Their Hidden Princess (Zora) novel Chapter 62

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

**Chapter 62**

**Maximus**

The dawn of a new day greeted Maximus with an unexpected brightness in his heart. As he stirred awake, a curious sense of elation enveloped him, leaving him puzzled. How could he feel so buoyant when the memory of Zora confessing she had another mate loomed over him? Yet, against all odds, hope flickered within him like a stubborn flame. Deep down, an instinctual voice echoed through his bones, insisting that Zora was destined to be his mate.

Such feelings were foreign to him. The moment Zora had come beneath him, it was as if his wolf had ignited into a blazing inferno within his mind. The intensity of his release had unleashed a wildfire in his soul, one that he struggled to contain. His heart beat a rhythmic declaration that Zora was the one he had been searching for all along.

But the shadow of her past with Thorne loomed large, an unsettling thought he tried to push aside as he prepared for the day ahead. When he arrived for breakfast, he found Zora seated at the table, her gaze fixed intently on her plate. Loren greeted him with her usual enthusiasm, leading him to believe that Zora had kept their recent rendezvous a secret for now.

Throughout the meal, Maximus felt as though he were extracting teeth. Zora remained evasive, offering only grunted responses to Loren’s questions, while he struggled to draw her attention. Frustration mounted until Loren, unable to bear the tension any longer, slammed her hand down onto the table, jolting Zora from her reverie.

“Okay, what the heck is going on?” Loren snapped, her voice sharp with concern.

Zora met Loren’s gaze with a long, contemplative stare before returning to her food, fidgeting with her eggs. “Just feeling sick, that’s all,” she muttered, her voice barely above a whisper.

Maximus raised an eyebrow, his curiosity piqued. “So, I take it we won’t be training tonight?” he ventured, keeping his tone casual.

Zora’s head snapped up, and her gold-green eyes sparkled under the cafeteria’s fluorescent lights. Her long red curls framed her face, and Maximus felt an overwhelming urge to reach out, to tug gently on one of those curls, to tilt her chin up and capture her lips with his own.

But he knew that such boldness would only send her retreating. Instead, he resolved to adopt a facade of indifference, hoping to provoke her into coming to him, to break the silence that hung between them.

“No,” she replied softly, her voice almost a whisper. “I’ll be there.”

Maximus nodded, a sense of relief washing over him. “Same as usual,” he said, returning to his breakfast, though he felt the weight of her gaze slip away, leaving him craving its warmth. Her eyes were like a fire that ignited his cold heart.

“Right,” Zora said, placing her hands on the table and pushing herself up to stand. “I need to grab a coffee before History of Magiks. I’ll see you in High Magiks, right, Loren?”

“Why not have it with us?” Loren suggested, her tone inviting. “You still have twenty minutes before class.”

Zora offered a sad smile, shaking her head. “I need it to keep me awake during class. But I’ll see you for Magiks, okay?”

“Yeah,” Loren mumbled, watching as Zora grabbed her bag and slung it over her shoulder. With one last smile, Zora headed off to dispose of her trash.

Once Zora was out of earshot, Loren jabbed Maximus in the shoulder, causing him to miss his mouth with his spoon, sending a splash of eggs into his lap. He turned to Loren, who wore a scowl that was anything but friendly.

“What happened between you two?” she hissed, her voice low but fierce.

“Nothing,” he replied, feigning nonchalance, even as his mind raced with thoughts of Zora and the desire to bury himself in her on the campus lawn.

Loren attempted to jab him again, but this time he barely flinched. She pointed a finger at him, her expression fierce. “You hurt her, and I will beat the crap out of you!”

Maximus fought the urge to roll his eyes. Loren was one of the weaker wolves; there was no way she could intimidate him. He nodded once, a silent acknowledgment.

“I know,” he said simply.

“Good,” Loren replied with a finality that brooked no argument. She turned back to her plate, shoving the rest of her waffle into her mouth. A dollop of whipped cream landed on her nose, and Maximus stifled a laugh behind his fist.

Later that evening, true to her word, Zora was waiting for him at their usual training spot. She had arrived before him, stretching her limbs as he approached. The sun hung low in the sky, casting a warm glow over the campus, which was ablaze with the colors of autumn. Zora’s attire was looser than usual, and he couldn’t shake the feeling that he had seen her in those same trousers and jumper just a week ago.

She stood like a pin in a box far too large for her. When she spotted him crossing the field, she straightened up, her hands firmly planted on her hips.

“What?” she barked, her voice sharp.

Max raised an eyebrow, amusement tugging at his lips. “How do you plan to train in that?”

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