Their Hidden Princess (Zora) novel Chapter 86

**Where Sleeping Rivers Dream We Follow Trails Toward Tomorrow by Evan Milesa Cade**
**Chapter 86**

That afternoon, I found myself reluctantly merging into the throng of students as we all made our way into the campus auditorium. Having returned Valentin’s robe to my dorm, I had opted for the comfort of a sweatsuit, pulling the hood snugly over my head to shield myself from prying eyes. The whispers and curses I had overheard during my walk felt like daggers, each one a reminder of the disdain some held for my very existence.

As I navigated through the crowd, a sudden, firm grip seized my arm, pulling me sharply from the masses and into the vestibule. I gasped, instinctively raising my hands in defense, only to be met by the intense gaze of Maximus.

There was something about his expression—an unyielding strength mixed with a protective warmth—that instantly calmed the storm inside me. Without hesitation, I flung my arms around his neck, seeking solace in his embrace. His hands found their way to my back, trailing down my spine in a comforting gesture. He leaned back just enough to press his forehead against mine, our breaths mingling in the small space between us.

“I’ll kill him,” he murmured against my cheek, his voice low and fierce. “I’ll kill every one of them.”

“Don’t,” I pulled away slightly, forcing him to meet my gaze. “You didn’t see Lunerly. He was furious. He’ll handle it. I can’t have you expelled on my account.”

Maximus nodded, though his expression hardened as he caught sight of something—or someone—behind me. I turned to see Thorne striding toward us, his scowl darkening the air around him.

“The hell are you two doing?” he spat, his tone dripping with disdain.

“Checking in on my protectorate,” Maximus shot back, his voice laced with defiance. “Something you clearly lack the ability to do.”

Thorne’s eyes widened, nostrils flaring as he puffed up like a peacock ready to fight. I felt the tension crackling between them and knew I had to intervene. Stepping between the two men, I pressed a hand firmly against each of their chests, hoping to diffuse the situation. Maximus relaxed at my touch, but Thorne flinched before settling down, albeit reluctantly.

“Stop it,” I said, my voice steady but firm. “The fighting is exactly why we’re in this mess. Just take a breath and think rationally.”

“Rationally isn’t a word Maximus knows,” Thorne retorted, his tone mocking.

“Go shove your dick back in a book, you knob,” Maximus countered, his eyes glinting with irritation. “Maybe then you’d learn what it means to be a better Knight.”

“Hard to be a good Knight when you’ve got a psychotic, feral puppy as a protectorate—”

“Enough!” I interjected, cutting through the escalating insults. “Jesus Christ, can you both just calm down for two seconds!?”

“I’m calm,” Maximus stated, and from the look on his face, I believed him. Thorne, on the other hand, seemed caught between the urge to throttle both of us and the desire to flee entirely.

He threw a dismissive hand in my direction. “Whatever,” he scoffed, turning to leave the vestibule. “Just don’t get into any more trouble, alright?”

“I’ll try,” I called after him, feeling a mix of relief and frustration. Maximus chuckled softly beside me, and I pulled my hood back up, which had slipped off during our little scuffle. Nodding at him, I said, “Come on, let’s get this over with.”

—

As we re-entered the bustling crowd, we maneuvered our way to the back of the auditorium, where we found a seat just as the room began to fill. Glancing toward the front, I spotted Thorne’s head looming over Amara, who still sported that ridiculous sling around her neck. I suppressed an eye roll, annoyed at the sight.

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