Their Hidden Princess (Zora) novel Chapter 30

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

I found myself transfixed, staring at the hand that was extended toward me. My eyelids fluttered twice, as if trying to shake off the surreal moment, before I turned my gaze to Loren and her sister. Alessia was standing there, a playful smirk dancing on her lips, the glass of champagne she held pressed against her deep purple mouth. Loren’s expression mirrored my own shock, her eyes wide with disbelief. She nudged me gently, urging me back toward Maximus, who remained poised and expectant.

My attention flickered back to Alessia’s smirk, lingering for just a heartbeat longer before shifting to Maximus, whose hand was still outstretched, beckoning me. A part of me yearned to grasp it, to feel the surge of electricity that I imagined would course through my veins. Yet another part of me, more cautious and wary, whispered that this was merely another ploy, another trick in a game I was still learning to navigate.

But my heart had other ideas. It demanded my focus shift to the dance floor, pulling me back to the vibrant scene around me. I turned my head, taking in the room as the moonlight began to pour into the dance circle, casting an ethereal glow over everything. In the back of my mind, I could hear a clock ticking, each second echoing the urgency of the moment. Yet, none of that mattered because Valentin had ceased his dancing. Bella was animatedly shouting in his ear, but his gaze was locked onto me, unwavering and intense.

He was staring at me, and I found myself caught between two worlds—Maximus’s outstretched hand and Valentin’s piercing gaze. I jerked my eyes back to the unfolding scene, feeling the weight of it all pressing down on me. Maximus’s eyes were still fixed on me, filled with an intensity that made my heart race. Suddenly, the air felt too thick, too heavy, as if the very atmosphere was suffocating me.

“I’m sorry,” I managed to croak out, my voice cracking under the strain of my emotions.

Without another thought, I pushed past Maximus, my feet propelling me toward the bathroom as if they had a mind of their own. I could feel the weight of every gaze in the room upon me as I dashed away. Once I reached the sanctuary of the bathroom, I locked the door behind me and collapsed onto the floor, surrounded by a sea of green fabric. Tears threatened to spill over, and I felt their heat prickling at the corners of my eyes.

This was too much. Everything felt overwhelming—from the strange new world I had been thrust into to the myriad of rules I was expected to follow. And then there was the matter of this husband prospect, who was, in reality, a mate. On top of that, I was entangled in a web of emotions for several men, some of whom seemed to reciprocate my feelings, while others appeared to treat me like a joke. It felt as though the universe was conspiring against me, and I was caught in the crossfire.

I can’t win, I thought bitterly, a wave of despair washing over me.

But you can, my inner voice countered fiercely. You are Princess Zora Luna of the Wolves. You are the daughter of the savior of the wolves. So act like it!

For the first time, I found myself agreeing with that inner voice. Hosting a pity party wouldn’t resolve anything. I took a deep breath, steadied myself, and stood up, wiping my cheeks dry with the back of my hand. I glanced at the mirror, relieved to see that whatever Maja had applied to my face had kept my makeup intact. Only a smudge of lipstick was missing, which I quickly corrected with a swipe of my thumb. I brushed away a stray tear and fussed with my hair, trying to regain some semblance of control.

When I stood tall and assessed my reflection, I realized my inner voice had been right all along. I was a princess, after all. I looked the part, and now it was time to embrace it fully. I smoothed the front of my dress, took a deep breath, and pulled the bathroom door open with renewed determination.

As I re-entered the main room, I held my chin high, projecting confidence despite the turmoil inside. I spotted another glass of wine and seized it, downing half in one swift motion. My previous glass had been lost amidst the chaos of my emotions, but this one would help me reclaim my composure. I inhaled deeply, scanning the room. It appeared that everyone had returned to their own conversations. Maximus was still engaged in a discussion with Petyr across the room, while Alessia and Loren stood a short distance away, deep in conversation. Loren looked anxious, her body language betraying her nerves, while Alessia seemed unfazed, as if the day’s events were just another ordinary occurrence.