The Hidden Princess At All-Boys Alpha Academy

I grin a little, thinking of him curled up in it. But then I think about what he's requested. "Tomorrow?" I ask, biting my lip a bit. "On... Midwinter Eve? Luca...why don't you just come here for the party?" He sighs and looks down at me, quickly shaking his head, letting me know that... plans have changed. "Just for a few hours, Ariel, in the afternoon. Just...an hour before sunset, and an hour after."

I hesitate again, knowing that it's going to be hard - mom, she makes a big deal out of Midwinter, and even if things will be strained this year I know she's going to need my help. But when I look up into Luca's eyes, and see how badly he needs this... "Okay," I say, nodding, letting my hand fall from his face and trailing it down the length of its arm. "For a little bit, yeah. And then I have to get back."

"Thank you," Luca whispers. Then he dips a quick kiss to my mouth and turns, heading out the door. I blink, kind of surprised at the speed at which he left, staring after him.

When I turn back to my family, I can tell that they're pretending to not notice how quickly Luca bailed after our official dismissal. Jackson, in particular, keeps himself distracted. But Daphne raises an eyebrow at me, asking if I'm okay. I give her a quick nod, because I am. I am. Of course I am. What's mate drama, after all, when your nation is on the brink of destruction?

I exhale a long breath, smoothing my hands down over my dress as I head back to the group at the center of the room just in time to catch a kiss from Cora as she and Roger and Jesse make their goodbyes. Jesse tosses me a wink and I give him a small smile as he goes.

"What's the plan?" I ask my mom quietly.

"Bed," she says with a sigh, reaching out and pulling me into a brisk hug. "Unless you need something?"

"No," I say quietly, shaking my head.

"Don't let it stress you, baby," mom says, giving my shoulder a squeeze as she reaches out a hand for Juniper, pulling her up out of the armchair where she's dozing. "We've been in worse spots as a nation. We'll get out of this too."

I nod, smiling at her, believing it. She moves away, she and dad shepherding Mark and Juniper to bed. My eyes immediately move to Ben, Rafe, Daphne, and Jackson - the only people left.

"So, what," Rafe says quietly, raising an eyebrow as the last door snicks shut and the room falls quiet. "Do we stay up and drink away our sorrows? Or sleep 'em off?"

"Bed," Ben and Daphne say immediately, and I laugh at their simultaneity as the two look at each other and grin.

"Bed it is, with a little nightcap to send us off right," Rafe murmurs, heading over to the bar and prepping five glasses of whiskey. Jackson goes over to help, knowing that though Rafe has big hands, he's only got two of them.

"A literal night cap," Daphne murmurs. "That's...cute."

I nod to her but then catch Ben's eye, nodding intently to my left, asking for a moment.

He sighs, like he knew it was coming, and steps aside with me. Daphne lets us, not asking any questions and moving over to the bar with Rafe and Jackson, because she's both canny and a gem.

"Ariel," Ben sighs, shaking his head. "Please -"

"Ben, cut it," I snap, crossing my arms and giving him a little glare. "Something is up with you - you almost passed out last night at the fight, and today you were all sweaty again after the meeting! What the hell is going on with you!?" I step forward, sniffing him a little, my eyes narrowing. "Are you like...sick?"

"What," he mutters, looking anxiously around as he gives me a tiny shove on the shoulder and pushes me away. "Do you think you could smell it if I was?"

"Well, maybe!" I snap back. But then my face falls, and my heart fills. "Benny, if you're sick, I'll go get mom - she can heal like, anything! It's easy -"

"Ariel," Ben sighs, dropping his voice lower and speaking through his teeth. "I'm not sick, all right?"

My eyes go wide. "Then you know what's...wrong with you?"

"Yes, I know what's wrong. Can we please drop it?"

"What is it!?" I gasp, worried and quite desperate to know. "Benny, you don't look healthy -" "I'm fine!"

"You're not!" I give him a little shove now, getting angry about it.

Because whatever it is, Ben is determined to keep it a secret. But I am just as determined to find out.