Their Hidden Princess (Zora) novel Chapter 40

**Where Sleeping Rivers Dream We Follow Trails Toward Tomorrow by Evan Milesa Cade**
**Chapter 40**

As I stirred from my slumber, an unsettling darkness enveloped the world outside. A wave of self-reproach washed over me, cursing my own impulsiveness for squandering an entire day of classes on a fit of frustration. I attempted to rise, but my legs felt like jelly, unsteady and weak beneath me. With a determined breath, I followed the faint glow of campus lights, hoping they would guide me out of the suffocating embrace of the forest and back to the familiarity of my dorm building.

Each step up the stairs was a struggle, a reminder of my physical and emotional fatigue. I stumbled through the door of my room, crashing onto Loren’s plush, shaggy pink carpet with a dull thud. The sound startled my roommate, who gasped from her bed and sprang up, concern etched across her face.

“What happened?” she exclaimed, grasping my elbows to help me sit up. “Was it Kairos? Are you alright? Should I call the nurse? Professor Lunerly?”

“No!” I shrieked, the intensity of my voice surprising even me. Loren’s eyes widened in shock, and I shook my head slowly, desperation creeping into my tone. “Not Lunerly, please.”

“Zora,” Loren said softly, her voice laced with concern. “What’s going on?”

In that moment, the dam within me broke. I collapsed into her embrace, a torrent of tears spilling forth. Loren wrapped her arms around me, her hand soothingly stroking my back as I let my emotions pour out unchecked.

I wept for my human existence, for the fractured bond with my mother that left a gaping void in my heart. I cried for the fated mate bond that had been so cruelly rejected, for Valentin’s dismissal, and for every other sorrow that weighed heavily on my soul. Time lost all meaning as I sobbed, but through it all, Loren remained steadfast, a comforting presence in my storm of despair.

Eventually, my cries subsided into quiet sniffles, and I pulled back to meet Loren’s gaze. Her shirt was damp with my tears, and her own eyes glistened, hinting at her own unspoken emotions. She brushed a wet strand of hair from my face with a gentle touch.

“I’m sorry,” I murmured, my voice shaky. “I just—I feel so alone.”

“You’re not alone,” Loren replied, her tone tender and reassuring. “I’m here for you. If you’ll let me.”

“I want to share everything with you, Loren, I really do,” I babbled, my words tumbling out in a rush. “But I’m terrified of what you might think of me.”

Loren shook her head firmly. “We’re friends,” she asserted. “Unless you’ve committed murder, I can’t imagine anything that would change that.”

I let out an unattractive snort, wiping my wrist under my nose. “Not yet,” I mumbled, a hint of dark humor creeping into my voice.

“Then you’re fine,” Loren replied, her hand returning to my back, drawing comforting circles. “You’re the first real friend I’ve made at this school, you know?”

I blinked at her, taken aback. “How is that possible?” I asked, my voice barely above a whisper. “You’re so vibrant and fun, and genuinely nice. How has no one wanted to befriend you?”

Loren shrugged, her expression turning somber. “I think I’m just too much,” she confessed, her voice small and vulnerable. “People see me as different from my sister, and they’re intimidated by my energy.” I pulled her into another hug, feeling the weight of her words.

“I don’t think you’re too much at all,” I said softly, my heart aching for her. “I think you’re perfect just the way you are.”

Loren pulled back, a small smile breaking through her sadness. “Thanks, Zora,” she said, settling back on her heels and crossing her legs in front of me. “Now, spill it! What on earth is going on with you?”

I pinched my nose, feeling the weight of my burdens. “What isn’t?” I mumbled, the heaviness of my heart making it hard to articulate.

“Well, what can you share with me?” Loren pressed, her eyes filled with concern.

“Not much,” I replied, adjusting my position to mirror hers. “But you know about the rejection of my fated mate bond.”

Loren shook her head in disbelief. “I can’t fathom how Thorne could be so selfish,” she said, her brow furrowing. “Fated mates are incredibly rare. To sever that bond is…well, it’s almost unheard of.”

“He broke it for the Princess,” I murmured, the words tasting bitter on my tongue. I hesitated, debating whether to reveal that I was, in fact, the Princess.

“Still,” Loren pressed, her brows knitted together. “The Queen is understanding. She would have valued a fated mate. Plus, everyone knows that Maximus and Kairos are also in line to marry the Princess. It’s not like she’s out of options.”

“Right,” I sighed, the weight of their names hanging heavily in the air. “Them.”

“Are they still bothering you?” Loren asked, her concern deepening.

I fidgeted, feeling the tension rise within me. “Bothering is the wrong word,” I admitted hesitantly. “I just feel…awkward around them.”

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