say you captured them or something, say, giving a shrug and starting to unsling my paintball rifle and drop the guns from my hips and thighs Jesse's eyes go wide when he sees just how much firepower I'm currently carrying.

5

"Ari," Jackson sighs, dragging a hand down his face, "you can't just break all the rules because you're -"

"Yes, Jacks,” I say, deliberately interrupting him and looking him hard in the eyes. "I can."

Everyone goes a bit still as I palm my last handgun - the same one I used to kill Blythe - and raise it to point at Jackson's chest next.

"What do you say?" I ask, starting to

grin, a bit wicked. Jackson's face goes slack as Tony's bursts into a smile. Jesse just looks between us, shocked and confused. "Want to blow off this stupid game with me? Go get some sun?"

Tony bursts into laughter as Jackson stares at me for a long moment.

Then my mate's face breaks into a wide smile. “Passing command to you, Sinclair,” Jackson murmurs, keeping his eyes on me and taking his earpiece off, holding it out to Jesse.

"W-what!?" Jesse gasps, staring at him, still not getting it.

But the sound of my gun breaks the stillness of the fort. Jackson doesn't even take a step back, just looks down at the pink splotch on his front before tooking up at me, proud and pleased and a little bit vicious. "Come on, kid," he murmurs, holding out a hand to me. "Let's bail.