Their Hidden Princess (Zora) novel Chapter 102

**TITLE: Where Sleeping Rivers Dream We Follow Trails Toward Tomorrow by Evan Milesa Cade**

**Chapter 102**

**Kairos**

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Kairos stood there, rooted to the spot, as he watched Zora retreating from him. The chill of the night air contrasted sharply with the heat radiating from her back, a tantalizing glow that seemed to beckon him closer. He could sense the palpable tension that crackled in the space between them, the raw desire that seemed to rise like steam along her spine. A low groan escaped his lips as he tilted his head back, feeling the weight of longing settle heavily on his chest. It was an all-too-familiar scenario—once again, she was turning away from him, leaving him in a state of aching want.

He had every intention of kissing her.

The urge pulsed through him with an intensity that was hard to ignore.

Perhaps it was the way the moonlight played off her features, casting her in a silvery glow that made her look ethereal. Or maybe it was the intoxicating scent of her that wrapped around him like a vice, squeezing tighter with every breath he took. And then there was that look she had thrown over her shoulder, her narrowed gaze and the slight curl of her lips that spoke volumes of her disdain—yet somehow, that only fueled his desire further, igniting a fire within him that was impossible to extinguish.

Maybe this was all some sort of cosmic retribution for the mistakes he had made in the past.

But despite everything, he truly, genuinely wanted to kiss her.

His eyes followed her as the door to her building slammed shut, echoing across the campus lawn. Another groan escaped him, more of a sound of defeat than frustration. He was no closer to winning Zora over than he had been the last time they had crossed paths. He had planned to apologize, to explain that he believed they were destined to be mates. But then, of course, Maximus had shown up, along with Lunerly and the infuriatingly regal presence of the Queen herself.

And there he was, once again, cast aside like an afterthought.

With a noise of irritation, he rubbed a hand down his face, feeling the stubble beneath his fingers. Kairos was accustomed to being the center of attention, the one everyone cared about. His father, his family, the girls—everyone had always shown concern for him.

Until Zora came along.

Zora Smith was different. She didn’t give a damn about his feelings or desires. Her mind was consumed with the target he had unwittingly placed on her back the very first day she set foot on campus. It was a legitimate concern, one that Kairos had tried to alleviate on two separate occasions by attempting to call off their final confrontation. But it was Zora who had refused to back down.

And then, there were the other wolves, those who dared to claim they were her fated mate. The mere thought of it twisted his expression into a grimace. He scoffed, shoving his hands deep into his pockets, resigning himself to a solitary evening in his empty house.

As he walked back, a fleeting thought crossed his mind—what if he stormed Zora’s dorm and barged into Maximus’s room, challenging him right then and there? But he quickly dismissed the idea; he knew Zora wouldn’t approve, and the last thing he wanted was to fight his friend, even if Maximus was the one she had chosen to share her bed with.

Valentin Lunerly, however, was a different story entirely.

Kairos felt a primal urge to confront the man, to tear him apart piece by piece. He had even considered tracking Amara down when he had spotted her wandering into the forest, but he knew better than to underestimate Alpha Academy’s Headmaster. The man was formidable, even if he had a reputation for being insufferable.

So, instead, he had approached Lunerly with the information he had gathered. He could still vividly recall the look on the man’s face when he had uttered Zora’s name.

It was as if all the color had drained from him, replaced by a look of sheer panic that told Kairos everything he needed to know about Lunerly’s connection to Zora. The confirmation had come during a fierce battle with the vampires when Lunerly had snapped about his mate, revealing just how deeply intertwined their fates were.

Now, two other men were vying for Zora’s affection alongside him. It felt inherently wrong. He had never heard of a wolf possessing multiple fated mates. Lunerly was a High Alpha, well-versed in the signs of a destined bond. But perhaps Maximus was misinterpreting the signals? Kairos quickly brushed that thought aside; if Maximus’s feelings mirrored his own, it was hard to argue against their validity.

The electric pull.

The synchronized rhythm of their heartbeats.

The insatiable lust.

Kairos let out a derisive snort as he climbed the steps to his house. He could still recall the intoxicating scent of Maximus lingering on Zora after that day in the woods, a scent that had sent him into a furious spiral. Zora was meant to be his—she shouldn’t be entangled with Wolfham.

As he stepped inside, he was greeted by the familiar emptiness of his home. Thorne and Petyr were absent, having no classes on Monday, and wouldn’t return until the following night. The solitude pressed in around him as he trudged upstairs to his room. He briefly considered stepping outside for a smoke but ultimately decided against it.

Once in his room, he shrugged off his jacket, letting it fall carelessly to the floor before collapsing onto his bed. A heavy sigh escaped him as he scrubbed his hands over his face, feeling the weight of the world pressing down on him. He longed for someone to confide in, someone who could understand the turmoil swirling within him. But none of his friends were equipped to help him navigate this mess. Thorne had severed his own fated mate bond, and Petyr was so hopelessly in love with Alessia that he would only drone on about her.

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