Their Hidden Princess (Zora) novel Chapter 43

**Where Sleeping Rivers Dream We Follow Trails Toward Tomorrow by Evan Milesa Cade**
**Chapter 43**
**Zora**

What the hell just happened?

I found myself locked in a gaze with Maximus, his eyes unwavering as he released Thorne from his grip. They seemed to bore into me, unyielding, even as Thorne quickly slipped behind Kairos for protection. In the midst of the chaos, Petyr had managed to get back on his feet. With a sudden urgency, he grabbed Maximus by the shoulder, pulling him away from my grasp.

Maximus blinked slowly, as if awakening from a deep trance, and then he forcefully shrugged Petyr off. He took a few steps back, his expression shifting as if he were trying to shake off the fog that had clouded his mind. With a quick shake of his head, he transformed into a massive black wolf, the transformation both startling and awe-inspiring.

The wolf shook its thick coat, drawing the attention of every student in the cafeteria. Once again, all eyes were on us. Then, with a burst of energy, it sprinted for the door, weaving through startled students before disappearing into the campus beyond. I stood there, momentarily frozen, until I felt Loren’s presence beside me.

“What in the world was that!?” she hissed, her voice a mix of shock and curiosity. “What did you do to him?”

“I-I—” My words faltered, caught in the whirlwind of emotions swirling around me.

“What did you do to him?” Kairos growled, his anger palpable. I turned to see him standing there, his body tense, shoulders hunched, teeth bared in a snarl directed at me.

“I didn’t do anything,” I protested, my voice barely above a whisper, the weight of the moment pressing heavily on my chest. Thorne and Kairos continued to glare at me, their expressions filled with accusation.

“Bullshit,” Thorne snapped, jabbing his chin toward Kairos. “She’s using the dark Magiks. You were right.”

“Dark Magiks?” Loren echoed, her eyes wide with disbelief. “All the texts about them have been destroyed or hidden away. Are you out of your mind!? Zora has spent her entire life in the human world. There’s no way she could have learned Dark Magiks!”

“I don’t know, but I’ve never seen anything like that before,” Kairos shot back, frustration seeping into his words. “Maximus has never reacted that way to Thorne. He’s never switched emotions so quickly. It has to be something she did.”

A chill ran down my spine as I considered the possibility. Could it have been something I inadvertently caused? Perhaps it was connected to the bond of potential mates that I shared with Maximus. But that notion was riddled with complications. Everyone believed my destined mate was Thorne, and according to their understanding, I couldn’t possibly be tied to Maximus as well.

Words eluded me, so I simply shook my head, desperate to deny the growing unease within me.

“No, it’s not Dark Magik,” I murmured, my voice trembling.

“I don’t care what it was,” Kairos spat, his tone dripping with menace. “Stay the hell away from Maximus.”

With that, he, Petyr, and Thorne pushed past me, their collective energy radiating a palpable tension as they exited the cafeteria. The electric jolt I felt as they brushed past me lingered in the air, leaving me with even more questions than before.

The chaos of the morning clung to me like a heavy fog, making the rest of the day feel surreal. I attended my morning class alongside the other first-years and later met Loren for our afternoon session. She suggested we grab dinner afterward, but I was still too shaken from the morning’s events to face the cafeteria again.

Loren frowned, concern etched on her face, but ultimately left without me, promising to bring something back to the dorm. I trudged back alone, the weight of the day feeling heavier with each step.

Autumn had finally settled over the campus, the crisp wind whipping my hair into my face as I walked. I had dressed in shorts that morning, but the evening chill crept down my spine, urging me to wrap my hoodie tighter around myself as I quickened my pace toward the dorms.

By the time I reached my building, the sun had nearly dipped below the horizon, casting long shadows across the ground. I rummaged through my backpack for my keys, but after several frustrating minutes, I suddenly remembered—I hadn’t brought them with me this morning. A groan escaped my lips as I let my forehead fall against the brick wall of the building.

“That sounded like it hurt,” a voice broke through my moment of despair, causing me to jump.

Maximus was striding toward the door, wearing the same outfit from earlier, except now he held his T-shirt in his hands. My breath caught in my throat as I realized he was bare-chested, the sight both startling and oddly mesmerizing.

“I forgot my keys,” I mumbled, feeling a heat rise to my cheeks.

“Guess we’re both out of luck then,” he replied, casually tossing his T-shirt over his shoulder. “Mine are probably still in the cafeteria.”

My eyes widened in disbelief. “You’ve been running as a wolf for that long?”

Maximus didn’t respond. Instead, he approached where I stood and leaned against the building, his posture relaxed yet commanding. I waited for him to speak, my heart racing in the silence between us.

“Where’s Mini Moonbeam?” he asked, breaking the stillness.

“Cafeteria,” I replied, crossing my arms defensively over my chest. “Nice way to change the subject.”

Maximus tilted his head back against the wall, rolling his neck to glance at me.

“Do you want to talk about what happened this morning?” His voice was steady, devoid of any judgment. I swallowed hard, feeling a knot of anxiety tighten in my stomach. He shifted his gaze back to the front.

“I didn’t think so,” he continued, his tone dropping slightly.

“Why is your girlfriend such a bitch?” I blurted out, the words escaping before I could stop them.

Maximus’s jaw tightened. He licked his bottom lip, still not looking directly at me. “You must’ve misheard me. She’s not my girlfriend.”

I raised an eyebrow, skepticism creeping in. “She clearly doesn’t think that.”

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