Chapter 37

The next thirty minutes are…the most indulgent of my life.

I think I groan in pleasure at least sixty times as I soak my body in the steaming hot water, as I soap every inch of my skin, as I finally finally wash my hair with real shampoo and conditioner instead of that horrible stuff we were supplied with in the barracks, which stripped my hair of all its oils and left it dry.

I find a little basket next to the tub that, like all the pillows outside, just shouts mom. There are lots of bath salts and scent bombs and oils.

I mean, is this standard issue for new cadets, a gift from the Queen? Or….did mom somehow arrange for this to be waiting here for Rafe and Jesse, who honestly might not even notice it?

Either way, I spend a good long time adding bubbles to my bath, pouring in some nice salts to soften the new callouses on my skin, and finally sniffing all of the bath oils and adding my own particular cocktail of scents so that my bath becomes a blissful, delicious haven.

–

I rest peacefully for a long time in the bath, only interrupted when Rafe cracks the door open and shoves my uniform box in so that I’ll have something to change into when I come out. I call my thanks to him before I seat myself in the tub there’s actually a seat at the far end, like a jacuzzi – and breathe deeply, closing my eyes and letting myself relax.

The past two weeks wash over me, and I shake my head, wondering if it was all a dream. So much has changed in that time. I went so abruptly from the engaged Princess who was eager to be a bride so that she could help her nation to, the next day, the Academy’s shrimp – lowest–ranked candidate and least likely to get through the doors.

And, I went from being engaged to a horrible man who completely fooled me to…

To what?

Having two mates, who think I’m a boy?

I sigh, resting my head against the edge of the tub and taking a second to try and piece my identity together.

I mean, I was the Princess, and then I was the Shrimp.

Sun,

And now…who am I?

Who is Ariel?

My eyes slowly open as I start to realize that maybe…I don’t really have any idea anymore. I mean, I know Ari Clark is a cadet at the Alpha Academy, and I’m thrilled to be here. But…I’m not really Ari Clark either, am I?

So…

I laugh a little at myself, at these big questions I’m not going to be able to answer with the simple aid of a hot bath. But, it’s a good start

And honestly, I’m really excited to find out.

As the water starts to cool I sigh and flick the switch for the drain, climbing out of the tub – there’s even a little set of steps! – and toweling myself dry as I hum softly to myself. Then I take my time combing

my hair out, putting on moisturizer – also mom’s favorite brand, I smirk to see, waiting by the edge of the sink indulging in a good long moment to brush my teeth.

–

and

Feeling much refreshed and more at home in my skin, I finally dress in my black uniform, smiling proudly into the mirror as I take the time to braid my hair in a neat arch on top of my head instead of hastily just tucking it up onto my cap like I usually do when I don’t have time. The effect is much neater and more comfortable as I pull my cap on, exhaling a satisfied breath.

I give my reflection one last nod in the mirror, and then head out the door.

“Hey Rafe,” I say as I push into the room, “did you see that mom –

“Ari!” Rafe says, interrupting me and smiling at me anxiously from his place on the couch. “Did you see? Our friend found us!”

And my eyes immediately move to Ben, who turns and waves to me from his spot on the couch. And I go dead pale, because…

Because I haven’t been scent marked yet.

Cousin!” Jesse shouts, bounding across the room and grabbing me close, pretending to roughhouse with me a little bit, teasing me about hogging the bathroom for an hour as he subtly wipes his scent on all the usual parts of my body. I pretend to protest, laughing and pushing at him, but when I glance up into

his face he gives me a wink, letting me know he thinks I’m safe.

So I smile, and nod, and head over to the fireplace where I flop into an armchair, grinning over at Ben and Rafe on the couch. “Are you close by, Ben? I

Do you your room?”

like

“I’m two fights down and do like it,” he says, giving me a warm smile. “I mean, it’s nothing like this…” he gestures around at our rather expansive room.

“Really?” I ask, genuinely curious. “What’s different?”

“Well, it’s just me,” he says, shrugging. “I think that’s pretty normal though – after two weeks in the barracks, I think that most of us want our privacy.”

“Do you have your own bathroom too?” I ask, cager.

“Yup,” he says, grinning, “but by the sound of it…it pales in comparison to yours. The rooms are nice – I have a window, a bed, a desk, a place to put my stuff. But it’s pretty small – no place to entertain guests like you have.”

“Except your bed,” Jesse comments, a wicked grin on his face as he lowers himself onto an armchair, one of his legs draped over the side.

Ben blushes a little. “You inviting yourself over, Sinclair?” he counters, raising an eyebrow Jesse’s way.

Jesse grins. “I’m flattered, Ben, but my tastes don’t swing that way.” Ben clicks his tongue and shrugs like it’s a great loss, making Jesse laugh. noveldrama

Before I can ask any more about his room, though, a bell rings somewhere in the room, making me go still.

“What the hell is that?” I ask, a little freaked out, looking everywhere for it.

“Dinner bell,” Rafe says, and I look at him curiously as he stands up and heads to a little door at about chest–height in the far corner of the room.

“How do you know this stuff?” I ask, getting up and following him, immediately curious. What’s this little door – how did I miss it before?

And what the hell does it have to do with dinner?

“Because I read the handbook, Ari,” Rafe mutters, swinging the little door open

and revealing – of all things – a little wooden box waiting on the inside, the edge

closest to us open.

“Oh my god.” I breathe, peering around Rafe, “it’s it’s a tiny elevator…”

“It’s a dumbwaiter,” he corrects, laughing at me and pulling out the fairly large cardboard box that’s waiting inside. “This is how food is delivered

apparently, packages.”

and,

“That’s so cool!” I cry, laughing and following Rafe as he carries the package back to our little living room area by the fireplace.

We all lean forward and watch as Rafe pulls a pocket knife out of his new black pocket – where did he get that? – and quickly cuts the tape to the box, opening it and revealing…

“Oh my GOD!” Jesse shouts, grabbing for the packet of his favorite cookies that is sitting on the top. “I love these! Mine! No touching! No takebacks!”

I gasp in excitement as I realize that it’s a care package from our parents. Rafe starts to sort through everything, beaming like the rest of us. “Wait, we can get mail here!?” I gasp, delighted.

“We can,” Rafe says, grinning at me and handing me a packet of the peach–ring candy that we’ve both loved since we were kids. “Ben, help yourself – do you see anything you like?”

“You can’t have my cookies, Ben!” Jesse shouts, his words muffled around the ones that are already in his mouth. “Don’t even try!”

There’s a little bit of mayhem then as we sort through all of the stuff, pulling it out and trying to decide which bits belong to whom, encouraging Ben to take what he likes and trying to ensure that he feels welcome and included in our haul.

Jesse and Rafe go out of their way to make me feel included too, because obviously

mom and dad still think that I am, the package was intended for them

mysteriously, somewhere else. But Rafe immediately presses the fuzzy green throw blanket into my arms, saying it’s for me even though I know mom picked it just because it matches his eyes. But I accept it, because it’s cozy to have something mom picked out, and because Rafe is being nice.

And Jesse – he makes sure that he gives me half of his candy and snacks, which is

truly a great sacrifice because my cousin is a notorious bedtime snacker sometimes he’ll fall asleep with his hand still in a bag of chips.

But the thing that really breaks my heart is the two thick envelopes at the bottom of the box. Rafe and Jesse’s names written in mom’s and Aunt Cora’s handwriting. respectively.

Rafe and Jesse look up at me when they see them, guilt all over their faces.

Because there is no envelope for me.