The Hidden Princess At All-Boys Alpha Academy



"No," she says, looking up at Jesse and shaking her head. "He was my little companion. It was very comforting, having him here. Plus, I wasn't allergic to him like I am other cats. And he didn't eat or need to go to the bathroom."

"See? Perfect pet." He beams down at her and I'm struck again by just how easy and perfect these two are together, how incredibly right.

I grin, thinking that they're kind of idiots for not figuring it out in the first place.

"So, how long do you guys have?" Daphne asks, looking up at Jesse. "Can we hang out?"

"Yup," he says, nodding to her. "Rafe and Jacks are at a meeting. I didn't want to sit with this sad sack all alone - too depressing -"

"Hey, you're sad too," I say, glaring at him and gathering the little kitten into my hands as I sit down on Daphne's bed. The kitten mews, brushing himself against my fingertips. God, he's actually soft - and warm-

"Of course I am, cousin," Jesse says, giving me a sad smile. “Just trying to make you laugh. It breaks my heart to see you like this."

"Well, if we have hours and nothing to fill them with," Daphne says, moving over to her little mantle and reaching for a bottle of wine. "Wanna drink?” "Yes ma'am,” Jesse says, grinning at her. “This is an excellent impulse. Yes, you'll do fine as a Sinclair."

Daphne just laughs, kicking him and grabbing some glasses as she moves over to me, but I stare a bit at my cousin. A Sinclair? Really? I mean, I love the idea, and seeing them together it makes sense - but I just wasn't aware that these two had gotten to that point yet.

Still, I keep my mouth shut, not wanting to push it too far.

Daphne sits next to me on the bed and I put the kitten on my lap so that I can take the glasses from Daphne as she hands them to me. Then she fills each up a little bit and after I hand them around, we each raise our glasses together in a toast.

"To our friend," Jesse says, quite serious, his own quiet grief making itself known.

"We'll never forget him," I say.

We clink our glasses together and then drink deeply, determined to make it true.

The next few hours pass quickly, with Jesse and I filling Daphne in on the battle - at least the parts that don't involve Tony and thus don't make me cry. I can tell that she's dying to ask questions in that direction, because she still doesn't know the whole story - but...Jesse can fill her in on that when I'm not around.

Until then the three of us just...hang

out. And I have to admit that even if I

do feel guilty about it, my spirits do rise, a little bit. It's just...good,

vel

here with these two, cozy in Daphne's room, drinking wine and being present.

It's very, very good.

S

We're well into our second bottle of wine and all feeling quite loose when a knock comes at the door.

The little kitten trots over to it and I gasp when he disintegrates into a little cloud of smoke and slips under the door.

"Oh, it's Luca!" Jesse says, sitting up with a smile.

“Did...did you just kill Mittens?" Daphne whispers, horrified, her fingertips pressed to her mouth.

“What?” Jesse asks, turning to frown at her as I get up and eagerly move to the door. “No, he's fine.”

His words are proved correct when I open the door to find Luca staring down at the little kitten at his feet, which stares up at him. "What on earth is this?" Luca murmurs.

"That's Mittens," I say, grinning at Luca and bending down to scoop the little shard of Jesse's soul into my arms.

"He...appeared out of thin air."

“Yes, he's magical and very cute.” I~

say,

you kng up at my mate. "How'd

I was here?" I ask quietly,

very pleased to see him but confused at the same time.

"Went up to your room," he says with е a shrug, fooking down at me. "It was empty knew there were like...two other places you could be, and this was the best bet." Content belongs

I grin at my mate and turn, nodding in invitation for him to come in. "Want a glass of wine?"

"Actually," Luca murmurs, tilting his head to the side. "Want to give those two a minute alone? And come to my room?"noveldrama