Their Hidden Princess (Zora) novel Chapter 26

**Chapter 26**

A sudden twitch in my eye made me question my reality.

What the hell is going on?

“Um, is this a joke?” I managed to stammer, my voice trembling slightly. Maximus’s expression shifted instantly into a frown, his brows knitting together in disbelief.

“Why would I joke about this?” he shot back, his tone sharp and serious.

Fifty-five vouchers.

I took a mental note of that. Clearly, Mateball was no laughing matter. I shrugged, attempting to mask my surprise with a facade of nonchalance. “I thought you hated me,” I replied, my voice steadier than I felt. “It wouldn’t surprise me if this was just another way to mess with my head.”

Maximus seized my forearm, his grip firm and unwavering as he held my wrist up, forcing me to look at it. My hand hung limply, encased in its air cast, a stark reminder of my current predicament. He ground his teeth, frustration evident in his demeanor.

“I think you’ve been messed with enough,” he sneered, releasing my arm as if it burned him. I let it drop to my side, feeling the weight of his words settle heavily in the air. I blinked at him, trying to process the gravity of the situation.

Unfortunately, I think he’s serious, my inner voice chimed in, a note of concern threading through my thoughts.

He can’t be, I countered vehemently. I mean, he’s been gunning for me since I set foot on this campus. And now, suddenly, he wants to take me to prom? No way in hell.

My inner voice retreated, conceding defeat, and I redirected my focus back to Maximus, whose brows were deeply furrowed in contemplation. He opened his mouth, as if to speak, but I cut him off, my resolve hardening.

“No,” I stated firmly, keeping my tone clipped and concise.

“No?” Maximus echoed, raising an eyebrow, surprise flickering across his features.

“No,” I reiterated, crossing my arms defiantly over my chest and raising my own eyebrow in challenge. “You’ve treated me like garbage since I got here. Do you really believe that asking me to some ridiculous dance is going to make me swoon at your feet?”

“It’s not just a dance,” Maximus gritted through clenched teeth. “It’s Mateball. It holds significant importance—”

“Important to you,” I interrupted, my voice rising slightly. “What matters most to me is survival.”

With that, I pivoted sharply on my heel, leaving Maximus standing in the alley, a storm brewing between us. I glanced back one last time, adding a final jab to the metaphorical knife I’d already lodged in his chest.

“Something I don’t think I’ll be able to do if I go with you to Mateball,” I whispered, my words laced with bitterness. “Everyone already has it out for me. Going with you would only make me a bigger target.”

With that, I stormed away from the alley, my mind racing as I headed toward Basics. Upon my arrival, Coach had set aside a special spot for me to observe the sparring session. He positioned me right in front of the mat, where Loren was energetically attempting to take on a third-year student, though her efforts were proving less than successful. When she caught sight of me, her expression shifted to one of concern, darting her gaze from me to the figure of Maximus trailing behind.

“Later,” I mouthed to her, trying to convey a sense of calm despite the turmoil inside. She nodded in understanding, her eyes still wide with worry.

I settled in, attempting to absorb as much as I could from the sparring around me, but my attention was soon drawn across the gym to Kairos. He looked battered, a shadow of his usual self.

Dark circles framed his eyes, giving him a haunted appearance, and a nasty gash marred his jaw—definitely one that required stitches. His movements were sluggish, almost lethargic, as he grappled with his opponent, who seemed to have the upper hand until Kairos managed to slam him onto the mat. As he stood, he glanced over at me, his deep golden eyes piercing through the bruises that obscured them. I held his gaze defiantly until he finally looked away, a flicker of something unspoken passing between us.

Part of me felt a swell of pride; I had clearly left my mark on the formidable Kairos Moonraiser. Despite my wolfless status, I wasn’t entirely powerless.

As class wrapped up, Loren wasted no time dragging me toward the cafeteria. We grabbed our lunches and made our way outside to the campus lawn, settling down to unwrap our meals.

“So, what did Maximus do for you?” Loren asked, her tone casual, but I could sense the eagerness beneath her composed exterior.

Perhaps Loren was onto something. Maybe Maximus was more accepting of my wolfless status than I had initially believed. But then there was the whole princess thing looming over my head. I tried to push aside the sinking feeling that gnawed at me as I finished my lunch, mentally shifting the topic.

“So, what do people wear to Mateball?” I asked, genuinely curious.

Her eyes widened in excitement. “Oh, it’s the most fashionable event of the year!” she exclaimed, practically bouncing in her seat. Great. Fashion was definitely not my strong suit. I fidgeted in my oversized tee, a relic from my time in the human world, feeling out of place.

“I’m thinking I’ll wear a pink gown,” Loren continued, her eyes sparkling with anticipation. “My mother had matching gowns made for my sister and me when we were little. But sissy’s already chosen a mate, so she won’t need it.” She wrinkled her nose at the thought, a hint of disappointment creeping in.

I laughed, genuinely curious. “When am I going to meet this sister of yours?”

“She’ll be at Mateball,” Loren assured me, her tone brightening. “But she won’t participate in the dance.”

I frowned, confusion knitting my brows together. “Dance?”

“The Dance of the Moon!” Loren replied cheerfully, her excitement infectious. “Where the moonlight streams in through the moonroof and guides us to our mates!” But as she saw my expression falter, her enthusiasm dimmed.

“You didn’t know, did you?”

I shook my head, finishing the last bite of my sandwich, the reality of the situation settling in. “I suck at dancing,” I admitted, my voice muffled by the remnants of my meal.

“Don’t worry,” Loren waved her hand dismissively. “It’s really primal. Usually, it’s just a lot of sniffing and letting your wolf take over.”

My heart plummeted to the pit of my stomach. How was I supposed to let a wolf take over when I didn’t even have one?

Somehow, this felt worse than just some wolf-y prom.