Their Hidden Princess (Zora) novel Chapter 17

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

I stood there, my jaw hanging open in disbelief. How had he figured it out? Before I could muster a response, Valentin stepped protectively in front of me, his presence commanding and assertive. His eyes narrowed, sharp as daggers, as he focused on Maximus.

“Don’t be absurd, Wolfham,” he declared with an authority that left no room for argument. “Miss Smith is currently without a wolf. My role here is solely to assist her in coaxing it out.”

He glanced back at me, his eyes widening slightly. It was a silent cue, urging me to play along, even though I harbored doubts about whether Maximus would buy into our charade.

“Right,” Maximus scoffed, a derisive laugh escaping his lips. “Good luck with that.”

“Watch your tone, Wolfham,” Valentin growled, his voice low and dangerous. “Might I remind you that you are intruding upon a private session? Shall I impose a detention upon you for your rudeness?”

“Professor,” Maximus replied, the words dripping with insincerity. I could sense no hint of genuine remorse in his tone. “It’s half past eight. Basics is set to begin in an hour. I reserve this hour before Basics each day.”

Valentin and I both turned our heads toward the large clock mounted on the wall at the back of the room. Time had slipped away from us; we had been training for nearly two hours, and the realization hit us both like a cold wave.

Valentin nodded to himself, a look of determination crossing his features. “Very well,” he said, his voice steady. “Miss Smith, you are dismissed.” With that, he strode toward the exit with a pace that suggested urgency. I hurried after him, my mind racing with questions about what had transpired before Maximus had barged in.

As I reached the door, Valentin darted out just ahead of me. But as I passed Maximus, I felt a sudden tug on my hand, jolting me backward. I turned to confront my assailant, already knowing it was Maximus. The warmth of his fingers sent a slow, electric pulse through my arm. His beady golden eyes bore into mine, filled with an intensity that made my heart race.

“You’d do well to steer clear of Professor Lunerly,” he snapped, his voice laced with a warning.

I tried to yank my hand free, but his grip was unyielding. Damn his strength. I narrowed my eyes at him defiantly. “Why? Are you jealous?”

“No, but I fear you will be,” Maximus replied, his tone serious.

“What on earth are you talking about?” I hissed, frustration bubbling within me. Then, a memory flickered in my mind from our last training session. “Oh, Bella? I don’t know, it seemed like they were on the fritz—”

“What?” Maximus interrupted, his expression twisting in confusion. “No, Professor Lunerly is a High Alpha. He’s one of the High Alpha Princess’s marriage candidates.”

My heart dropped. I stared at him, stunned. I was supposed to wed a professor? Not just any professor, but my mother’s best friend? My mouth opened and closed like a fish gasping for air. Maximus, noticing my shock, twisted his mouth into a contemptuous sneer.

“Surprised?” he snapped. “Whatever he’s told you is a lie. He has no interest in anything about you. He could be King. Getting involved with him will lead you nowhere.”

That was the final straw. I had endured enough of Maximus’s condescension. With a fierce determination, I ripped my arm from his grasp, feeling the burn of his touch linger on my skin. I shot him a glare before I turned to walk away.

“I hope he is the King,” I retorted, my voice sharp. “He would undoubtedly make a better king than you.”

Maximus remained silent as I stormed out of the gym. Outside, I spotted Valentin’s silhouette moving purposefully across the campus, heading toward the admissions building. A surge of adrenaline propelled me forward, and I broke into a sprint, surprised at how much energy I had left after our intense training session.

I skidded to a halt in front of him, cutting him off and eliciting a startled jump from his tall frame. He stood there, his brows knitted together in confusion, and I could feel the anger boiling within me.

“What the hell?” I snapped, my voice rising.

Once again, despair settled over me like a heavy fog.

I lowered my gaze to the floor, wrapping my arms around myself in a futile attempt to ward off the chill of rejection. I noticed Valentin’s hand twitch slightly, as if he were tempted to reach out and comfort me. But he let it fall back to his side, choosing not to bridge the gap between us.

“I’m sorry,” he said quietly, his voice barely above a whisper. He walked past me, ascending the stairs of the admissions building, leaving me standing there, lost in a whirlwind of thoughts and emotions.

My mind raced, replaying every moment—the warmth of his touch, the sound of his voice, the undeniable chemistry we had shared in the gym.

The gym.

All the signs Valentin had mentioned about fated mates—the electric connection, the overwhelming desire, the rhythm of our heartbeats syncing together. It was all too real, and yet, he was denying it.

I spun around, my heart pounding in my chest. “Wait!” I shouted up the stairs, desperation lacing my voice. Valentin paused, glancing back over his shoulder at me. I locked my gaze with his, determined not to let this moment slip away.

“So that,” I said, my voice trembling, “meant nothing to you? It meant nothing to either of us?” Valentin looked away, his expression unreadable. He licked his lips before shaking his head.

“You didn’t hear,” I continued, still shaky. “Your heartbeat was moving in time with mine, didn’t you feel it?”

Valentin’s gaze snapped back to mine, his pupils dilating as he processed my words. There was something in his eyes, a flicker of realization, before he looked down at the floor again, as if grappling with his own thoughts.

“Get to class, Miss Smith,” he whispered, his voice low and filled with an unspoken tension. Then, without another word, he turned and walked away from me, leaving me standing there, alone once more, my heart heavy with confusion and longing.