Their Hidden Princess (Zora) novel Chapter 139

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

Valentin’s gaze bore down upon me, a weighty intensity that made my heart race. I could feel his eyes sweeping over my features, tracing the contours of my face and then drifting down to my hands, which were nervously fidgeting at my sides. There was a moment of hesitation, a pregnant pause where he seemed to be contemplating something, before his attention fell to the proximity of my body to Maximus’s. I could see the subtle flare of his nostrils, a barely perceptible sign of his irritation, before he abruptly stepped back, as if distancing himself from an unsavory thought. His hand instinctively went to cover his mouth, a gesture of disbelief or perhaps frustration, as he turned away from us.

When he finally glanced back at the three of us, a heavy sigh escaped his lips, laden with the exhaustion of leadership.

“How I train Miss Smith is up to me on my time,” he declared, his voice tinged with an authority that felt almost oppressive. “How you train her in your own time is up to you.”

With that, he pivoted sharply on his heel and strode out of the gym, the door slamming shut behind him with a finality that echoed in the empty space. My heart sank, a dull ache spreading through my chest.

Spinning around, I fixed Maximus with a fierce glare. “What the hell was that?” I demanded, my voice rising with indignation.

Maximus regarded me with a nonchalant shrug, his gaze steady and unfazed. I could feel the heat of frustration coursing through me, and Loren, standing nervously behind him, let out a soft laugh, breaking the tension. She waved at me, a small gesture of camaraderie.

“I’ll meet you back at the room,” she mumbled, her voice barely above a whisper. “You guys clearly have something to talk about.”

With that, she slipped out of the gym, her form shifting seamlessly into that of a wolf as she darted across the shadowy campus, leaving only Maximus and me in the vast, echoing space. Memories of our last encounter in this very gym flooded my mind, causing a flush of heat to creep up my cheeks. Maximus, however, appeared unfazed, his deep golden eyes locked onto mine with an intensity that sent shivers down my spine.

“What the hell was that?” I repeated, this time my tone softer, almost vulnerable.

“A week ago, Lunerly called me into his office,” Maximus replied, his voice steady but tinged with an undercurrent of frustration. “It was after all that nonsense with Amara’s rumors. He asked if I’d been training you. I said yes. He told me it was ‘unwise’ and ‘unethical’ to train you in such a way. I told him he was going to get you killed. Then I left.”

“Jesus,” I hissed under my breath, pinching the bridge of my nose in exasperation. I dropped my hand back to my side, slapping it against my thigh in frustration. “You’re going to get yourself expelled.”

“Better me expelled than you dead,” he shot back quickly, a fierce determination in his voice. I narrowed my eyes at him, and he raised an eyebrow, challenging me. “Now, is it my turn to ask what the hell was that?”

I felt a sudden tension coil in my stomach. “What was what?” I asked, feigning innocence, but my heart raced.

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