The Hidden Princess At All-Boys Alpha Academy

Midnight takes a step closer to Ben, her eyes on him, sufficiently distracted. "Can we have meat?"

"You can have whatever kind of meat you want,” Ben says, grinning at her. "And cakes too - all kids of desert."

For a moment Jesse's heart aches because...well, Midnight's whole world just got turned upside down, it makes sense that she's afraid. But it's a little bit horrible how sufficiently she's distracted from that trauma by the simple offer of food.

He determines, inwardly, to make sure this girl is never, ever hungry again. Not a day in her life.

"How?" Midnight says, looking around. "Do you...cook in the big fireplace?"

"Actually,” Ben says, grinning at her. "See that door across the room, built into the wall?"

He points at the dumbwaiter over by Rafe's bed and Midnight's eyes flash to it. She nods.

"That's a magic door," Ben whispers. "Come on, I'll show you how it works." Midnight's eyes fly wide and then excitement takes her expression.

"Go," Elias murmurs to Jesse, clasping him on the shoulder for a moment and giving him a steady smile. "We'll ensure that she's safe."

"She's in good hands," Pippa says, laughing a little as Ben and Midnight reach the dumbwaiter and he opens it, demonstrating its current empty state before he hands her a pad of paper from Rafe's desk, telling her to write down anything she wants on it.

"Thank you," Jesse says quietly to the pair of them, already turning towards the door, a hand on his heart. "Seriously, thanks."

“She's a good girl,” Pippa says, giving him a happy smile and a steady nod, more comfortable with him than he's seen her yet. "And she's lucky to have you."

"}

Jesse sighs. "I hope that continues to be true. You two please eat as well - my mother and my aunt will never forgive me if I didn't feed my guests, especially a pregnant guest." The pair laugh a little and Jesse give them a little bow before he strides for the door, signaling all of the ambassadors to follow. "Come on! Let's go find the Captain. And a phone.”

Mark looks worriedly between Rafe and the human girl as the trio sits in a small formal living room outside a conference room in which Dominic and Roger are meeting with their

council Ella and Hank sit in arm net

chairs on the far side of the coffee table, talking lightly, but Mark's eyes continue to return anxiously to his brother. Because Rafe is usually so easy with guests and small talk - it's practically his job, as crown prince - and today he's just being...weird.

Ella and Hank chat amiably over cups of tea about the goings-on of the war, Ella's worries about her missing daughters, and Hanksnoveldrama

continued investigations into then et

Community in the North. Mark

doesn't listen to it much - honestly, it's either stuff he's heard before or nothing that he's interested in. Instead he just...watches Rafe.

Rafe, who sits with his shoulders hunched and his jaw clenched, staring determinedly at his cold cup of tea on the coffee table.

Why? Why is he being...such a freak? Mark sighs, because if Rafe is sick or something then Mark is well aware that it's his job to entertain Maryam. And there's absolutely nothing less that he wants to do in the world - first because chatting about acceptable nothings is his least favorite way to spend his time. And second because Maryam is...

Well. Unpleasant is the kindest word that comes to Mark's mind, but he hastily searches for another one, because that's rude.

She's...challenging. Complicated. Willful.

"If you actually gave a crap about any of your citizens in the north," Maryam snaps out, interrupting the Queen. "You'd arrest all of those horrible Community wolves in an instant. The atrocities they're committing against their own people and the effects they're having on the surrounding communities is abominable."

Hank sighs and slumps back into his chair, raising a hand to his forehead.

Ella flicks her eyes immediately to the young woman, fighting a smile. "If we can find proof of their crimes, Maryam," she says quietly, "then I will certainly do just that. But I won't jail my own citizens on hunch and rumor."

"So what?" Maryam asks, leaning forward a little, her mouth drawn into a serious line, her large dark eyes flashing. "You're just going to let them continue to wantonly rape and pillage the countryside simply because you don' have proof of

"Maryam," Hank growls, his eyes closed, clearly sick of a behavior and an argument he's encountered before.