Chapter 260

I glance at Luca, who likewise looks at me curiously, picking up on the same vibe.

Because – I mean – Jesse just said some really nice things to Daphne, but the way he delivered them…he wasn’t hitting on her at all. No flirting, no quiet looks of interest. Instead, he just laid out her compliments like he would to any friend who was feeling anxious about their debut in a new city.

Is Jesse – is he not interested in Daphne anymore, the girl to whom he’s professed his ever-lasting love? Was that all a joke?

Or, because we’re back at the Capital, has he just moved on to other girls, letting Daphne fall to the wayside?

And…

Well, why is Rafe frowning at Jesse for being so nice to Daphne?

He’s iealous, Luca says directly into my mind, and I look with surprise up into his eyes. Quietly, subtly, he nods to me. Rafe, he continues, he wishes he’d said that first.

How do you know that!? I ask, likewise silent.

I know he’s jealous, Luca continues wordlessly, giving an accompanying shrug, because that’s how I’ve felt and looked, when someone beat me to saying the things I wanted to say to the girl I liked.

But Jesse’s not even hitting on her! I say, casting out a hand in protest. He’s just being a good friend!

Doesn’t matter, Luca continues, shaking his head and staring into my eyes. He got to -

“Are you guys doing it?” Ben asks from between and slightly behind me and Luca. My mate and I both jump, spinning to see him standing there, looking between us curiously. “Were you like… talking mind-to-mind?”

“Um,” I say, glancing up at Luca, not sure if it’s a secret or not.

“Kinda,” Luca says, giving Ben a little shrug.

“Cool!” Ben says, bursting into a grin as the train comes to a full stop. “Wait, so, what does it sound like? Can you like, hear each other, or is it impressions of words –“ noveldrama

“As fascinating as this is,” Rafe says, interrupting, his tone implying that it’s the least interesting thing he’s ever heard. “I think it’s time that we prepare to disembark. And because half of us are new to this…I think that we should prep you for what’s coming next.”

Luca, Ben, and Daphne go a little pale as Jesse and I sigh. Because Rafe is right – things have changed now, and while we’re used to our world it might take them a little time to adjust. I cast my eyes over Ben and Daphne especially, because at least Luca knows what it’s like to be in the spotlight.

Rafe spends the next few minutes explaining that we will wait to get off of the train until all the other cadets disembark and a team of guards from the Palace can come and sweep both the train and the platform for any threats. Once that’s done, we’ll disembark and be surrounded by guards whose job it is to stop anyone who tries to annoy or harm us. There will be paparazzi waiting for us outside of the station, but in general, we’ll basically have a bubble of protection around us as we head for the cars.

Jesse, a little bored by the briefing – because of course, we’ve done this since we were kids – wanders off to the bar and comes back with a few glasses of wine, pressing them into everyone’s

hands. I take a cheerful little sip, attempting to give Rafe the attention he deserves but failing a tiny bit. After all, I know everything he’s going to say.

When Jesse presses a glass of wine into Daphne’s hand, she looks up at him, anxious. “Um,” she whispers, tucking her hair behind her ear, “is this the best idea? More to drink?”

“Oh, yes,” Jesse whispers back, nodding definitively, his face perfectly serious. “Actually, the best way through any and all royal functions is just to be completely drunk the entire time –“

“It’s true,” I whisper, stepping close to Daphne and giving her a wink. “Jesse’s actually been drunk every waking moment since he was eight years old –“

Daphne bursts into laughter at this, looking up at Jesse, who laughs too and smiles down at her.

“Um, excuse me,” Rafe says, frowning over at us, and we all snap our attention back to him. “Am I doing this briefing for myself?”

“I’m listening!” Ben says cheerfully, raising his own glass of wine and then draining it. “You’re doing great, Rafe! Very interesting, very informative! Beautifully presented!”

I can’t help it - I burst into laughter again. And then we all do. Rafe is the last to join us, but then he groans and gives in, snatching Jesse’s glass of wine out of his hands and draining it as Ben did. “That’s what I get, for trying to be the responsible one.”

“Which is why,” Jesse says, slinging an arm around Rafe’s shoulders, “I’ve been trying to convince you to stop taking that role since we were, like, born. If you would just turn into a reckless disgrace like Ariel and me, we could take over the world -”