Their Hidden Princess (Zora) novel Chapter 182

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

**Chapter 182**

Maximus pulled me into his room with a sense of urgency, his grip firm yet gentle as he guided me toward his bed. Once we were seated, I instinctively curled into him, seeking comfort in his warmth. My heart raced wildly, each beat echoing in my ears, as if it were trying to escape the chaos of my thoughts. I struggled to catch my breath, the air feeling thick and heavy in my lungs. Maximus, ever attuned to my distress, ran a calming hand down my spine, his touch a small balm against the storm within me, though it did little to quell my wheezing.

For a few moments, we sat enveloped in silence, the only sound breaking through being my uneven huffs and gasps. Time felt elastic, stretching and contracting in a way that made it hard to tell whether we had been there for mere minutes or an eternity. Finally, breaking the stillness, Maximus inhaled deeply, his voice steady yet filled with concern.

“What happened?” he asked, his tone both commanding and gentle.

My lip trembled as I fought to maintain a facade of composure. I raised a hand to brush away a stray tear that had slipped down my cheek, whispering, “Nothing.” The word felt inadequate and hollow, a feeble attempt to mask the turmoil roiling inside me.

“Clearly it wasn’t,” Max replied, his gaze piercing yet soft. “You came to my room apologizing, and I can’t help but wonder what exactly prompted that and what you feel guilty about.”

Closing my eyes, I felt a wave of uncertainty wash over me. Could I truly bare my soul to him? If he was indeed my fated mate, shouldn’t I be able to trust him implicitly? I inhaled again, but just then, Mona’s voice echoed in my mind, cutting through the fog of my thoughts.

The truth doesn’t have to be whole, she reminded me. Half-truths are better than deceptions.

I bit my lip, wrestling with the conflicting emotions. She had a point; there were secrets I wanted to keep close to my heart. Yet there were others that felt too heavy to carry alone. With a newfound resolve, I took Maximus’s hand in mine.

“I’ve been keeping a lot of secrets,” I confessed softly. The moment I uttered the words, I could see the concern etched on Maximus’s face deepen.

“What do you mean?” he asked, his brows knitting together.

I sighed, feeling the weight of my burden pressing down on me. I squeezed his hand tighter, as if drawing strength from him. “About who I am,” I murmured, my voice barely above a whisper. “Some of them I can’t share. I won’t tell you for your own safety and mine. But others…” I exhaled a breath I didn’t realize I was holding, my heart racing as I turned to meet his gaze. Our eyes locked, and I felt a pang of longing mixed with guilt.

“Others I’ve been selfish in keeping.”

Maximus’s expression shifted, his frown deepening as he continued to stroke my spine gently. “Whatever you can tell me,” he said earnestly, “I’ll listen. And whatever you can’t share now, I’ll wait until you are ready. I’m your fated mate, Zora. I trust you above anyone else.”

A fated mate will respect you above all else, Mona’s voice chimed in once more. It is your choice to reveal your truth or not. But know that he will honor your decision.

I turned my gaze back to Maximus, feeling a surge of determination. With a deep breath, I let the words slip out before I could backtrack.

“But what if there were more?”

“More?!” Maximus’s eyes widened in disbelief. “Zora, that’s completely unheard of. You know how rare a first fated mate bond is, let alone a second—”

“I know, I know,” I interjected, cutting him off. “Trust me, I know I’m an anomaly.”

Max’s frown deepened, confusion etched across his face. “I don’t understand.”

“Truthfully,” I huffed, feeling the tension in my chest. “Neither do I. But I know for certain. I have four fated mates.”