Their Hidden Princess (Zora) novel Chapter 44

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

**Chapter 44**

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The dawn broke with a strange tension in the air, and as I opened my door, I found yet another note slipped beneath it. The handwriting was unmistakably Valentin’s, the familiar Valentin script, yet this time it bore an urgency that set my heart racing. The time was scrawled beneath it—ten o’clock at night—underlined not once, but twice. A frown creased my brow as I contemplated the implications of such a late meeting.

Valentin typically preferred to convene in the morning, before the rigors of Basics took their toll on us. Nighttime meetings were rare, especially on a day when Basics loomed over us like a dark cloud. The double underline felt like a silent alarm, urging me to pay attention. I tossed the note into the pile with the others, my mind swirling with questions as I proceeded with my day.

The hours unfolded in a manner that was all too familiar. A few scoffs here, a couple of sneers there. The usual dirty looks that accompanied life at Alpha Academy. It was all part of the routine. After dinner, Loren and I found solace in the library, our heads bent over textbooks as we tackled our homework together. Time slipped away, and as the clock chimed a quarter to ten, I felt a heavy weight settle in my stomach. I slipped out of the library, hoping to remain unnoticed, my hoodie pulled tight around me as I made my way across campus toward the gym.

Upon my arrival, I spotted Valentin and offered him a quick wave before slipping into the locker room to change into my sparring gear. Just as I was about to step inside, I heard him call my name. I froze, pulling my hoodie down and turning back to face him across the expanse of the gym.

“You won’t need to change tonight,” he said, his voice low and grave. His usual shiny brown hair looked dull and stringy, and the deep shadows under his eyes hinted at sleepless nights. If I were to be honest, he appeared somewhat disheveled, a stark contrast to the composed figure I was used to.

I walked hesitantly across the gym floor, a knot tightening in my chest as I approached him. Valentin let out a heavy sigh, running a hand through his hair as his gaze darted around the room, restless and unfocused.

“Are you okay?” I asked, my voice barely above a whisper as I closed the distance between us.

“Yeah, I’m fine,” he replied, but the way he said it felt hollow, as if he were trying to convince himself more than me.

“Okay,” I stretched the word out, uncertain. “Why are we meeting at night? We usually get my extra sparring hours in the morning, before Basics.”

Valentin shook his head sharply, his expression darkening. “We aren’t sparring tonight,” he said, his voice tinged with pain. His gaze fell to the floor, and I took another careful step closer, my heart racing as I sensed something was terribly wrong.

“Valentin,” I urged gently, “What’s going on?”

He hesitated, gathering his thoughts as if they were scattered leaves in the wind. “I called us to meet later today,” he began, his voice barely above a whisper, “because I’ve heard whispers around campus. People think we’re having an affair.”

I couldn’t help but snort, crossing my arms defiantly over my chest. “You’re letting rumors get to you?”

Valentin jerked his head towards me, his lips pressed into a thin line. The intensity of his gaze was unsettling, the pupils in his striking white-gold eyes pulsating with emotion.

“I am the Headmaster of this school,” he said sharply, the weight of his position evident in every word. “Of course they are. I can’t allow this to tarnish my integrity.”

“They’re just rumors,” I shot back, dropping my arms to my sides in frustration. “That’s all they are. There’s no truth to them.”

Valentin turned his gaze back to the floor, his eyes darting around as if searching for an escape from the turmoil within him. It was clear he was grappling with something far deeper than mere gossip.

“There could be,” he whispered finally, his voice trembling.

My heart did a curious flip. Was he finally acknowledging the bond that existed between us? The insatiable longing and desire that wrapped around us like a shadow whenever we were together? I felt my jaw drop slightly, still entranced by the conflict raging within Valentin.