The Hidden Princess At All-Boys Alpha Academy novel Chapter 289

My dad sits quietly by me as I finish telling him what Jackson and Luca have asked of me, as I wipe a few stray tears from my eyes. Dad is strong and stoic as I speak – the rock in my life that I always need him to be, letting me feel my pain and sitting quietly by me as I do. And when it passes, he’s still there, holding my hand.

“What do you think?” I ask, my voice a little shaky, wanting to know.

He sighs. “Well, I’m not surprised,” he says, tilting his head to the side. “The possessiveness I feel towards your mother – there was a moment when we thought she had a second mate too, and I…completely flipped out –“

“What!?” I gasp, shocked. Why – why are there all these things about my parents’ past that I had no idea about!?

Dad laughs a little, squeezing my hand. “I ripped the door basically off its hinges, went tearing through the Palace looking for him, fully intending to murder him, scared poor Conner nearly to death.” He laughs again, like it’s a fond memory, as I stare at him with wide eyes.

“But he wasn’t her mate?”

“No,” dad says, shaking his head. “Just…a misunderstanding. We checked with the Goddess, who confirmed things.”

My eyes go wider. “How does one check with the Goddess!?”

“Cora can do it,” dad says, waving a passive hand before reaching for his coffee. “Just summon her up – the rest of us can’t see her, but…”

He goes still for a second, staring into space and collecting his thoughts, as I just gape at him. Aunt Cora can just summon the Goddess? God, and I thought it was impressive that she could control the weather.

“So,” I say quietly, “you think I should talk to her?”

Dad nods slowly. “And I think Jackson and Luca should be there. Just to…get things on the same page. I think she has her reasons,” dad continues contemplatively, “and she gave you two mates at once for one of those reasons. If you ask, she may tell you why, or give you advice on how to proceed.”

I exhale a deep breath and look down at my plate of food, suddenly not hungry anymore as I contemplate the fact that I’m adding “summon a goddess” to my list of things to do.

My dad laughs a little, gently, turning my attention back to him. “Don’t let it scare you, Ariel,” he says, his voice a little growly as he leans forward and smiles at me, fond and loving and warm. “If anyone can handle this, it’s my brave girl.”