Their Hidden Princess (Zora) novel Chapter 64

**Where Sleeping Rivers Dream We Follow Trails Toward Tomorrow**
**by Evan Milesa Cade**
**Chapter 64**

The dawn of a new day brought with it a formal letter, elegantly stamped with the insignia of Alpha Academy, delivered right to my doorstep. As I tore open the envelope, a wave of dread washed over me. My heart sank as I recognized the familiar, ornate script. It was a summons from Valentin, requesting my presence in his office that very morning. Unlike the hastily scribbled notes he usually sent regarding training, this one bore his signature—“Headmaster Lunerly,” inscribed in flowing black ink at the bottom.

With a heavy heart, I shut the door behind me, clutching the letter tightly in my hand. Just then, Loren stirred awake, yawning widely and stretching her limbs like a cat. She smacked her lips a couple of times, her eyes still heavy with sleep, before finally focusing on me.

“Whut is it?” she mumbled, her voice thick with drowsiness.

I lifted the paper, letting it flutter slightly in the air. “Valentin wants to see me,” I replied, placing the letter on my bed. “Well, the headmaster, that is.”

“Sounds important,” Loren murmured, pulling the covers over her head and curling back into her cocoon of warmth. “What time is it?”

“About seven,” I chuckled softly, amused by her reluctance to face the day. “I’ll catch you at Basics. Go back to sleep, sleepyhead.”

She grumbled something unintelligible, her voice muffled by the blankets, before disappearing beneath the fabric once more. I couldn’t help but smile as I slipped into my hoodie and jacket, leaving my pajama pants on for comfort. I shoved my feet into some slip-on boots and set off toward the admissions building, my mind racing with thoughts of what awaited me.

The crisp autumn air greeted me like a brisk slap to the face, prompting me to pull my jacket tighter around my body. The early morning haze clung to the ground, casting an ethereal spell over the campus, as if a ghost were resting upon it. I quickened my pace, eager to escape the chill that seemed to seep into my bones.

As I approached the admissions building, an unsettling quiet enveloped me once again. A few staff members trickled in, offering me curt nods that quickly morphed into scowls upon noticing my disheveled appearance. Ignoring their judgmental gazes, I hurried along until I reached the door to Valentin’s office.

The last time I had entered this space, it had been charged with an atmosphere thick with tension, exhaustion, and unspoken promises. I silently hoped that today’s meeting would be different, perhaps more uplifting. With a deep breath, I raised my hand and knocked gently on the door. A heartbeat passed before it swung open.

There he stood, all the grandeur of Valentin Lunerly on display.

His tousled brown hair gleamed in the light, pulled back into a loose ponytail, with a few rebellious strands framing his face, curling just beneath his chin. His skin was freshly shaven, revealing a sharp jawline, and his piercing gold eyes locked onto mine with an intensity that sent shivers down my spine.

“Miss Smith,” he greeted me, his voice devoid of warmth. It felt like ice against my skin. “Come in.”

I stepped past him into the office, noting the stark transformation since my last visit. The chaos had been replaced by an unsettling orderliness. The room felt cold and uninviting, furnished only with a desk and two chairs, devoid of any personal touches. It was as if the essence of Valentin Lunerly had been stripped away, leaving behind a mere shell.

The door slammed shut behind us, echoing in the silence. Valentin gestured toward the seat across from him, and I sank into it, feeling the weight of the moment settle heavily upon my shoulders. He took his seat, and without uttering another word, he slid his rotary phone across the desk, indicating for me to pick it up.

With a mix of trepidation and curiosity, I reached for the phone. “Hello?” I ventured, my voice trembling slightly.

“Hello, darling,” came the familiar voice on the other end.

“Hello, mother,” I replied, the words feeling forced and unnatural, like a mask I was obliged to wear.

“I have been… informed about the Jackell boy,” she continued, her tone clipped and businesslike. I froze, a cold knot forming in my stomach. In the whirlwind of my recent life, I had nearly forgotten the trauma of that night, the near assault that had left me shaken.

“You have,” I managed to say, my voice barely above a whisper.

“He’s in custody,” Victoria continued, and I glanced at Valentin, who remained impassive, his expression unreadable. I could hear the deep sigh she released, heavy with unspoken disappointment. I turned my attention back to her, bracing myself for what was to come.

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