Their Hidden Princess (Zora) novel Chapter 67

**TITLE: Where Sleeping Rivers Dream We Follow Trails Toward Tomorrow by Evan Milesa Cade 67**

**Chapter 67**

**Kairos**

**22**

**E 55 vouchem**

A sudden explosion of flames erupted beneath Kairos, sending him hurtling through the air, weightless for a heartbeat as he soared across the forest. The intensity of the fire was unlike anything he had ever experienced; it seared through the air with a ferocity that made his skin prickle. Instinctively, his arm shot up to shield his face, a futile gesture against the raw power of the blaze. Questions flooded his mind, swirling with confusion and disbelief.

Who on earth was Zora Smith?

Such mastery over High Magik, the ability to conjure flames potent enough to hurl a wolf backward, was not something one stumbled upon casually. It required depth, an innate connection to the primal forces of nature. Zora, a seemingly inconsequential Alpha from some obscure corner of the Wolf-kind realm, couldn’t possibly wield such power. But then again, he mused, perhaps she could—though not if she were a High Alpha.

As the roaring flames began to subside, Kairos cautiously lowered his hand, squinting against the residual light. The glow was still bright enough for him to discern the silhouette of a wolf emerging from the remnants of the fire. A smirk tugged at the corners of his lips; at least he was the only one who could shift back.

But that smirk vanished as quickly as it had appeared. Where Zora Smith had stood moments before, a striking white wolf now stood proud and defiant. Kairos blinked rapidly, rubbing his eyes as if he could will the creature back to the familiar grey he had last seen. Yet, no matter how hard he tried, Zora remained a vision of pure white, an anomaly he had not witnessed in years.

The last white wolf to emerge had been the legendary Wolf-Queen, Victoria Luna. As far as Kairos was aware, Queen Luna had no biological daughters.

Unless…

He shook the thought from his mind just as the flames extinguished completely. Zora’s wolf fixed him with an intense glare from across the clearing, her eyes burning with an otherworldly fire. She opened her mouth and barked, the sound reverberating through the forest like a thunderclap. Kairos, ever the warrior, sprang to his feet, adrenaline coursing through his veins. He closed his eyes briefly, focusing deep within, tapping into the well of anger that simmered just beneath the surface. His hands trembled and cracked, and within mere moments, his human form was replaced by the powerful, robust body of his wolf.

He shook out his limbs, reveling in the new sensations of strength and agility, before adopting a defensive posture. Zora’s wolf began to circle him, her snarls echoing through the trees. She barked again, a primal sound that sent shivers down his spine, before returning to her growling, feral self. Half of him wondered if this was truly Zora until he caught sight of her eyes—those familiar hazel-gold orbs that he recognized instantly.

With a sudden snap of her jaw in his direction, Kairos seized the opportunity. He lunged forward, aiming for her throat, his powerful paws striking the side of her body. His teeth snapped shut, but she deftly evaded him, slipping away just in time.

Determined, he dropped his head low and charged again, intent on pinning her down. If he could force her to submit, he would prove his dominance as the High Alpha. She was nothing compared to his rank.

Once more, he charged at Zora, his jaws poised to close around her when, in an instant, she vanished before his eyes. His teeth clattered shut as he skidded to a halt, spinning around to find her across the clearing, still as wild and untamed as before.

“What High Magiks was that?” he barked through the telepathic line that all wolves could access.

“A power you could only dream of, Moonraiser,” came a voice, a strange blend of Zora’s tone and something ethereal, dripping with disdain.

Kairos was taken aback, jolting at the unexpected response. Just weeks ago, Zora had struggled to maintain her composure when he taunted her. Now, she wielded the telepathic line with ease, infused with some kind of magic?

Something felt profoundly off.

He couldn’t quite decipher whether the shimmering magic swirling around the white wolf was ominous or divine. Truth be told, he didn’t care. He was a warrior, and the stance Zora’s wolf had taken was a clear challenge.

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