The Hidden Princess At All-Boys Alpha Academy

I gasp, my hand pressed to my mouth, as Jackson tenses behind me. A glance at Gabriel lets me know that he feels it too - Jesse pulling on our magic – that we're experiencing this in a way that the others aren't. Midnight screams in fear, reaching out for Jesse, only held back by Ben who grabs her wrist at the last moment as she dashes for her mate.noveldrama

Pippa stands very still, pressed close to Elias, as Jesse moves his hands like a sculptor working clay, creating some kind of ball, or a dome. A shape begins to appear before him, surrounding the God of Darkness, like a dome, or an oblong..... oval orb? To the naked eye it all looks very simple and easy - though those of us whose magic is working can clearly feel the God within, pushing against it, pounding against our magic and seeking escape.

But Jesse pushes, taking a step forward, and his shadows swirl slower and slower, becoming solid. A tiny smile starts to form on my mouth as I feel him shaping my magic alongside his – little sparrows and minnows and panthers, all limned in blue, taking shape within the shadows themselves on the dome's hollow form.

And suddenly, I can feel it - complete. Jesse lets his hands fall, his shoulders relaxing, as I laugh and jump to my feet. Jackson gasps, reaching for my hand - unaware that it's done - but I'm too fast, dashing for Jesse and throwing my arms around him.

"That was amazing!" I gasp, nearly strangling my cousin with my hug even as I look over at the solid mass of shadow now sitting in the middle of the wasteland, the blue forms still moving subtly over its surface. "Did you know you could do that!?"

“Um, nope,” Jesse says, giving me a quick squeeze and smiling at me before turning, looking for Midnight. "No, that was sort of...improvised."

He holds out a hand to his little mate and Ben releases her. She runs, sobbing, into his arms. “What is it?” she whispers, shaking, pressing her face against his chest. "What did you do?"

"I don't know,” he murmurs, bending low to drop a kiss to her hair. "It's some kind of...containment."

"It looks like an egg," Jackson says, a little dry, and I grin as I turn to see him still sitting on the ground, his arms wrapped around his knees, studying the solid shadow before him.

"Oh my god, it does..." Ben murmurs and then bursts out laughing, hisz eyes shining with pride as he turns them on Jesse. "Is that what you made? A magic egg to contain the God of Darkness?"

Jesse's smile is more hesitant even as he, too, laughs, one arm around Midnight as he runs a hand through his hair. "I guess so. But guys - - it's not going to hold him forever. I

mean maybe one day? I cove

something... more solid?" he looks to me now. "But this was hastily done - we have to...we have to move."

Even as he says it, noise breaks out elsewhere in the Land of Darkness. All of our heads turn to see soldiers, of all things, appearing on the other side of the great cage.

"Shit," Elias whispers, looking frantically around at us. "The King - he finally figured out where Gabriel is - he's sending his soldiers for us -"

Pippa squeaks in fear, pressing herself to his side.

"That thing," I say, fast, pointing to the egg as Jackson gets to his feet and comes immediately to my side. "Can you leave it, Jesse? Or is...is he going to break out the moment you go?"

“I can leave it,” he says, his brow furrowing in confusion. "I made it like the little shadow cat I left with..." his voice fades as he glances down at Midnight, who looks up at himè with wide dark eyes. "Um, I made it like Mittens," he says, looking over at me, his face grim. "I can leave it behind. But seriously, it's... he shudders as we both feeba pulse against our magic, the God of Darkness pressing hard against the inside of the shell. "We can't stay in this land long. He'll come for us again."