The Hidden Princess At All-Boys Alpha Academy novel Chapter 256

“Come on,” Luca murmurs, smiling down at me, and when I open my eyes I can’t help but smile back. “Let’s get inside – they’re probably eating Daphne alive in there.”

“Oh, no they’re not,” I say, dismissive of the idea and unwilling to go inside just yet, relishing this moment alone with my mate. I leaning closer against him for a warm moment, enjoying the hard muscle of his chest against my cheek, knowing that Ben and Rafe and Jesse are being perfect gentlemen inside. Or, at least, Ben and Rafe are, which should be enough.

But Luca gives me a nudge, and when I look up at him, he wrinkles his nose at me. “Come on, gorgeous, let’s get you some of that champagne.”

“You trying to get me drunk, mate?” I murmur, smiling.

“Oh, absolutely,” he growls, dipping his face closer to mine for a quick kiss. And I laugh, but look over my shoulder, newly eager to get inside and see what my parents have set up for us. “Come on,” I say, grabbing Luca’s hand and turning to tug him inside, wanting him to see it. Because the train car – it really is something special.

As we duck through the door and I place my backpack on the little luggage rack next to the door, I do my best to tuck my anxieties about the missing Jackson away, not wanting Luca to feel any of it. Because I am excited to be here with him, and with the rest of my family and friends, and none of them deserve to have their excitement spoiled by me worrying about where my second mate is.

But I have to admit – it’s very difficult. Because where is he? Did he seriously choose two weeks of solitude over winter break with me, just because he’s overwhelmed?

I put a determined smile on my face, though, shoving these worries away as wave Luca into the beautiful train car, enjoying the way that his mouth hangs open as he turns around, taking in the gorgeous woodwork, the red leather and velvet seating all around. But even as I smile at Luca, my eyes catch on Rafe, who stands by the window with his arms crossed, watching me with a raised eyebrow.

Rafe and I don’t have a mind-link, obviously, but I can read the question all over his face. He’s intuiting that I have definitely noticed Jackson’s absence, as he has, and he’s asking me silently if I’m okay.

“Do you like it?” I ask, stepping closer to Luca with a smile and running a hand through his hair, unable to keep from touch it.

“Um, obviously,” he says with a laugh, grinning up at me and slipping a hand around my hips. “Do you seriously travel like this all the time?”

“This,” I say on a sigh, trying to sound as snobby as possible and make him laugh. “Or the private jet, or the helicopter, if we’re only going short distances – but the bar cart on the helicopter is just terrible –“

Luca bursts into laughter, as I hoped he would, and pulls me into his lap, wanting me close. I press a kiss to his cheek, nudging him with my nose a little, so incredibly happy to be here. “Do you mind if I talk to Daphne?” I whisper, my eyes darting over to her behind the bar where Jesse is finishing up pouring out champagne. “I want to make sure that she knows that we’re okay –“