The Hidden Princess At All-Boys Alpha Academy

I burst out laughing and pick up a plate, my stomach rolling over with hunger as I do as my father suggests, picking out a rather indulgent breakfast.

Breakfast passes quite calmly with all of us scattered around the living room eating off our knees. I mean, there are several dining rooms all over the palace, but when it comes to our personal meals? This always seemed to suit us more. Mom gets Marigold a little tray and sets it up before a pillow so that she has space to work, and Jackson and I sit on either side of Marigold as she digs into the plate of eggs and sausage and toast that Jackson made for her.

My family chats calmly but Jackson mostly watches his girl, and I watch him, pleased and entertained.

"She eats like you," I murmur, reaching out and tucking some of his hair behind his ear.

"What do you mean?" he asks, lifting his eyes to mine.

"Endlessly," I say, dry, nodding down to Marigold's empty plate as my mom brings her over a little bowl of fruit. Marigold reaches for it, eager.

Jackson laughs, full and rich, and nods to Ella, giving his permission for Marigold to have it. She digs in with gusto, her eyes wide, and I realize that she's eating things and experiencing flavors that she may have never had before.

"Yes, I suppose I can take credit for the appetite," Jackson says on a sigh, stroking his hand down over her hair. "Though I wonder..."

"What?" I ask, leaning closer, dropping my voice, intuiting that he doesn't want others to hear.

He turns to me, likewise dropping his voice. "Well, is she just making up for lost time? Or does she have..."

My eyebrows shoot up as I consider it for the first time - that Marigold might have magic, might have magic to match Jackson's own -

"Oh wow," I whisper, looking down at Marigold's dark head. "How would we... know?"

Jackson just shrugs, shaking his head at me with a wondering little frown.

Mark comes over then and we both turn to him with a smile as he stretches out on the floor in front of Marigold, propping himself up on his elbow and sipping from his mug. "Hey Marigold, good morning," he says, easy and fun as my Markie always is.

Marigold drags her attention away from the fruit bowl for just a moment to meet his eyes. "Mark," she says, quite definitive, giving a nod.

Mark's face bursts into a handsome smile. “Yup, that's me."

Marigold wordlessly turns her attention back to the fruit but then goes still, her nose working, and then her eyes move directly for Mark's mug. A little whine sounds in the back of her throat.

"She can't possibly want coffee," I murmur, frowning down at her and then glancing down at my own mug next to me.

"Nah it's hot chocolate," Mark says, holding it out to Marigold. "Here, you can have mine -"

"Mark," Jacks says on a sigh,

reaching out to block the cup.

Marigold snaps her head up to her father, her adorable little whine sounding again. My heart clenches at the sound and I'm made aware, quite suddenly, of why it's so hard for my mother to not indulge our every whim. noveldrama

God, dad sure did have his work laid out for him throughout our childhoods, keeping her in line.

"Oh, come on," Mark says, his tone wheedling, giving Jacks a charming Sinclair smile. “Watching a little girl try hot chocolate for the first time? How can you take this opportunity away from us?"

Jackson sighs, defeated again, and gives in. "Just a sip, okay? If it's not too hot."

"Nah, it's cooled, no worries," Mark says, leaning further over towards Marigold. Mom, dad, and Rafe all peer over, delighted and curious, as Marigold takes Mark's big cup and lifts it to her mouth, taking a little sip.

Her eyes go wide as soon as the liquid hits her mouth and she eagerly yanks the cup up, spilling chocolate down the sides of her cheeks, taking big glugging sips.

"Oh my god," Jackson groans,

grabbing for the cup, but Marigold whips her face away towards me, chugging down the drink. I burst out laughing as Jackson finally gets the cup away from her, especially when I see that there's only the tiniest bit left at the bottom.

We all laugh, and Jackson joins in a bit too, shaking his head at Marigold, as Mark takes back his cup and makes a big show of being appalled that she drank it all. To all of our delight, Marigold laughs too at Mark's antics, and the atmosphere overall is very happy and cheerful.

That is, until the door to the room opens, and Jackson snarls, clutching Marigold

to his chest.