The Hidden Princess At All-Boys Alpha Academy novel Chapter 936

The room is dark when I step inside, but my eyes focus immediately on Jackson sitting on the ground at Marigold’s side, both of them lit by the light of a tiny nightlight shaped like a unicorn. Jackson looks up at me and smiles when I come in, even as a little request for quiet comes down the bond between us.

Because Marigold – she’s asleep, all curled up, her hair spread out all around her.

“Where on earth did you get a nightlight so fast?” I whisper, grinning as I sit next to Jacks, leaning against him. His arm wraps around me, almost instinctually.

“Jesse brought it,” he replies, giving me a squeeze. “He brought…most of this. I had no idea that they made so many things just for kids.” Jacks looks around, a little baffled at the array of child-sized books, blankets, toys.

“Kids have the best stuff – especially girls,” I sigh. “I’m always a little jealous of all the purple and the pink and the sparkles…”

“Ariel, you wear black every day,” Jackson murmurs, turning his head to frown down at me.

“Only because I’m obliged to pretend I’m a boy,” I say, rolling my eyes. “It’s the worst part!”

He laughs and shakes his head, turning his gaze back to his little daughter.

“How are you doing?” I ask, putting a hand on Jackson’s chest, rubbing it back and forth softly, opening the bond so I can begin to investigate and explore, wondering if there’s anything I can do to make it better.

“I’m…” Jackson searches for words and then sighs, dropping his head. “I have no idea, Ariel. I’m still so shocked and confused. And my mind is racing trying to figure out what to do next.”

I hum consideringly, understanding, and wordlessly offer him the rest of my glass of wine.

He huffs a little laugh and takes it, taking a long sip. “Any thoughts?” he murmurs, truly seeking my advice.

“I think you should sort of take it…moment by moment, Jacks,” I say quietly. “There’s no need to have a plan just yet – you don’t know what all the options are, you haven’t had time to figure them all out. The priority is to keep Marigold fed, and warm, and happy, right? So…let’s just do that for a few days until we have a better idea of what’s going on.”

Jacks goes a bit still and then turns to me. “We?”

“Oh, we,” I say, laughing a bit and grinning up at him. “I mean, you have no idea how to do this, right?” I say, gesturing towards the little girl. “I have a little sister. And six younger cousins. Kids? I know how to do kids.”

Jackson scowls a bit. “I mean, I can keep her alive, Ariel.”