Their Hidden Princess (Zora) novel Chapter 9

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

**Chapter 9**

“How long does the hunt last?” I asked, my voice barely above a whisper, as if the very act of speaking could summon the looming dread that hung over us.

“Until they catch you,” Loren replied, her tone matter-of-fact yet tinged with a hint of empathy. “Last year’s hunt dragged on for four days, if I remember correctly.”

I rubbed my eyes, feeling the weight of exhaustion press down upon me like a heavy blanket. With a resigned sigh, I threw my body back onto the bed, the springs creaking in protest. This was going to be a nightmare. I turned my gaze back to Loren, only to find her mirroring my position, her expression a mix of concern and sadness.

“It wouldn’t be so bad to just submit to them, would it?” she ventured, her voice soft, as though she were afraid of the answer.

I turned my head away, staring up at the ceiling, the paint peeling in places, a testament to years of neglect. The thought of surrendering sent a shiver down my spine. If I revealed my true identity as the Princess, Victoria would be mortified, and I could only imagine how humiliated Kairos and Maximus would feel. The very notion of their fury sent a jolt of fear through me.

But more than that, I couldn’t allow them to win. Every fiber of my being screamed that capitulating would be the worst possible way to commence the year. Perhaps it was the royal blood coursing through my veins that loathed the idea of being someone’s plaything. Or maybe it was just the sheer thought of giving Maximus and Kairos the satisfaction of believing they were superior to me.

I glanced back at Loren. Her purple eyes sparkled with a flicker of hope, and I couldn’t bear the thought of crushing that glimmer. I shifted my gaze back to the ceiling, the plasterwork blurring as my mind raced.

“Yeah, it wouldn’t,” I mumbled, the words barely escaping my lips.

The rest of the night passed in silence, the weight of our unspoken thoughts hanging heavily in the air. Loren slowly drifted off to sleep around midnight, her soft breaths a reminder of the comfort that eluded me. I remained wide awake, my mind a whirlwind of possibilities, each one more frantic than the last, as I contemplated the seven hundred different ways I could avoid being hunted.

Staying locked in my room for the entirety of my time at Alpha Academy crossed my mind, but that felt like surrendering in its own right.

Then, a more tempting thought surfaced: what if I simply ran away? I could leave this place behind, retreat to the familiarity of my old life. I had no doubt that Victoria would find me again; she always did. She had tracked me down through countless orphanages, no matter how many times I was shuffled from one place to another.

But the only real hope I clung to was the idea of growing stronger, even if it meant doing so in the confines of my dorm room. Tomorrow, I would rise early and dive into the workouts I had once excelled at in high school for track. Push-ups, sit-ups, bicep curls with whatever of Loren’s skincare products I could borrow—anything to build my strength without drawing attention.

If only I had a wolf, the voice in my head chimed in, a playful tone lacing her words.

If you had a wolf, you wouldn’t be in this damn mess, I shot back, rolling my eyes at the absurdity of it all. You’d probably have taken Maximus down and avoided Kairos altogether.

True, my inner voice mused, but think of the fun we could have!

I dismissed her thoughts; this was not a game.

Sleep finally embraced me around two in the morning, a fleeting respite that made the sound of my alarm at eight feel like a cruel joke. I yanked the sheets off my bed, the fabric tangling around my legs as I sat up. To my surprise, I noticed Loren was missing from her bed. A frown creased my brow. Had she already abandoned me?

But it was the perfect opportunity to set my plan into motion. I cranked up my music, finding a balance that would energize me without disturbing anyone else. I donned an old sports bra and a pair of spandex shorts, the brown and blue colors of my high school feeling both nostalgic and ridiculous against my vibrant red hair. Fashion was the least of my concerns; I needed to focus on strength.

I began with light stretches, gradually transitioning into muscle-building exercises. I pushed myself hard, feeling the familiar slick of sweat forming on my skin. It trickled down from my forehead, landing on the pink carpet that Loren had so thoughtfully laid out before my arrival. I hoped it was washable.

I was nearly finished with my last exercise—squat jumps—when a sudden, loud banging reverberated against my door. I flinched at the noise, quickly silencing my music. Wiping the sweat from my upper lip, I hesitantly pulled the door open.

11:07 Tue, Dec 9. NO.

Standing there, of course, was Maximus.

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