Their Hidden Princess (Zora) novel Chapter 100

The steady, monotonous beeping of the infirmary machines had morphed into something far from reassuring.

Fifty-five vouchers.

This was the signal that the chaos, the pain, and the overwhelming bullshit I had endured was finally behind me. I released a long, weary sigh as I gradually emerged from the depths of unconsciousness, the low hum of the machines filling my ears like a relentless reminder. Almost immediately, I felt a hand enveloping mine, its warmth radiating through me like a comforting embrace, reaching from the tips of my fingers straight to my brain and down to my toes. It was as if my entire body was wrapped in a gentle hug, and I found myself sinking deeper into that peaceful sensation.

Slowly, I turned my neck, my hand still held tightly, and my eyelids fluttered open. It took a moment for my vision to adjust, but when it did, I let out another heavy sigh. There, gazing back at me with his striking golden eyes, was Maximus. The corners of his lips curled into the faintest of smiles, a subtle reassurance that grounded me in this moment. His hands were securely clasped around mine, and I could feel the strength in his grip.

“Hi,” I managed to rasp, my voice barely above a whisper.

“Hi,” he replied, his tone warm and inviting.

Maximus continued to hold my gaze as I let my eyes wander around the room. It was then that I realized we were not alone. In his usual spot, leaning against the far wall, was none other than Valentin Lunerly. He was still clad in the same casual shirt and trousers he had worn during our harrowing encounter in the forest. A smear of my blood marked his thigh, a stark reminder of the chaos that had unfolded. I followed the trail of blood up to his face, where his expression remained as impassive as ever. He nodded gently in my direction, and a fresh wave of warmth surged through my other hand.

I resumed my lazy exploration of the room, but my sense of calm was shattered when my gaze landed on the third figure, casually leaning against the wall. Instantly, my body tensed as recognition struck me like a bolt of lightning.

Kairos Moonraiser was here, in my infirmary room.

It seemed he sensed my scrutiny, for he turned to face me. The usual hardness that often defined his demeanor was absent. Instead, his freckles danced on his sun-kissed skin, and his fierce golden eyes held a softness that was both welcoming and disarming.

Another wave of warmth coursed through me, causing me to fidget uncomfortably. The air in the room felt stifling, and I kicked the blanket off my feet, relishing the cool breeze that rushed in to soothe my burning skin. I settled back into the bed, pressing my palm against my forehead, trying to gather my thoughts.

“What happened?” I finally asked, my voice steadier this time.

“What do you remember?” Valentin inquired gently, his eyes searching mine for answers.

I closed my eyes, delving into the foggy recesses of my mind, trying to retrieve the fragmented memories. Pain flooded my senses—searing and relentless. I recalled the acrid smell of charred flesh, and then, two wolves bursting forth from the shadows of the forest. One was auburn, and the other an ashy brown. I dropped my hand and turned my gaze toward Valentin.

“You were there,” I said, shifting my attention to Kairos. “And, for some reason, you.”

Kairos’s previously soft expression hardened, his jaw tightening. He opened his mouth to speak, but before he could utter a word, Valentin interjected.

“Mr. Moonraiser was the one who alerted me that you were in danger,” he explained. “He found Princess Amara wandering the campus in a daze and brought her to me.”

I frowned, confusion swirling in my mind. “Amara? Is she okay?”

“She will be,” Valentin huffed, a hint of frustration in his tone. “She just needs to detox.”

“Detox!?” My eyes widened, feeling as if they might pop out of my skull. “They drugged her?”

“She drugged herself,” Kairos snapped, drawing the attention of everyone in the room. I must have looked bewildered because he sighed, letting his arms drop to his sides.

“She drank vampire blood,” he continued, his voice steady. “It causes delusion in wolves.”

“Like you’ve done a hallucinogenic,” Valentin chimed in, his expression serious.

“Gods,” I hissed, my mind racing.

“Also highly addictive,” Valentin added, sitting back in his chair and crossing one ankle over the other. He rubbed his face, and I noticed the faint beginnings of a beard on his chin. “She’s detoxing so we can understand what happened.”

“Does wolf blood do the same for vampires?” I asked, my curiosity piqued.

“Sort of,” Maximus replied. “It acts more as a depressant for them. Think of it like human marijuana. That’s why they were draining you— to get high and maintain a supply.”

I frowned again, the memories flickering like a faulty light bulb. I vaguely recalled one of the vampires attempting to taste my blood before vanishing. A sudden throb in my head reminded me that I would need to ask Mona about this later. I pressed the heel of my palm against my eye socket, feeling the weight of exhaustion. Just as I was about to request some peace and quiet, the door burst open with a bang.

A whirlwind of dark robes swept into the room, coming to a halt at the foot of my bed. The figure wearing the robes was tall, adorned with an array of gold chains and pins that glimmered in the dim light. Slowly, they pulled back their hood, and my breath caught in my throat.

Queen Victoria Luna stood before me, here at Alpha Academy.

“Your Highness,” Maximus stammered, scrambling to his feet. He bowed his head, followed closely by Kairos, who mirrored the gesture. To my left, Valentin merely crossed his arms, his expression unreadable.

“At ease, Alpha Wolfham,” my mother’s voice rang out, soothing yet commanding. She offered me a soft smile before turning her attention to Valentin.

With a heavy sigh, Victoria sank down onto the edge of my bed. I had never seen her look so unlike a queen. Her hair was wild and unkempt, the usual elegance replaced by a disheveled appearance. The bags under her eyes rivaled Valentin’s, and her face appeared puffy from unshed tears. I watched as her eyes fluttered shut, inhaling deeply before she began to speak.

“There was a prophecy,” she began, her voice low and serious. “When you were born, there was a vision of a wolf who could bring down the vampires.”

“Bring them down?” I interjected, confusion swirling in my mind. “I thought you and Valentin had already killed most of them and imprisoned Renatus.”

Victoria shot Valentin a sharp look, one that conveyed her disapproval for revealing the existence of the vampire king. Then, her expression softened as she returned her focus to me.

“We couldn’t have killed them all,” she explained. “But we drove them out of the British Isles. We knew they would regroup offshore and attempt to enslave us again. But when that time came, we would be ready. Because we had you.”

“Me?” I whispered, disbelief flooding my senses.

Victoria nodded, her eyes glistening with unshed tears. “The prophecy I received spoke of a wolf born of the queen, destined to have five fated mates—a number that was completely unheard of.”

Five!?

Wolfham, Lunerly, Moonraiser, Blythwitch, Mona said back. There are four.

My heart pounded in my chest, each beat echoing in my ears. I held my mother’s gaze as she continued.

“This wolf was said to have the power to bring down the vampires once and for all, restoring balance to the world. When the seer shared this with me, I laughed. I had never lain with a man. I thought my line would end with me. But then, I remembered the night after the war was over. My cup had run dry, and my mind was a tempest. There was darkness, then warmth, and a man’s gentle hands.”

“Victoria,” Valentin gasped beside me, shock evident in his voice. It was clear he had no idea. He had told me she didn’t know my father.

Victoria’s brow furrowed as she looked at me, tears brimming in her eyes. “You were so little,” she whimpered, her voice breaking. “Yet you were such a perfect baby. I knew the Gods had gifted you to me. You were meant to be our savior.”

“So I am a weapon,” I breathed, the weight of her words settling heavily on my shoulders.

“Yes,” Valentin confirmed, his voice steady. “A weapon. Our weapon. The one who will eradicate all of the vampires.”