The Hidden Princess At All-Boys Alpha Academy

Jesse sighs, glancing at his watch and then looking to the door, an undrunk glass of champagne in his hand. "Where the hell is your damn sister?"

"Your damn cousin," Rafe murmurs, draining his glass and then pouring himself another.

"You'd better stop that," Jesse says, turning his head to Rafe with a frown. "There won't be any for Ari at the rate you're going -"

Rafe laughs, shrugging. “Her fault! She was late! She knows the rules."

Jesse grins at Rafe and then turns his eyes to the chaos of the roof, which has kids running all over it. "Didn't we pick this place because it was quiet and secret? So that the three of us could have a moment alone every Midwinter?"

"Yes, we did," Rafe murmurs, frowning around at the shouting, laughing kids. "But that was before your ex-mate created the ultimate kid fort and gave the pups free reign." He raises his glass towards Midnight's converted yurt, in and out of which all the children run, laughing and playing even as the hour grows late.

As the pair watch, Seraphina growls and chasses Marigold back inside, where a waiting Mark snatches her up into his arms in a pretend attack. The little girl shrieks with delight as Seraphina jumps up and down, shouting that it's her turn.

"Don't blame Midnight," Jesse murmurs, smirking at the yurt. "First, because it was your mom that converted it into the kid paradise it is. And second because Midnight is getting... powerful. She'll probably kick your ass."

Both turn their eyes to where Midnight stands across the roof on a little wooden block, smiling down at Daphne, who kneels at her feet. Daphne laughs at something Midnight says, her eyes crinkling with joy, even as she plies her needle to hem the head-to-toe black outfit that she made Midnight as a gift for Midwinter.

Ben, Elias, and Pippa stand at Midnight's other side, curiously watching Daphne's process and chatting softly. Pippa presses a sleeping Bianca to her chest, the little girl nearly one year's old - slumped with exhaustion, her head on her mother's shoulder.

"Why does Mids even need a spy disguise," Rafe murmurs, laughing even as he sips more of the champagne. "She just...sinks into the shadows anyway."

"Because she looks cool," Jesse says, grinning over at the girls and watching as Midnight experiments with pulling up the hood and lifting the fabric that covers her nose and mouth. Even though he can't see most of her face anymore, he can tell by the shine in her black eyes that she's desperately pleased.

"It is very cool," Rafe concedes. He turns to Jesse. "How are things going with Daphne, anyway?"

Jesse beams, bright and shining. "Fantastic."

"Still no bond?"

Jesse shrugs, tearing his eyes from his girl and turning to Rafe, giving him his full attention. "Nah, but...same feeling like there should be, like we're waiting for it to snap into place any moment. But what about you?" he asks, leaning against the counter and giving Rafe his sneakiest grin. "I noticed Maryam wasn't at the festivities yesterday or today."

Rafe groans, tilting his head back to stare up at the sky.

"Did you forget to invite her?"noveldrama

Rafe snaps his head back up, glaring at Jesse. "Of course I invited her."

"How rude of her not to come,”

Jesse says, grinning so wide it

crinkles his eyes half shut. Rafe just

groans, shaking his head. "So seriously... it's not going well?

IMS

"It's...going." Rafe says, clearly not comfortable getting into it. "Just...she's a very challenging person, Jess."

"Sometimes the challenging ones are the best ones," Jesse murmurs. "Keeps you on your toes. Nice and spicy."

Rafe smirks, his voice dropping low as he glances at his cousin. "You have no idea."

Jesse bursts out laughing and smacks Rafe's arm. "Tell me!"

"No way!"

"Tell me!" he smacks again. "Right now!"

Rafe hisses in pretend pain, leaning away to throw Jesse off the scent, but Jesse

just laughs harder and smacks his cousin again.

“Hi! Hi!”

They both turn towards Ariel's voice as she stumbles out the door, a little tiny form strapped to her chest "I'm here now! I'm sorry! Who's telling who what!? Tell me too!"

“No, forbidden!” Jesse says, pointing at the baby in its sling. "We said just the

three of us, no offspring!"