The Hidden Princess At All-Boys Alpha Academy

"Okay," Midnight says, shaky. "Um. If they're family, I'll take them."

"And then back to Moon Valley?" I ask, hopeful, knowing that Midnight can do it.noveldrama

Midnight's eyes fly wide.

"We'll talk about that part of the plan later," Jesse says, shooting me a warning look. At the same moment, Midnight bares her teeth up at him, shadows beginning to leak from her skin. My eyes flash wide because - wait, she can do that too?

"The Ambassadors," Ben says quickly, turning my gaze to him. He shakes his head. "We can't leave them, Ariel," he says. "They'll kill them all if we do."

I curse, glancing at Elias for confirmation. Quite sad, he nods, indicating that it's true.

"All right," I say. "We'll get everyone out. But...this first, yes?" I wave a hand at Gabriel, who looks dangerously close to death. I bite my lip, wondering at my imprecise measurement of the cyanide and how much time has passed. Has it gone too far?

"Can I help?" Ben asks, kneeling across from me.

"Sure can,” I say, taking out the IV pack and the two syringes of liquid medicine, explaining quickly to Ben how to use them.

"I have...a new respect for espionage track," Jesse murmurs as Midnight again peers out from behind him, her curiosity getting the better of her. "You know how to do all of this from memory?"

"Neumann trained us so we could do it in our sleep," I murmur, glancing up at him as I hand the IV to Ben to hold high as I search for a vein in Gabriel's arm and insert the trocar needle there. "It's not all just studying chemical formulas."

"I want to double major now," Jesse murmurs, fascinated. I grin a little, even as I concentrate.

"Um, what's the plan here?" Ben asks. "Why are you bringing him back - isn't he all...corrupted? And violent?"

"Yes. He punched her," Jackson growls, still livid. Ben and Jesse gasp, appalled, which is very satisfying to me and my wolf. But I push beyond that.

"He also made me rub his feet in public. But no, um, we're going to heal him up on the outside...and on the inside."

"What do you mean?" Jesse asks, turning his head at me.

"Well," I say, looking up at Jacks, wanting his reassurance. "I think...that that flame does more than what a normal flame does. I think it's more than just heat and fire - I think it's Goddess-blessed."

Jackson nods solidly, agreeing with me - he felt it too.

"Well with that dark blue color," Jesse says, nodding consideringly. "That makes sense."

"Why does that make sense?" I ask, turning my head to him and cocking it to the side.

He smirks at me a little. "It's just...a very goddess-blessing-y color. Part of the story for another time, cuz. Just keep going."

I frown at him for a moment, not getting it, but then I move past that too. "I think that I can use the flame to help Gabriel, to help his wolf. Perhaps clean up his corruption."

Midnight gasps in horror and I

attempt to peer around Jesse to see what has frightened her so much, but she ducks away. Jesse takes a deep breath, again reaching behind him to comfort his strange little mate, even as he keeps his eye on me.

"Do you really think you can do that?" He asks, working hard to keep his voice serious, though I can hear the hope in it.

Midnight, Jackson says into my mind in explanation. She's corrupted too. But I think she's afraid - so...maybe don't say anything.

Shocked, I turn my eyes up to Jackson and then whip them over to Jesse, who intuits what just passed between us and nods to me very seriously.

I nod back and then fight every instinct I have to reach for Midnight, wanting to help and comfort her too.

But I turn my eyes back to Gabriel instead.

"Do you...really think you can do that, Ariel?" Pippa asks in a whisper. Surprised, I turn to see her peering at me, still pressed against Elias's chest with his arms around her.

I look up at her and give a little shrug. "I can only try. And if it doesn't work I'll reject him and hope that it doesn't go further than that."

I turn my face back to Ben, giving him a few more details of the treatment and asking if he thinks he can handle it. He assures me that he can - it's fairly simple, after all as -it's Jackson folds his long legs beneath him and sits at my side, offering me his hand.

"Thank you, Jacks," I say quietly, taking it. Because this is a choice he's making too – if he wanted, he could refuse to help heal Gabriel. But he's doing it for me, because he loves and trusts me. I sent him

warm pulse of gratitude down our

bond.

"I still think we should let him die," Jacks says softly, a little rueful, his eyes moving

to the bruise still livid on my jaw.

"I know but..." I shrug. "If I can help him? Surely that's better."

He sighs, turning his eyes on Gabriel, his voice dour. "It's what Ella would do."

I smile, squeezing his hand. Then I look around at our collected little group one last time before I reach out and again put a hand on Gabriel's neck, close my eyes, and begin to concentrate.