The Hidden Princess At All-Boys Alpha Academy

"All right, who's in!?" Jesse asks, beaming around at our little circle with a laugh.

"Absolutely not," Midnight says, slowly shaking her head and looking around at all her collected cake like she has no reason at all to leave. "Abandon this to go drink demon juice? With the ruffians and the whores? No thank you."

Jesse laughs and narrows his eyes at her. "You don't have ID anyway. And no one will believe you're older than twelve."

She nods sharply like it's decided, quite pleased.

"Well, if Midnight isn't coming then I'm calling it a boy's night," Rafe says, quite grave.

I gasp and turn to him, appalled.

"You'll be the only girl, Ari," Jesse says, screwing his face to the side. "It's very clearly becoming a boys' support club – a healing evening of debauchery with the ruffians and the whores. You'd hate it anyway - all whiskey, no wine. That's a rule."

“This is sexist and horrible,” I snarl, crossing my arms over my chest even as I realize that honestly, I'm not sure I want to go anyway. My wolf nudges me, urging me to get in touch with Daphne and to spend a little more time with Pippa if I can - my friends who I really shouldn't abandon for a day of drinking. Even Maryam, if she'll see me, could probably use someone to talk to.

Besides, I don't need a day of debauchery to run away from my problems. My life is...kind of coming together right now.

"I'm out too," Elias says on a sigh, screwing his mouth to the side. "I've got a baby on the way, no leaving the palace for me."

Jesse and Rafe nod to him, understanding and supportive, and then turn their eyes to Ben. Ben looks at Elias with a grimace.

"Oh, go!” Elias says, giving him a little shove on the shoulder. "You deserve it. Besides I think..." he glances around the tent and laughs a little. "I think you have kind of some news to break, don't you?"

"What?" Rafe asks, looking around at all of us, trying to figure out what the news could be.

Ben laughs and shrugs. "All right, I'm in. Jacks?"

"What?" Jackson says, sitting up straight.

"Jacks is coming," Jesse says, grinning and pointing at him.

"I am staying with Ariel," Jackson says, pulling me first against and then slightly in front of him, almost like a shield.

"Jackson!" I say, laughing and turning a bit to look up at him, "you should go!"

"What?" he asks, going tense. He glances around, bringing his mouth close to my ear. "Ariel, I want to stay with you -"

“Booo,” Rafe calls out, cupping his hands unnecessarily to his mouth. "Happy relationships are lame! Come out Jacks!"

"Jackson, I am your best friend -" Jesse says, looking at him with wide, sincere eyes.

"You use that line too much,"

Jackson says, narrowing his eyes at my cousin, making me laugh. "I'm starting to think you get more out of being my best friend than I do."

BUMS

"Then let me buy you twelve glasses of whiskey, my guy," Jesse says, grinning at

Jacks, a wicked flash in his smile. "Besides, you're family now."

"It is true, Jacks," I say, pointing over at Rafe. "Your brother is sad."

"He's my brother?" Jacks asks, screwing up his face a little and turning to look at Rafe, who nods seriously.

"Yes, and I'm sad. I need you."

"Oh my god," Jackson groans, letting his head fall. "Fine, I'll go."

A shout goes out through the tent and I laugh turning and wrapping my arms around Jackson's neck, pulling myself close and giving him a few kisses on the cheek. "It'll be good!" I whisper to him. "You need time with the boys."

"I need time with you," he grumbles.

Beaming, I lean back to look in his face, absolutely loving how much he genuinely

likes my company and wants to hang out.

"Let's go!" Jesse says, laughing and getting fast to his feet. "Boy's night out!"

"Have fun!" Midnight calls, smiling around at her assorted cakes like a dragon in a very specific kind of treasure trove.

Laughing, excited, our little group calls our thanks to her and spills out of the yurt, heading down the stairs.

"Are you going to see Pippa?" I ask Elias, moving to his side, Jackson coming with me. "Would you mind if I came?"

"Sure," Elias says, giving me a happy grin. "I think it will do her some good."

I nod eagerly to him and we set off down the stairs, Jackson staying close to me until the last second before Jesse hauls him away to go find Mark.

The boys' night out is...fine.noveldrama

Jackson sighs, sipping at his beer, and turns to look around the bar. He frowns a little when at least a dozen eyes most of them women's dart immediately away from him, blushes coloring cheeks. What...what was that about?

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SWAC