Their Hidden Princess (Zora and Maximus) novel Chapter 293

Chapter 293

Thorne’s POV

Thorne was supposed to be Zora’s knight, but Neo had made a fool out of him. Right in front of Zora.

While he’d been fighting to protect her, he saw how her eyes filled with pride at Neo’s quick movements. She never once cast that look at Thorne himself, despite his attempts at filling his duties as her protector.

While all of her mates wanted to protect Zora, Thorne was the only one who had declared himself as her knight. He considered it his duty and honor to defend her, and having failed so terribly was a massive blow to his ego. At the same time, it only seemed to

raise Neo’s.

Neo, who was impossibly strong and fast. Would Zora soon look to him for protection, rather than Thorne?

Thorne had been such a failure for most of his knowing Zora, having made so many wrong decisions. By being her knight, he had hoped to prove himself worthy of her affections. To eventually be able to forgive himself enough to think he belonged at her

side.

With Neo in the picture, that hopeful future seemed even further away than it had been before.

Neo approached Zora, looking her over. “You are injured,” he said.

Zora looked down. “I’m… not?”

But Thorne could see now that he was looking that she had scuffed up her knee, likely in an effort to flee Neo or Kairos‘ grabs.

“Oh,” she said.

“That needs healing,” Neo said.

“It’s not a big deal. I can barely feel it.”

“Unacceptable,” Neo said, and scooped Zora up into his arms. On instinct, Thorne started growling, and he had to bite back his outrage, reminding myself that Neo was one of Zora’s mates. She trusted him, and the rest of her mates were making a concerted effort to try to accept him.

They didn’t want Zora to have to choose between her mates. They were doing the best they could to make things easier on her.

But an attempt at trust didn’t automatically generate that trust. So while Thorne bit back his anger, it still expressed in the clench of his fist and the tension in his shoulders.

“There’s a medical kit in the bathroom,” Max said, with far more patience than Thorne.

“Thank you,” Neo said and, holding Zora close, started carrying her toward the house.

Thorne glared at Max, but he just sighed, “This is what she wants.”

Throne gripped his fists tighter, until his short fingernails started cutting into the skin of his palm, drawing blood.

Neo and Zora disappeared into the house.

“This is impossible,” Kairos said. “I’m trying, for Zora, but all I want to do is punch that guy’s smug face.

“He’s too fast to punch,” Thorne said. “I tried. Instead, I just tripped over myself and embarrassed myself in front of Zora. Now, who is she off with? The guy who tripped me.”

“We have to keep trying,” Max said. “We’re just getting started. We can’t disappoint Zora. She’ll need all five of us to stop the vampire hoard.”

“I hate this,” Thorne said.

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Chapter 293

+25 Bonus

“We all do,” Kairos added.

They were entirely powerless here. Until Zora could see for herself that Neo wasn’t trustworthy, or until Neo could convince the rest of them he wouldn’t hurt Zora, they were at an impasse.

Thorne looked to the house, feeling utterly useless. One more failure on his list. He couldn’t even protect her properly.

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