I sit back in my chair, staring at her, suddenly seeing the logic of this. My entire life, I’ve been the perfect princess. And I never, ever considered that what I was doing could be use as a smoke screen for a second identity underneath – one that’s been secretly growing since the moment I entere
“It’s not like that,” I say, dropping my head a little, wondering at myself. “My mates – Jackson, especially – are…a benefit to me. Not a weakness. I don’t need to run from them to do my job; and if I need to be separated from them for an assignment…” I shrug. “I’ll make them understand.” “All rig
I throw open the door to our room and stumble inside, panting and exhausted and covered in sweat from my lesson with Blaze as I toss my new chemistry textbook onto a side table. “I just had the best day,” I sputter out, each word seeming to come out on its own little pant. “Ariel!” Rafe shouts, fr
“Really?” I ask, perking up and looking around. “What happened?” “We got our specializations,” Ben says, beaming at me as he settles onto the couch next to Luca and I, sitting in my usual seat. “That’s amazing!” I burst out, delighted. But then I hesitate. “But also, what does that mean?” Ben
“What…what does un-sorted mean?” I ask, looking first at Luca and then a little frantically around at the rest of the boys, all of whom are equally a bit dour. “It just means that they’re deciding where Luca fits,” Jesse says, giving a shrug. “He’s sugar coating it,” Luca corrects, and I turn my
“Oh, I don’t need espionage training to notice when my prized possessions are missing,” I say, yawning and letting myself flop down on the couch pillows. “I grew up with Jesse. He stole everything. All of my toys.” “Lies!” Jesse calls from across the room. “…I only took the little ponies. The ones
When I open my eyes, I am indeed still wrapped up in Jackson’s arms. But we’re not in my little private nook at the academy – we’re sitting on a cliff’s edge, looking out over a moonlit sea. “It’s cool here,” Jackson murmurs, looking appreciatively out over the scenery. “We’ve only ever come here
“Gotta save some things for later,” he murmurs as I lift my head to look at him again, but then he smiles and dips his mouth lower, pressing a kiss at the hollow of my throat. “I’ve only known you’re a girl for like, two? Three weeks? It would be cruel of me to show you all the goods so soon – give