The Hidden Princess At All-Boys Alpha Academy novel Chapter 544

No, they’re tangible things, wrapping hard around Alvez’s neck, his limbs, his body, extensions of Jesse’s will.

“Who are you,” Jesse growls, his voice echoing in the room, bizarrely doubled so that it sounds like there are two of him – one his normal voice, one much deeper – a dark purr. “What the fuck do you want?”

Jesse tightens his fingers around Alvez’s throat once more and Rafe and I go rigid with shock when we see Jesse’s hand slip, somehow, inward –

Not because he’s ripped Alvez’s flesh open but because – because…

My mouth drops open and I stop breathing – I have no explanation.

But Jesse’s snarl deepens as he begins to pull, drawing something forward towards him.

A great shadow begins to emerge from Alvez’s form, held tight in Jesse’s hand. At first it’s Alvez’s double, but as Jesse steps back and pulls it further forward, it becomes clear that the man who emerges is…

Is not Alvez at all.

Is someone much, much worse.

Alvez’s eyes roll back in his head as the shadow is pulled free and he collapses to the floor in a heap of flesh.

But none of our eyes are on him. Instead, they’re on the incredibly tall shadow of a man whose throat is still held in Jesse’s fist.

“Well, little demigod,” the shadow man snarls. “Looks like my girl has found you at last.”

A slow smile takes his lips.

A snarl takes mine. “Tear him to pieces, Jesse,” I command, rising to my feet, livid and finished with this god’s threats, his deception, his insults to my family.

“I’m fucking trying, Ariel,” Jesse grinds out, and as he does I see his shadows tighten, almost…sharpen somehow.

But the God ignores him, his eyes now on me. “Look at you, little goddess,” he says, shaking his head, a look of obscene pleasure now on his face. “I haven’t seen you with my true eyes since you were an infant - and look how well you’ve grown up. You’re even more beautiful now that I see you with my own eyes, not through that…” he glances back now at Alvez, “that wretch’s miserable mortal flesh.”

I growl, ignoring his words, stepping towards him. “Can you kill him, Jesse?” I ask, livid. “If you can, do it.”