Their Hidden Princess (Zora) novel Chapter 19

**Where Sleeping Rivers Dream We Follow Trails Toward Tomorrow by Evan Milesa Cade**
**Chapter 19**

The rhythm of my heart echoed in my ears, each thud a reminder of the tension that hung thick in the air. Did he truly know my secret? Was that the message conveyed through his dark, penetrating gaze and the tightness of his jaw? I needed to think on my feet, and quickly. In a moment of desperation, I shoved against his chest, my instincts kicking in. But then, a wave of panic washed over me as I recalled the usual jolt of electricity that accompanied our touches.

Yet, this time, something was different. There was no spark, no electric current coursing between us. To my astonishment, my shove actually succeeded in pushing Maximus away from me and the tree that had been our barrier. His eyes widened in surprise, mirroring the shock that coursed through me. He instinctively rubbed at his chest, as if trying to erase the moment.

“Don’t mess around with me,” I said, my voice low and steady, though my heart raced. “Your jokes aren’t funny.”

“They’re supposed to be,” Maximus replied, still lingering in disbelief, his hand lingering on his chest as if he were trying to convince himself that this was all in good fun. But we both understood that there was an underlying seriousness to our exchange.

I turned, making my way toward the forest’s edge, half-expecting him to pursue me. But he remained rooted in place, hand still resting on his chest, lost in thought. Seizing the opportunity, I bolted from the forest, the trees blurring past me as I ran.

As I sprinted back to campus, my mind was a whirlwind of confusion over this whole mate situation. It was all so complicated, and I resolved then and there that I couldn’t afford to care about it. My life was already fraught with danger—like the looming threat of Kairos, who seemed intent on ending my existence.

I didn’t have the luxury of falling for any guy, let alone ponder whether any of them were falling for me. I kept my gaze fixed on the ground as I continued my run back to my dorm, desperately trying to push away the haunting images of all those golden eyes that had been locked onto me earlier that day.

After a quick shower, I managed to squeeze in a core workout before heading to Basics. Since I had failed the run, my training focused heavily on speed and endurance, while everyone else concentrated on strength and sparring. Coach kept me on the track, running laps, determined to help me improve my pace.

By the end of the class, I felt surprisingly energized rather than completely drained, despite the rigorous training I had endured that morning. However, my stomach was growling with hunger. I made my way to the cafeteria alone; Loren had a second-year class after Basics that I couldn’t attend.

With my head down, I found a seat as far away from Kairos and his entourage as possible. I could feel their eyes on me, glancing over from their table, but I quickly averted my gaze, focusing on my meal.

As I returned my tray, I felt a gentle touch on my shoulder. Instinctively, I spun around, dropping into the defensive stance that Valentin had taught me. The woman before me raised her hands in a placating gesture.

“Woah, woah!” she exclaimed. “I come in peace, promise.”

I relaxed my stance, straightening up. “Sorry,” I replied, moving aside so others could deposit their trays. “Force of habit.”

The girl chuckled, her dark, curly hair framing her face. I couldn’t help but notice how sleek her curls looked, unlike my unruly red locks. They seemed too perfect, likely woven in rather than a product of her waking up that way. Her eyes sparkled with a shiny purple hue, reminiscent of Loren’s but leaning more towards a blueish shade. She offered me a warm smile.

“Zora, right?” she asked. “I’m Megra, but you can call me Meg. You were right behind me in the Run.”

“Oh,” I said, slightly taken aback. “Hi.”

“Hi!” Meg laughed, her enthusiasm almost infectious. “I just wanted to say I’m really impressed by you.”

“Oh?” I echoed, attempting to keep my distance as I made my way toward the door, hoping she wouldn’t trail after me. Something about her energy felt forced, almost too eager.

To my dismay, she fell into step beside me, holding the door open as I stepped outside.

“Yeah,” she continued, a bright smile on her face. “You’re the first wolfless I’ve seen come that close to finishing the run. Were you an athlete in the human world?”

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