The Hidden Princess At All-Boys Alpha Academy

The next few hours move strangely, some minutes flying by so quickly that I'm shocked to see the clock when I next glance up, others dripping by so slowly that it agonizes me. Dad organized us quickly, gathering everyone involved in the military together, including us Cadets. He calls in a few of his military advisors as well, wanting their opinions, but he fields suggestions from the rest of us as if we're just as much a part of it. I keep my mouth shut more than the others, listening and considering, not really feeling like I have anything to add. But Jackson and Rafe surprise me especially, chirping in with shockingly helpful suggestions and rather brilliant insights regarding our future plans. Mom, Cora, Juniper, Mark, and Daph all do what they can to pitch in and help out, even if they aren't directly engaged in the conversation. Isntead, they arrange for meals to be brought up and ensure that the military minds all have paper and pens and maps and schematics and everything else that we need to work. But eventually, even the most stoic amongst us grow exhausted. And our time runs short.

Dad glances up at the clock, its hands showing that it's well past midnight. "All right," he murmurs, his chin pressed between the fingers of one hand. "I'm calling it. Everyone get a few hours of sleep. You all," he says, eyeing his advisors, "I'll see in the morning." We break up then and I stretch my hands over my head as I watch everyone begin to move, stretching tired limbs. We made some important, big decisions tonight, but the one that affects me most directly is the choice to call the Cadets back to school the day after the Midwinter holiday. It was a choice that surprised me, but which Rafe argued made sense.

"It's a military academy," he had said, his hands spread wide, his voice angry at the protestations against the idea. "Not a repository for charming young schoolboys. We should be preparing to serve - as reinforcements, if not active duty. Though honestly, I'd argue for the latter."

My eyebrows had gone up at this - me? My brother, my cousin, my mates, my friends - on the war front? God, I mean, I knew that's where this was heading -

But so soon?

For better or worse, my father and Roger had agreed, and the decree had gone out quietly to Cadets and their families. The rest of the nation will be informed about the increased Atalaxian threat the day after the holiday, at my mother's insistence.

As people begin to stand and stretch, my eyes start to search the room, looking for my mates. Jackson, I'm interested to see, stands with his arms crossed, speaking quietly with my dad, and brother, and Roger. But Luca...

I turn around, frowning a bit, searching for him. And I go still when I find him standing at the door, leaning against the wall with his arms crossed, his eyes on me. Looking utterly exhausted.

Immediately, I make my way across the room to him.

"Luca," I murmur, frowning and reaching up for his face. He hesitates for a second but then lets me touch him, leaning his cheek into my palm.

"I have to go, Ariel," he murmurs. "I am...exhausted, and my mom and Gran are going to be so worried about me."

I bite my lip, not wanting him to leave, but...well. He has a family - I'm not his entire world. But still, I can't let him go without knowing.

"What happened, Luca?" I ask quietly, searching his face. "With my dad?"

He just sighs, hard, his eyes drifting shut. "He told me what I needed to hear," he replies, frustration lining his words - but I can tell that it's only at himself.

I murmur his name, pressing myself closer, wanting to comfort him. Because I've been on the receiving end of some of dad's lectures before and it is...not at all pleasant. Still, Luca looks...shattered. Like his whole world turned upside down.

Luca wraps a single arm around me, tender and soft, his fingers tracing lightly the dip of my spine. He touches me like he's not sure if he should, like I'm a treasure forbidden to him. And I frown, hating it, pressing myself closer, letting my weight fall against his, letting him feel that I'm real, and warm, and that he's mine.

He lets me, just for a moment, before he stands up straight and opens his eyes, obliging me to take a step back. "Can I take you out tomorrow?" he asks softly, looking down into my eyes. "I'm sorry, I want to stay tonight, but," he lifts a hand and briefly scrubs it down his face. I follow the line of it, taking in the stubble on his cheeks, the circles starting under his eyes. "I...I need to sleep. In my own tiny, pathetic, childhood bed.""