Their Hidden Princess (Zora) novel Chapter 154

As the clock struck midnight, I slipped back into my room, making every effort to tread lightly. Yet, my attempts at stealth were in vain; a quick glance revealed that Loren’s bed was conspicuously empty. A frown creased my brow as I flicked on the light, illuminating the space and preventing me from stumbling around like a clumsy bull in a china shop.

With a sigh, I shrugged off my coat and plopped onto my bed, sinking into the soft mattress like a stone in water. The remnants of sweat from my training clung to my skin, making me feel sticky and uncomfortable. But more than that, my mind felt submerged, as if I were wading through murky waters filled with confusion and dread.

Thoughts of Valentin’s cryptic revelations swirled in my head, mingling with the recent attempts by Kairos to extend an olive branch. My thoughts ricocheted violently between memories of my mother, the anguish of Valentin losing Zahara, and the puzzling motives behind Kairos’s sudden friendliness. What could he possibly hope to gain from winning my favor?

Everything felt disjointed and nonsensical.

Why had Renault targeted Zahara? Did Kairos genuinely believe I was naive enough to overlook the intricacies of our tangled lives? Surely, Valentin had omitted the crucial detail of him and Victoria being responsible for Aveline’s demise. The softness in Kairos’s gaze felt almost alien, a stark contrast to the coldness I had come to expect from him. And what about Valentin? Did he still harbor feelings for Zahara?

Frustrated, I slammed my hands over my eyes, pressing my palms into my sockets as if I could squash the chaos within. A groan escaped my lips as I let my hands fall back onto the quilt, resigned to the fact that this night was destined to be plagued by tormenting thoughts. With a heavy heart, I swung my legs out of bed and trudged toward the bathroom.

Upon my return, Loren’s absence remained unchanged.

I furrowed my brows at her meticulously made bed, a stark reminder of her peculiar habit of keeping things tidy. Glancing at the clock, I noted the time—almost one in the morning. Even on nights when she buried herself in her studies, she always managed to return by this hour. Worry gnawed at my insides as I toweled off my damp hair, the creases of concern etching deeper into my skin. After changing, I crawled back into bed, the weight of unease settling heavily on my chest.

The next morning dawned, but Loren was still missing when I stirred awake.

“Maybe she’s just with a friend,” my rational side suggested, attempting to soothe my rising anxiety.

“You are the small Moonbeam girl’s friend,” Mona replied, her tone dripping with sarcasm. I rolled my eyes in response, feeling the familiar irritation bubble up.

“Not helping,” I retorted silently.

Mona huffed in annoyance before retreating to the recesses of my mind. Oddly enough, her worry offered me a sliver of comfort. Normally, I could brush off such concerns, but something about this situation felt alarmingly different. Loren had never been one to stay away for long; a whole day without her was starting to feel like an eternity. Chewing on my lip, I dressed for the day, each movement heavy with dread.

Throughout the morning classes, the absence of Loren’s bright white-blonde hair was a glaring void. By lunchtime, I was on the verge of losing my composure. Maximus, noticing my unrest, approached me, concern etched into his features as he stood beside my table.

“No Moonbeam?” he asked, his brow furrowing.

I shook my head, the worry evident in my voice. “I didn’t see her last night either. Is it bad that I’m worried?”

“No,” he assured me. “It’s perfectly normal. I’ll ask Petyr if Alessia has heard anything.”

I nodded, grateful for his support, and watched him stride over to join Petyr and Kairos. To my surprise, Kairos looked taken aback by Maximus’s boldness; it had been months since Maximus had shared a table with the others, not since he began training me. I half-expected Kairos to retaliate, but he merely returned to his meal, stabbing at it with his fork in apparent indifference.

By the time I returned to my room, panic had fully set in.

My heart raced as I spotted a piece of paper protruding from my door. I rushed forward, snatching it up before barricading myself inside my room. As I unfolded the note, my anxiety surged.

“Tonight after the sun sets. Come alone to the western forest or more blood will be spilled.”

The message was scrawled with a burgundy, wet heart, sending chills down my spine.

“Fuck,” I hissed, the word escaping my lips like a desperate prayer. “Fuck, fuck, fuck.”

“Calm down,” Mona urged, her voice steady amidst my turmoil. “We need to think rationally.”

“Rationally?!” I exclaimed to the empty room, incredulity lacing my tone. “My best friend is missing—captive!—and I’m supposed to remain calm?!”

“The blood is a threat, Zora,” she spat back. “Going there will get us killed. We should consult the High Alpha—”

“Valentin won’t be fast enough,” I interrupted, urgency coursing through me. “It’s almost four. The sun sets in less than an hour. I have to go now.”

Maximus’s lips curled into a snarl, suspicion flickering in his eyes. “You’re seeing him, huh?”

“What?” I snapped, indignation flaring. “No, I—”

“Whatever,” he snarled, dismissing me. “Just know my timeline still stands. End of the semester.”

With that, he turned on his heel and strode down the hall to his room. I fought the urge to roll my eyes; men were so predictably infuriating.

“Focus!” Mona snapped, urgency seeping into her voice. “The sun has nearly set.”

Nodding resolutely to myself, I bolted down the stairs and out of the dormitory. I tried to maintain a casual demeanor as I crossed campus, but urgency propelled my steps in a way that felt alien. A few students shot me odd glances, but once I entered the forest, beyond the shelter of the trees, I found myself enveloped in solitude.

Without a moment’s hesitation, I shifted, desperately trying to control the surge of emotions threatening to tear through me. I felt the fabric of my clothes rip as I transformed, shaking off the remnants of my human form. Now, I was in full search mode, my nose to the ground, inhaling the myriad of scents around me. The earthy, woodsy aromas mingled with something sharp and metallic that stung my nostrils.

Blood.

“Follow that!” Mona commanded, her voice sharp and urgent. I took off, my paws pounding against the forest floor, the scent guiding me. I lost all sense of time, my focus solely on the trail before me. Eventually, I stumbled upon a puddle of bright red liquid, my heart sinking as I looked up and was met with a horrifying sight: a person hanging lifelessly from the trees.

Panic surged through me, and I shifted back immediately, tearing through my jacket as the cold winter air hit my bare arms.

“Loren?” I whispered, fear gripping my heart.

“Guess again,” a voice taunted from the shadows.

I whirled around, only to be met with a sudden, brutal blow to my head. Darkness enveloped me, and I could hear maniacal laughter echoing in the void.