Their Hidden Princess (Zora) novel Chapter 141

“It’s just me,” he murmured, his voice barely above a whisper. “Only me.”

As those words hung in the air, I felt a pang deep within me. There was an unmistakable loneliness in his tone, a quiet yearning that tugged at my heartstrings. I longed to reach out, to close the distance between us, to pull him into an embrace and reassure him that he need not carry that burden alone. He had me, after all. My teeth sank deeper into my lower lip as I wrestled with my thoughts, struggling to find the right words to break the silence.

“I feel like I know nothing about you,” I finally said, my voice gentle as I nudged the conversation forward.

“Given that I am your Headmaster, I’d prefer it to remain that way,” he replied, though his tone lacked the sharp edge I had come to expect from his previous taunts directed at the boys. There was no playful challenge in his words now.

“You’re not just my headmaster,” I whispered, my heart racing slightly as I met his gaze. Valentin’s eyes widened momentarily, the intensity of our connection sparking an unspoken understanding. I pulled my lip back into my mouth, feeling the weight of my next words.

“You’re also my mother’s friend and a fellow war hero,” I added, my voice steady. “If you’re as much a part of my family as my mother claims, it’s strange that I know so little about you.”

Valentin let out a thoughtful hum, then rose from his seat and made his way over to the bench beside the locker room. I followed him, stopping just short of the bench, my arms crossed defensively over my chest. He sighed deeply, brushing his long ash-brown hair away from his forehead, revealing the furrowed lines of thought etched across his brow. He turned to face me, his expression softening.

“What do you want to know?” he asked, his tone inviting yet cautious.

Everything. The word echoed in my mind, a silent plea for all the stories and memories he held within him.

I shrugged again, trying to appear nonchalant despite the curiosity bubbling inside me. “Do you have siblings?”

Valentin shook his head slowly. “No,” he replied. “I was an only child.”

I took a step closer, feeling the urge to bridge the gap between us. “And your parents?”

Valentin shot me a smirk that sent a thrill through me, igniting a spark in my low belly. He hummed thoughtfully, then glanced back down at the ground, as if gathering his thoughts.

“Not paying attention in history classes, I see,” he teased, a playful lilt in his voice.

“Professor Highman speaks so slowly—” I began to defend myself.

“I know, I know,” Valentin interrupted, a knowing smile on his lips. “Perhaps I could offer you a quick lesson instead.”

I pulled my legs up, crossing them in front of me on the bench, eager for his words. “Please do.”

“Alright,” he said, inhaling deeply as if preparing for a grand lecture. “Wolves existed peacefully alongside vampires for many years. It wasn’t until the first millennium that they decided to enslave the wolves. They drained us dry, exiled us from our homes, and employed Dark Magiks to stifle our powers. The vampires seized Luna Castle, and in return, they enslaved everyone within its walls. This included all the orphaned children of the wolves they had slaughtered—children like me, your aunt, and your mother. That’s how we met…”