Their Hidden Princess (Zora) novel Chapter 180

**Where Sleeping Rivers Dream We Follow Trails Toward Tomorrow by Eva**

“Watch out, damn it!” I hissed, urgency flooding my voice as I prepared to deliver a spin kick. My foot arced through the air, barely grazing Valentin’s cheek before crashing into the head of the training dummy with a satisfying thud, sending it toppling off balance. It was a moment of triumph, but Valentin quickly shook off his daze, his heel coming down hard as he forced the dummy onto its knees with a practiced ease.

“Smith!” Kairos’s voice cut through the air, sharp and commanding.

I pivoted towards him, only to find myself face-to-face with the faceless dummy once more. My fist shot out, striking its shoulder, but it effortlessly deflected my follow-up jab aimed at its chest. I blinked, momentarily stunned by the dummy’s speed and agility. This week, Valentin had clearly raised the stakes, and I was struggling to keep up. After a few more attempts, I finally managed to free my leg, delivering a swift kick that sent the dummy sprawling away from me.

Glancing back at my group, I couldn’t help but notice that Kairos had once again dashed across the training circle, tackling the dummy right out from under Maximus, who looked positively furious. His frustration was palpable as he scoffed at Kairos, annoyance radiating from him.

“Stop showing off and be a team player!” he snapped, his tone sharp and accusatory.

“I am,” Kairos replied, a lazy grin spreading across his face as he got to his feet. He shrugged nonchalantly. “My teammate was struggling, so I helped him out.”

“Fuck off,” Maximus hissed, barely containing his irritation.

“Um, guys,” I interjected, my voice barely above a whisper as I realized three dummies were advancing on me. “Can we save the testosterone contest for later?”

“Not again,” Valentin groaned, his frustration evident as he caught sight of the unfolding chaos.

I ducked and weaved, narrowly avoiding a few strikes from the dummies, but then, out of nowhere, one lunged at me from my left, tackling me to the ground with surprising force. I grunted as the weight of the dummy pressed down on me, the mat slamming against my back. For a moment, I lay there, pinned beneath the lifeless weight, feeling the air rush from my lungs. Then, as if sensing my struggle, the dummy slowly lifted off, freeing me at last. I gasped, inhaling deeply, my lungs expanding after being so cruelly compressed.

Suddenly, I felt a presence hovering above me. It was Kairos.

“Alright?” he murmured softly, concern etched across his features as he extended his hand towards me.

I nodded, a quick, almost instinctual response, and grasped his hand. A jolt of electricity surged between us, igniting something deep within me as he pulled me to my feet. Instinctively, I leaned into him, my hand pressing against his chest, feeling the steady rhythm of his heartbeat beneath my palm. He looked down at me, his eyes wide and shimmering with an intensity that made my heart race—those dangerously dark gold irises seemed to hold a universe of emotions.

Behind me, a humorless chuckle broke the moment.

“But highly unusual,” Maximus interjected, his voice laced with a mixture of frustration and concern. “You need to stop fooling yourself into thinking you have multiple options. You have a choice to make.”

I glanced at Valentin, silently pleading for his support, but he was staring intently at the point where my hand met Kairos’s chest. His jaw was clenched, and his eyes were sharp, almost piercing. Finally, he lifted his gaze to meet mine.

“Multiple fated mates is possible,” he stated, his voice steady. “But don’t delude yourself into thinking I am one of those. I am your headmaster, and I have no intentions of courting Miss Smith in any capacity.”

His words pierced through me like a dagger, and my heart sank at his rejection. I let my hand slip away from Kairos’s chest, the warmth of his presence fading. Valentin’s eyes softened, the tension in his jaw dissipating, but I felt an overwhelming urge to challenge him, to call out his bullshit. Just as I opened my mouth to speak, Maximus interrupted.

“Well, I don’t share what’s mine,” he said, a softness in his voice that revealed just how deeply this hurt him. “The choice is yours to make.”

With that, he turned on his heel and strode off the mat, disappearing into the locker room. Kairos shot me a glance, his eyes echoing Maximus’s sentiment, before he too exited, leaving me alone with my thoughts. I whipped around to confront Valentin, but to my dismay, he was gone as well.

At that moment, I found myself growing accustomed to the solitude of the gym, the silence wrapping around me like a familiar cloak.