The Hidden Princess At All-Boys Alpha Academy

It does her good, I know, to see her daughter so loved when she's not around to do it.

My dad inhales sharply through his nose when we step close and I shift my gaze to him. "Things are complicated, Ariel, but we need to -"

He gasps mid-sentence - we all do - as a huge sound breaks through the air, something loud and horrible soaring through the air over our heads. I gasp and clutch Jackson's shirt in my hands, and he wraps his arm more firmly around me, one hand tucked behind my head. We all turn towards the sound as it passes us and then wait a beat before -

BOOM.

A huge explosion sounds somewhere in the distance, but obviously on our side. Clearly, the attack has begun.

I snap my head to my father to see him pale, his jaw set. "Roger," he snarls, a command.

"On it," Roger says, striding away, tugging Cora with him as he goes, unwilling to be away from her any more than he has to.

"Ariel," dad snaps, drawing my eyes back to him. Mom and Rafe step closer, closing our circle. "Something - something is happening. We're still scrambling to figure out all the details. We don't know if it was coincidence, or designed to align with the funeral for the two Cadets since they knew I was away from the battlefield, but soon after Juniper was taken the Atalaxians started this assault. It is...a big one." Dad sighs, dipping his face into his hand, clearly trying to hold it all together - his role as King, and as father whose youngest daughter is missing, who is about to ask his eldest daughter to risk her life. "Whatever you need, dad," I say, taking as much of a step forward as I can, wrapped in Jackson's arms as I am. Jackson moves forward with me, understanding the gesture. "I'll do whatever you need." Mom raises her hand to dad's shoulder, her whole heart in her eyes as she looks up into her mate's face. "We're running low on resources, Ari," dad murmurs, dropping his hand and looking me in the eyes. "It's - it's dire. Moon Valley has incredible technology but...we're just so much smaller than Atalaxia. They just have more - more weapons, more people. You may be the only thing left in our arsenal that can tilt this battle - this war - in our favor. Especially if they decide to throw everything they have at us."

I nod, swallowing as I do, understanding.

"You know I'd never ask," dad says, shaking his head at me, his throat tightening and strangling his voice in a way I've never heard before. "I know what you've been through these past weeks - and I know you're still hurt, and healing-but Ariel"

—noveldrama

"Dad," I say softly, shaking my head, breaking from Jackson's arms as I step forward towards him and place a hand on his arm. "You don't have to ask, okay? I'm here. I want to be here." Onod, looking up at him, my whole heart in my own eyes now. "This is my nation too, right? My people as much as yours. I'm ready. Or at least - I'll do whatever I can."

Tears well in dad's eyes as he reaches for me, pulling me into his chest and wrapping me in a tight hug. "I don't know what this world did to deserve you, Ariel," he murmurs, pressing a kiss to my hair. "But I'm so incredibly grateful that I

wel

get to be your dad."

I tuck my face close against his chest, fighting tears - tears of love for him, and fear about what's to come, and worry about...about whether or not I can do this. Whether or not what magic I have with my bond to Luca broken will be enough.

"Dominic," Roger barks, he and Cora stepping close.

Dad loosens his grip on me, looking over at my uncle.

"It's bad," Roger says, nodding around at all of us. "It's what we feared - the full assault. We have to move."

Silence reigns as everyone in the circle turns their eyes to me.

I loose a long breath and stepping away from my father, stepping back until I feel Jackson's warm chest behind me. His hands rest light on my hips as he senses that I want him near but don't want to be held right now. That I need to stand on my own two feet.

"Okay," I say, lifting my chin and looking at mom and Cora. "Let's do this. Is there somewhere we can go?

I need to...figure out what's up with my magic."

Mom swallows hard and then nods to me, taking Rafe's hand, clearly wanting him along. "Yes," she says, quiet and worried. "Come on, out back. We'll see what you can do."