Their Hidden Princess (Zora) novel Chapter 69

*Thorne**

The morning sun barely peeked through the curtains when Thorne felt a jarring tug at his shoulder, yanking him from the depths of sleep. It was the Headmaster, his expression a mix of urgency and something else Thorne couldn’t quite place. “Get up, Thorne!” the Headmaster barked, his voice slicing through the haze of dreams. Thorne, still groggy and bewildered, had no idea what was happening. Why was he being summoned? Why the gym? His training sessions usually took place under the open sky, where he felt most alive.

As he reluctantly opened the heavy door to the gym, a wave of uncertainty washed over him. Was he being reprimanded for something he couldn’t remember? Or perhaps he was being rewarded? The possibilities swirled in his mind, each more confusing than the last.

But then, as the door swung wide, his gaze fell upon a familiar figure in the center of the gym, and suddenly, everything clicked into place.

Fucking Zora Smith.

Of course, this entire ordeal revolved around her. She was the thorn in his side, the catalyst for his chaos. First, she was his fated mate, a bond he had struggled to accept. Then, he had rejected her, a choice that had left both of them reeling. After that, he found himself stepping into the role of her knight, and now, here they were, sparring partners under the watchful gaze of the Headmaster.

As they began to spar, Thorne couldn’t shake the nagging questions in his mind. What was he doing here? He knew the history between the Queen and Valentin Lunerly; they were pivotal figures in the battle against the vampires. Lunerly had been mated to the Queen’s sister, for crying out loud. Thorne had seen Lunerly in the castle a handful of times, but their interactions had been minimal. Now, he was aware that Lunerly was also vying for the hand of the Princess.

But what baffled him was this: Why did Valentin Lunerly care about Zora Smith?

“You’re too far back on your heels,” Thorne corrected as he landed a punch against Zora’s forearm, the impact resonating through the air.

Zora quickly adjusted her stance, determination flashing in her eyes. She lunged at him, but her swipe missed by a wide margin. Seizing the moment, Thorne twisted her arm behind her back, pinning her down with a swift motion. She grunted, a sound that ignited a flicker of concern within him, but then her leg shot out, connecting with his calf. Pain shot through him, and in an instant, he released her, allowing her to tumble onto the mat.

“Too slow,” Lunerly commented, his tone dripping with indifference. It was clear he would rather be anywhere but here, watching them. “A wolf going full throttle would have pinned you in an instant.”

“Then tell this wolf to go full throttle,” Zora shot back, her voice tight with frustration as she regained her footing. She dropped into a defensive stance and glared at Thorne, a mix of challenge and defiance in her eyes. “Stop going easy on me.”

“I don’t want to hurt you,” he replied, his voice sincere. Despite everything, she was still his fated mate, bond or no bond. The last thing he wanted was to see her in pain.

“You’ll hurt me more if you keep going easy,” Lunerly snapped, his patience wearing thin. But just as quickly, his anger dissipated, replaced by a calm neutrality. “Go in for the kill, Blythwitch.”

With that command echoing in his ears, Thorne shifted gears.

He unleashed a flurry of punches and kicks aimed at Zora. To his surprise, she absorbed most of the blows and countered with surprising agility. Yet, Thorne noticed the way she was retreating, her weight shifting back onto her heels. He sensed an opportunity—a chance to catch her off balance.

As she threw her weight forward in an attempt to tackle him, he sidestepped, using her momentum against her. He jammed his elbow into her back, and she hit the ground hard, the force of his strike nearly causing her to bounce off the mat.

“Fuck,” Thorne hissed, immediately rushing to her side, concern flooding his senses.

But Zora batted his hand away, determination etched on her face as she attempted to push herself up. She made it to her hands and knees but faltered, struggling to rise.

After watching her struggle twice, Lunerly intervened, hoisting her up under her arms and setting her back on her feet. Thorne couldn’t help but notice how Lunerly’s hands lingered on Zora’s waist, fingers spreading out as if he wanted to touch as much of her as possible.

A surge of jealousy ignited within Thorne, a wildfire consuming his thoughts.

“What am I even doing here?” Thorne snapped, frustration spilling over. He gestured toward Zora. “Am I just here to beat her up? That seems counterproductive.”

“Need I remind you,” Lunerly hissed, his eyes narrowing, “that you’ve never witnessed an active battle? How could you possibly know what is productive?”

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