The Hidden Princess At All-Boys Alpha Academy

I just can't figure it out.

Jesse, I get - I understand why Atalaxia would take one of our magical warriors on the day of battle. But...Junie!? Why the hell would the enemy want her!?

Was it even Atalaxia? Do they have that kind of power, to just come into our world and...snatch us up? And if it wasn't Atalaxian forces that took her, was it, instead, the God of Darkness who said her name so many weeks ago, like a purr and a promise and a prayer?

But if Darkness wanted June...why the hell did he take Jesse too!?

I groan, dipping my head into my hands, unable to figure it out. Jackson's hand tightens on my leg and I do my best to send him my gratitude, but my whole soul is agony and worry.

Two more.

Two more. I - I can't lose two more people I love - not like this - not so close on the tail of Tony and Luca

Not like this, but also not at all.

I grit my teeth and endure, hoping endlessly that my parents have answers when we get to the camp. Unfortunately, when the helicopter lands just outside of the command tent and we all climb out, it's immediately clear that we still don't have any answers.

"Babies," my mom gasps, flying out of the tent the moment we set our feet on the ground and dashing for us. She grabs me first to her, sobbing into my hair with relief and fear, and I hold her only for a moment before she moves for Rafe. And then it's a mess of sad greetings as the five of us are ushered into the tent.

Poor Daphne is at the center of it all, with dad and Roger immediately converging on her, demanding details. She sputters them out with Mittens clutched tight in her arms, trying to help, but insisting that it was so dark and so strange and so fast that she doesn't know - she just doesn't know -

Even as I try to keep my focus on Daphne, I do a double-take, my mouth falling open at an argument that's occurring in the corner because...

"Oh, holy shit," Jackson whispers,

wrapping an arm around me and pulling me close to his chest as we both stake, slack-jawed, at the

Goddess's translucent form in the corner of the tent, arguingnoveldrama

Ov

vehemently with her daughter.

"Well, if you would let me go," the Goddess says, a bit between her teeth, glaring at Cora. "I could go check on some things and see whether or not I can get more information!"

"No way," Cora growls, leaning forward, glaring hard at her mom. "We never, ever ask you for anything - you aren't going anywhere until you tell me where my son and my niece are -"

"I already told you that he is somewhere in the Land of Darkness and she is in the Underworld -Juniper's voyage I understand, but Jesse's -"

"Land of Darkness?" I hear myself ask, stepping forward. The tent goes quieter as I cross to Cora's side, staring up at the Goddess. "With like - with the three moons?"

"Hello, little daughter," the Goddess says, her voice soft even if her face is drawn. She tilts her head and looks at me sadly. "I see that you have accessed your Dark gift, then, if you know of the moons."

I nod eagerly. "I - I went there! I - I think I can go again! I can go now!"

I shut my eyes, wondering if I can just do it at will - I mean, if that's where Jesse and Juniper are then -

But Jackson, growling, grabs my arm and snaps me back to the moment. I look up to see him slowly shaking his head no, forbidding it.

"Your mate is right to caution you," the Goddess says with a sigh. "It's his land, Ariel - with his minions. Even if you can travel back and forth, there's nothing to say he hasn't set a trap for you there."

"What did she say?" mom demands, skittering to my side. Cora quickly translates as Daphne moves to

stand next to me, her eyes wide and fascinated as she stares at the Goddess.

"You...you can see her?" I whisper, looking Daphne up and down.

Daphne turns to me for a split second, blinking. "You can't?"