Their Hidden Princess (Zora) novel Chapter 11

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

**Chapter 11**

Yet, death chose to evade me.

Instead, I found myself pinned beneath the overwhelming weight of a man. My arms were restrained beside my head, rendering me helpless. I could feel the shifting of his hips against me, a sensation that sent shivers of dread coursing through my body. As I glanced upward, I was met with Kairo’s intense, piercing gaze, a gaze that seemed to see right through me. Panic surged within me, and instinctively, I began to struggle.

“Clever girl,” Kairo remarked, his tone dripping with condescension. He appeared entirely unfazed by my frantic movements. “But not clever enough.”

“Please, let me go, Kairos,” I pleaded, my voice quivering with fear, yet I knew I had to resist. I had to escape from his grasp, no matter the cost.

“No,” he hissed, baring his teeth like a predator. “You don’t belong here!” With a sudden, brutal motion, he lifted my shoulders and slammed them back into the cold, unyielding dirt. The impact sent a jolt through my head, causing the world around me to spin.

“You are wolfless,” he spat venomously. “Weak and defiant. You show no respect for the High Alphas of our time! I should gut you for even daring to speak to me. This hunt was my plan to get you alone. To peel you apart.”

His mouth descended toward my ear, and I felt a wave of dread wash over me, as if I were about to be devoured whole. My heart raced, pounding against my ribcage like a trapped bird. He chuckled darkly as I attempted to wriggle free, my body thrumming with fear.

“To find out what makes you come apart,” he whispered, his voice a low, menacing murmur.

I quickly weighed my options, my mind racing. I could capitulate, surrendering to the humiliation of revealing my royal lineage. I could give up entirely, letting despair wash over me.

Or, I could fight back.

Perhaps I could distract Kairos long enough to gain the upper hand. I could fend him off and make a break for it, running back into the safety of the forest. I could seize the opportunity to win this year’s hunt.

And so, I resolved to resist. I had never been one to back down from a challenge. Stubbornness flowed through my veins, and I envisioned myself rising to the throne, taking down Kairos and his insipid friends the moment I regained my footing. With renewed determination, I sought to provoke him, to draw him into a trap of my own making.

I poked the bear.

“Aren’t you supposed to be a potential King consort?” I said, summoning every ounce of courage I could muster. “What do you think the Queen would say about you pinning down a wolfless? I know Maximus has already faced her wrath.”

For a fleeting moment, he hesitated. It was the longest pause I had ever witnessed from him before he snapped back with a snarl, slamming my shoulders against the ground once more.

“The Queen is none of your concern, wolfless!” he retorted, his voice laced with fury. “You will never know what it is to be a queen!”

“Probably not,” I shot back, though my head began to swim. The brambles near my head had scraped against my skull, and I could feel the warm trickle of blood running down my temple. Still, I fought against the encroaching darkness.

“Ask me what I intend to do with that power, clever girl,” he taunted as I struggled to break free. I remained silent, my focus solely on escaping his clutches. He leaned closer, brushing his lips against my ear, and against my better judgment, a shiver raced down my spine.

“If you remain wolfless at eighteen,” he whispered ominously, “I’ll kill you.”

I gasped, yanking my head away from him in horror. His laughter echoed in response, a chilling sound that revealed his true nature—his teeth gleaming, his eyes a deep, predatory gold.

“The princess will never choose you,” I shot back defiantly. “The Queen knows how twisted you are. She’d never allow you to harm an innocent wolfless!”

With a furious roar, he slammed me back into the ground for a third time. The air burst from my lungs in a rush, leaving me gasping as I struggled to regain my focus. I choked on my own breath, my vision blurring as I realized just how strong he was. I had to escape, and I had to do it now. In a moment of desperation, I feigned surrender, going limp in his arms.

Gradually, his grip loosened. Then, to my surprise, I felt him shift back onto his heels. Seizing the opportunity, I kicked my foot with all my might into his groin.

He grunted in shock, staggering backward, his golden eyes flashing with fury. I propelled myself forward, sprinting as fast as my legs would carry me, darting through the forest with a speed I didn’t know I possessed. Branches and leaves clawed at my skin, leaving scratches in their wake, but I couldn’t afford to care.

With every ounce of strength, I pushed my legs to their limits. Finally, I burst through the tree line, emerging in front of my dorm. Relief flooded through me, and for a moment, I felt like crying. I rushed to the door, tugging at the handle, but as I leaned back, the world began to spin around me. Slowly, the vibrant colors of my surroundings faded into darkness.

I collapsed onto the ground with a thud. Blinking rapidly, I struggled to regain my bearings. Just then, I felt arms envelop me, and muffled voices echoed around me, their urgency blending into a haze.