The Hidden Princess At All-Boys Alpha Academy

"Damn," Gabriel says under his breath, watching Jacksons, clearly impressed.

The Ambassadors snap into action, each holding hands in a long train.

"Thank you!" I say, light and cheerful in my Princess Cupcake voice, taking the hand of the eldest Ambassador, who looks down at me in wonder. "Now, when we get there, if everyone can please continue to hold hands -"

"Get where?" the Ambassador asks, his eyes going wide.

"No time for questions!" I say, quite light, turning my head back to Jackson and opening my mouth.

"But Benjamin Ternicki!" the Ambassador says, shaking his head, vehemently.

"Interrupt her again," Jackson snarls, storming forward to loom over the smaller man. "Just once more. And watch what happens."

The ambassador goes very, very pale.

"Thank you sweetie," I say, patting Jackson on the chest. "I'll be back in just two minutes -"

"Wait, what?" Jackson gasps.

But too late, I vanish away with all of the ambassadors in tow.

As one, they gasp and shout as they appear in the Land of Darkness,

overwhelmed and frightened by the onslaught of magic, and the disappearance of

the Atalaxian palace, and the appearance of the new world.

I grimace, but there's no time for explanations or pity as I stride forward, seeking Jesse and Midnight as well as the soldiers.

What's left of the soldiers - certainly not as many as there were dashing for us before - are luckily clustered on the other side of the castle-wide cage, peering at the egg that still holds the God of Darkness, probably wondering what the hell it is.

"Please keep hold of the hands, please!" I call out to the Ambassadors, stepping forward, peering around, looking for two figures -

And there -

"Midnight!" I shout out into the air, cupping my hands to my mouth. "Jesse!"

The little figure's head snaps towards me and I smile.

They vanish and a moment later appear at my side.

“Hi,” Jesse says, giving me a warm grin as Midnight looks up at me with wide, frightened eyes. She, too, glances over at the shadow encasement that holds the God of Darkness, worried.

"The others, did you get them out?" I ask, anxious.

"We brought them to the yurt," Jesse

says, his tones frustrated as he

glances down at Midnight.

"She... we're having trouble

convincing Midnight that Moon

Valley is safe."

"Full of ruffians," she murmurs, wrapping her arms around herself. "And whores."

My eyes go wide but Jesse shakes his head at me, clearly letting me know not to question it.

"Jesse," I whisper, shaking my own head in turn. "You have to get them back -"

"Look, just give me time," he murmurs, glancing at the ambassadors. "We're back at the yurt for now. What do you want me to do?"

"Take them," I say, gesturing towards the Ambassadors, who all still stand quiet and still, holding hands like a line of kindergarteners. I can't help but smile at the sight of them. noveldrama

en

"Ariel," Jesse snaps, putting a hand on my shoulder that draws my attention back

to him. "What are you going to do?"

"Don't worry about me," I say, shaking my head and giving him a confident smile.

"Of course I'm worried about you -"

"I have Jacks," I say, giving a happy little shrug.

Jesse grins at me. And then nods. "You want us to come to come back for you?"

"I think you need to focus on getting your crew back to Moon Valley, Jesse," I say, my hands reaching up to anxiously in my hair. "And get in touch with dad and Roger - tell them what's going on. Don't worry about me and Jacks we can

―

handle it. Do you - do you think you

need me?"

I glance down at Midnight, who still looks towards the egg, wondering if she can truly be trusted to save Pippa and Elias and Ben and all of these ambassadors -

"Hey,” Jesse says, patting my shoulder. I blink and look back at him. "You trust me, I trust you, yeah? Let's just...each do our jobs."

I smile and throw my arm around him in quick impulse. My cousin hugs me back

for a moment, giving me a tight squeeze before letting me go.

"I'll see you at the palace, right?" I say, pointing a finger at his face, meaning it much more as a command than a question.

"You got it, Princess," Jesse says, laughing and taking Midnight's hand, leading her over to the line of ambassadors. "And when you do? We're having drinks. Big ones."

I laugh and nod my agreement before I shift again, back to the room where I left Jackson and Gabriel.

My eyes go wide at the sight that greets me there.