The Hidden Princess At All-Boys Alpha Academy



Ben looks around with interest at Daphne's room as I plop onto the bed, swinging my legs and grinning, pleased to be alone with the two friends with whom I spend the least amount of time. Ben nods appreciatively. "Nice place you've got here, Daph," he says, putting his hands on his hips as he spies Daphne's small collection of red wine on her bureau. "Especially this contraband."

Daphne looks up from her search in a trunk for a moment, confused, but then laughs when she sees the direction of Ben's gaze. "Not contraband for me, I am not studying to be an elite warrior," she says happily, going back to her search and reaching deep into the trunk with the excitement when she spies what she wants. "Do you want a glass? Fine by me."

"Absolutely,” Ben says instantly, reaching for a bottle.

"Benny!" I burst out, scandalized.

"Oh, you're having one too, princess," Ben says with a happy sigh, grabbing Daphne's two wine glasses and a coffee mug, bringing them with him as he sits on the bed next to me. "We're taking a fifteen-minute Alpha break. Having some girl talk instead."

"Fun!" Daphne says, climbing onto the bed with us and putting the little bag of caramel chocolates in the center as Ben pours the wine.

I sigh dramatically as he hands me the mug. "Fine," I moan. "If you force me, then I must."

"You poor dear," Daphne murmurs, taking a full glass from Ben and smirking as she gives me a wink.

"To the loss of your stainless reputation, Ariel," Ben says, raising his own glass in toast as he sets the bottle aside.

I laugh, raising my mug and clinking it against Ben and Daphne's glasses with good cheer, reassuring myself that one glass of wine isn't a lot and that I wasn't going to get much more homework done tonight anyway.

"So," Ben says, his eyes lighting on Daphne with a little bit of glee as he leans back against her headboard. "How's your relationship with the crown prince going, Daphne?"

Daphne laughs low, slowly shaking her head at Ben. "No way, Ternicki,” she says, grinning. “I'm not telling you anything about my love life until you spill about what was going on between you and that Atalaxian boy at the war meeting in the palace."noveldrama

My mouth drops and I spin my head her way. "You saw that!?"

"Thank you,” Daphne says, turning her grin on me. "For your tacit admission that something did happen between him and that guy."

I flush a little, jooking guiltily towards

Ben, who rolls his eyes at me. “Some paragon of secrecy you are, espionage," he mutters, kicking my foot with his own. He looks back at Daphne. "But as that is currently an issue of national security belongs to

She grins, not buying it.

Content

"- I must return to my original question about yourself and Rafe Sinclair."

Daphne bites her lip, looking down into her wine, and my face falls a bit because...well, what was that about? Ben notices it too, glancing at me.

"What's up, Daph?" he asks. When she doesn't answer, he leans forward a bit. "We won't...tell anyone. Zone of secrecy and all that.”

Daphne sighs and looks up at both of us. I turn my head a little as I look at her, Completely surprised because - god, because it looks like Daphne is upset.

But - does that mean that something's wrong?

"Come on, Daph," Ben says. "All

g aside...you look like you

could use a friend. And that's what we're here for." He points between himself and me.

"Yeah,” Daphne says on a sigh, taking a long sip of her wine. "I guess...I guess I could."