The Hidden Princess At All-Boys Alpha Academy

Then I look up at Jacks, incredibly anxious about how he's going to react to the news.

"It's okay," he says, quite soft, looking down at me like we're the only two people standing in this clearing. He lifts his hand to my face, softly stroking my cheek with his thumb. "Doesn't change anything for me. I'm still not letting that jackass anywhere near you - but if you still have part of a bond?" he shrugs. "At least we know some weird other mate isn't going to come and mess up our lives. Yeah?"

"Yeah," I say, giving him a tremulous smile, nodding.

"It's fine, tiny," he murmurs, dipping his head to press a kiss to my forehead. "It's precisely fine. Don't worry about me."

I close my eyes for a moment, turning my head and pressing my cheek to his chest, again wondering how

I got so lucky as to have this calm, patient man as my mate. He holds me tighter, letting me feel his support.

"Ariel," Rafe says after a moment, quiet, making me open my eyes and focus on him. "How does it feel, the magic now? It looked...different."

"Yeah," I sigh, standing up straighter and pulling away from Jackson for a moment. "It...feels different than when Luca was standing right here with me. It's...unsteady. Harder. Do you..." I bite my lip, looking towards my mom. "Do you think he can feel it, mom? I don't...I don't want to be taking the magic from Luca, not if he were unwilling to give it."noveldrama

"He gave you the mark willingly, baby," mom says, stepping forward and cupping my neck with her palm, looking me sadly in the eyes. "I think he gave you the magic along with it, even if he didn't mean to. I think it's okay. I don't think it's a violation."

I nod, exhaling a long breath, choosing to believe her even if I still have questions.

"So it's...it's harder to call now?" Rafe asks, anxious and getting us back to the problem at hand. "But not...too hard?" He exhales sharply, running a hand through his hair, glancing towards the tent where dad and

Roger are working to plan th and nee

counter-assault. Explosions still

—

echo in the air, though further away now. "It's just Ariel, it's a big deal if you can still use Luca's wind - or, your wind now, if that's what it is -"

"Yeah, I can do it, I think,” I say, nodding a little. "Just, um..." I look at mom and Cora, anxious. "Can we stay out here for a little bit? Experiment, see what I can and can't

do?"

"Sure, trouble," mom murmurs, patting my shoulder and glancing at Cora, who nods. "We can take a little time."

"I'll go update dad," Rafe says, giving me a steady nod and then striding for the door.

I exhale and turn away from Jackson, reaching again for his hand.

"Let 'er rip, tiny," Jacks murmurs, pressing a kiss to my hair, ever-supportive and lovely as he always is. "Let's see what you can do."

With a last glance toward mom and

Cora, my heart breaking for these two women whose children were kidnapped today and who are still

finding the strength to help meet

help their nation, I turn back towards the fire. And, determined to do whatever I can to help, I exhale and begin to experiment with the fire and the wind, seeing how high and steadily I can raise it.