The Hidden Princess At All-Boys Alpha Academy

I gasp, and a vicious snarl instantly rips from Jackson's lips as Tony gasps in shock, but before anyone can do anything more than that Alvez is already striding out the door. "What is with him?" Tony asks, coming to stand between Jackson and I, looking between us, appalled.

"You see it too?" Jackson asks, frowning over at Tony.

"How could I miss it? I mean, the man is a weird guy, but he's such a creep with Ari." Tony just shakes his head, his expression appalled, as Jackson and I exchange looks. "What are you talking about?" Rafe says, coming to stand with our little group, Jesse following close behind. "Who's a creep with Ari?"

The three of us just turn to stare at him like he's crazy because...I mean, how can he have missed that?

"Whatever, I've got to get to a study meetup," Tony says, hoisting his pack on his shoulder and looking briefly towards the door before looking back at me. "Thanks for letting me in on the secret. I won't tell anyone." "Well, thanks in turn for that," I say to Tony, brushing off Alvez's creepy moment in my eagerness to speak to Tony while we have him. "Why don't you come by for dinner tonight? We all get together in our room and -" "Ariel," Rafe sighs, again running his hand down the length of his face. "I'm sure that Tony already has dinner plans -"

I gape at my brother. "That doesn't mean that we can't invite him, Rafe -"

"No, it's cool," Tony says, interrupting and grinning between us. "I actually do have dinner plans. Thanks, man," he says, looking into Rafe's eyes, "for not assuming that I'm just sitting around with clasped hands, waiting for a dinner invite from the royals." Rafe blushes a little, I think embarrassed by what Tony is clearly interpreting as his inhospitability, but before he can say anything Tony turns back to me.

"Maybe some other time, Ari," he says, flashing me a grin. "We should meet up, though! About the magic!"

"Definitely!" I call after him as he heads for the door, waving over his shoulder at the group of us still left in the room. "I'll send you my schedule!"

"What are you doing, Ari?" Rafe groans, clearly frustrated with me, though I have no idea why.

"What is the big deal!?" I ask, tossing my hands out to the side. "Tony's in the group now! Why can't he come to dinner!?"

"Tony is not part of the group," Rafe growls, bringing his head up to level a glare at me. "Just because he knows one secret does not make him privy to all the others."

"What others!?" I ask, baffled.

"Your mate situation, for one," Rafe says, gesturing vehemently to Jacks, who just stands stoic, his arms crossed. "Not to mention matters of national security! We have no idea who Tony really is he could be a spy!"

"Oh, he's not a spy," I sigh, grabbing my books and starting to shove them in my bag.

"How do you know that, Ariel?" Jesse asks, looking at me curiously.

"I just know," I say, rolling my eyes and glaring between my brother and my cousin. "I just have a good feeling about him, okay! And quite frankly, right now I'm much more willing to trust my and Jackson's instincts about people over yours." Jesse presses an offended hand to his chest. "What does that mean?"

I sigh, glancing at the clock, knowing I've got to meet Blaze in a matter of minutes. "Can we talk about it tonight? I've got more classes." I look up at Jackson. "Want to walk me and play bodyguard?" I give him a broad grin.

"Always," Jackson says, giving me a smirk and putting his hand again on my lower back as he escorts me towards the door.

"This isn't over, Ariel!" Rafe calls after me, still kind of pissed.

"It never is, Rafe!" I call back, flashing him a grin over my shoulder as Jackson and I head down the hall.