The Hidden Princess At All-Boys Alpha Academy



A wild grin crosses my face as I fix my eyes on the ball of paper and set it ablaze before it even stops rolling. It only takes a second longer to pull on Luca's wind to lift the fire higher, creating a tiny whirlwind of flame just above the table, feeding it with Jackson's power after the paper itself fully disintegrates.

Experimenting, being quite careful, I push on the wind, lifting the flames into the air and letting them spiral.

When I feel quite in control, I let it ride, powered by my bonds but not pushing it left or right. "So, it's kind of like that," I say, turning to my dad and Roger with a shrug.

They just stare at it in the air, their mouths open in awe.

"She's playing it cool," Tony says, glancing at me from the side of his eye with a smirk. "It's this, but like, a thousand times that size."

"How...how big can you go?" Roger asks, glancing at me before returning his eyes to the flame, fascinated.

"Um, we're not totally sure," I say, glancing over at Jacks.

"Really big," Jackson says, answering for me with absolute confidence, his own eyes on the magic before us. "Really, really big." "Jesse?" I say, inviting him to join in.

"Yes, finally, thank you, you big attention hog," he murmurs, making me laugh, but only because I know he's not really jealous. Dad and Roger actually gasp when Jesse's shadows are added, leaning forward to study what we can do.

"The effect is truly amazing at night," Rafe murmurs, likewise watching, unable to draw his eyes away. "Nearly invisible flame."

I sigh, dropping the fire all at once and basically just pulling the magic from the air. "So, that's pretty much it," I say, turning to the Alpha King and his Duke, who just stare at me slack-jawed. "Jesse and I want to experiment more to see what happens when I give him my power instead of when he gives me his, but -"

My words are cut off by my father's snarl as he crosses the room in a few long strides, sweeping me up in his arms and holding me tight before I even really know what's happening. I gasp, but then laugh as my dad cradles my head to his chest, rocking me slightly from side to side.noveldrama

"My girl," dad growls, tucking his head down next to mine, his voice nearly choked with pride. "My amazing little girl - god, Ariel, you're such a wonder."

My eyes mist as dad loosens his

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grip on me, allowing me to turn my face up to his. He cups my cheek in his palm, looking down at me, his eyes crowded with tears. "I'm so proud of you, darling," he murmurs, his whole heart in his face. "If this does what I think it can, then I think you may have just turned the tide of this war I think...god, Ariel, I think that you may yet save us all."

I bite my lip, completely overwhelmed, and tuck my face close against my dad's shirt as he again hugs me tight.

"I mean, I helped," Jesse says, only a little bit sour.

But we all burst out laughing, which is really what we need.

Something which my cousin, in his own way, already knew.

About half an hour later, after a great deal of discussion, dad and Roger decide that they still need to give a lot of thought to how my magic can be used in the war. Consequently, int they decide that it will not be on the agenda tonight. "Too new," my father says, shaking his head, his mind clearly working on the problem. In the meantime, though, those in command decide to move forward with tonight's assault in which my little team will only have a small, non-magical role.

We're dismissed from the command tent and ordered to prepare ourselves for battle, primarily by changing into uniforms that mark us more completely as members of Moon Valley military and not as under-trained Academy Cadets.

When we arrive at the large white tent set aside for us to sleep in tonight, a problem immediately presents itself.

"I mean," I murmur, holding up the gigantic grey-and-black set of fatigues sent for me to wear, "there is...no way that this is going to fit."

Jackson smirks, looking the uniform over and leaning close to murmur in my ear. "Second time I've heard you say that in two days, Clark. But in this case, I agree with you."

I snap my head up to stare at him for a second and then burst into laughter, shocked not only that Jackson is making a joke, but that it's a dirty one. Jackson's face breaks into a huge smile, but he moves on and straightens up, not wanting to draw too much attention. "Can you just roll the pants up a lot, like you did when you were a Candidate?"

I scoff a bit, my pride rankling at the

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idea that I'm going to go into my first military engagement with my pants rolled at the ankles and threatening to fall down at my hips. I sigh as look over the uniform again, realizing that I've perhaps gotten used to the idea of my personal tailor being on hand to ensure that all of my uniforms fit me perfectly. "Daphne did not do all of that ironing last night, Jacks, to turn me out like this."