Their Hidden Princess (Zora) novel Chapter 127

“We believe so,” Valentin stated firmly, his voice steady despite the weight of the revelation. “Our intelligence indicates that they have been employing High Dark Magiks to amplify their ranks by creating more vampires through the exchange of venom and blood.”

The notion of generating more vampires sent a chill racing down my spine, causing the fine hairs on my arms to stand at attention.

“That’s unnatural,” Thorne stammered, his voice tinged with disbelief. “It’s grotesque. Absolutely foul—”

Valentin, however, was quick to cut him off, his tone leaving no room for argument. “Agreed. But we cannot halt the Dark Magiks; our only recourse is to fight against them. This brings me to my next proposal.”

With a purposeful stride, he moved away from his desk, positioning himself directly in front of me. His eyes flicked to Thorne and then locked onto Maximus, an intensity in his gaze that made the air around us crackle.

“You are to be appointed as Zora Smith’s second knight,” he declared, the words hanging heavily in the air.

“What the hell?” Thorne exclaimed, his voice a sharp hiss. Valentin’s head snapped toward the younger Alpha, who immediately recoiled, his bravado crumbling. “I mean, she already has me. Does she really need two knights? No one except a High Alpha has more than one knight.”

“Well, yes,” Valentin replied with a casual shrug, as if implying that I held the status of a High Alpha myself. I narrowed my eyes at him, but he remained unfazed by my glare.

Thorne barked a laugh, shaking his head in disbelief. “She’s a—” he started, then raised his hands in exasperation. “Whatever, mate. But that doesn’t change the fact that she already has me.”

“And do you genuinely believe you’ve been a faithful and true knight?” Valentin asked, malice creeping into his tone.

Thorne clamped his lips shut, the weight of Valentin’s words silencing him. Valentin then turned back to Maximus, his expression shifting to one of authority. “I will have the necessary paperwork sent to you by morning. A formal ceremony will be held during winter break.”

Maximus could only manage a subdued, “I’m honored,” his voice barely above a whisper.

Thorne remained visibly disgruntled, shaking his head as if trying to dispel the absurdity of the situation. “I just don’t see—”

“You’re hardly ever around Miss Smith,” Valentin snapped, his voice sharp. “Given that she and Alpha Wolfham are—” He paused, giving both Maximus and me a scrutinizing look. “Entangled, it only makes sense to appoint him as well. This level of threat demands a dual guard working in tandem.”

Thorne growled low in his throat, then forced a tight-lipped smile, nodding in reluctant acceptance.

Maximus nodded once, a flicker of understanding in his eyes before he darted his tongue out to wet his lower lip. He stepped closer, leaning down so that his gaze met mine directly. His hand enveloped my wrist, guiding my palm to rest against his chest. The rhythmic thrum of his heartbeat under my palm intertwined with my own, a connection that sent a rush of warmth through me.

“Feel this?” he whispered, his voice low and intimate. “It beats for only you. It protects only you. I am yours, Zora. Even if you may not be mine.”

A surprised squeak escaped my lips as I opened my mouth to respond. “I—”

“Who are you?” he asked, his voice low and filled with yearning.

I shook my head, my throat tightening as the words I longed to say threatened to spill out. Maximus held my gaze for a moment longer, a silent understanding passing between us before he reluctantly dropped my hand.

“When you can tell me,” he said, his voice steady yet filled with hope, “I’ll be ready and willing. Nothing you say could ever drive me away.”

My eyes fluttered shut as I tried to envision the moment I would finally confess my truth to him. But when I opened them again, he had vanished, leaving me standing alone in the silence of the corridor, my heart racing with unspoken words.