Their Hidden Princess (Zora) novel Chapter 179

**Where Sleeping Rivers Dream We Follow Trails Toward Tomorrow by Eva 179**

**Zora**

After the whirlwind of emotions that had unfolded between Kairos and me, followed by my explosive confrontation with Thorne, I found myself staring into the unknown as Monday morning training approached. I had barked out the time and location to Kairos in a fit of determination before I fled from his room, but deep down, I didn’t genuinely believe he would show up.

Yet, when he cautiously peeked out from the locker room, my heart swelled with an unexpected warmth. He was here. He had actually come. The sight of him sent a flutter through my chest, a mixture of relief and something more intoxicating. Maximus, ever the vigilant guardian, caught sight of Kairos and immediately turned his gaze toward the Headmaster, his expression shifting to one of disbelief and irritation.

“No,” he snapped, his voice sharp as a whip. “No way. Absolutely not. Is she out of her mind? Are you—”

“Language, Wolfham,” Valentin drawled, his tone laced with a weariness that suggested he had dealt with this kind of drama far too many times. “Miss Smith has requested that Mr. Moonraiser take Mr. Blythwitch’s place. I will permit it, for the time being.”

The grumbling that escaped Maximus indicated he was far from thrilled about our new addition. Earlier that morning, when I had broached the subject with him, he had simply blinked, his confusion evident. Now, however, his resistance was palpable, and I could almost feel the tension radiating off him.

“Kairos and I share…” I hesitated, searching for the right words. “A connection. I believe it would be wise to leverage that as a form of protection.”

Maximus crossed his arms defiantly over his chest, raising an eyebrow as if he were judging my very sanity. “And Thorne? Your knight in shining armor?”

“He’s been relieved of his duties,” I mumbled, my voice barely above a whisper. My eyes flicked up to Valentin, who also sported a raised eyebrow, clearly unaware of the shift in my circumstances. I shook my head slightly, trying to convey my message without words, and he simply exhaled heavily, the tension easing just a fraction.

Maximus, however, was practically beside himself. He threw his arms up in exasperation, his frustration spilling over. “You can’t just abandon your knight! You need him for protection!”

“Are you suggesting that I’m not as capable as Blythwitch?” Kairos interjected, a smirk playing on his lips as he pressed a hand dramatically to his chest. “You wound me, brother.”

“I’m not your damn brother,” Maximus growled, his tone low and fierce.

“Alright, alright,” Valentin interjected, cutting through the rising tension like a knife. He rubbed his temples, as if trying to ward off a headache before it even began. “Gods above, I was hoping we wouldn’t have a repeat of last week’s chaos, but it seems almost unavoidable at this point.”

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