Their Hidden Princess (Zora) novel Chapter 48

**TITLE: Where Sleeping Rivers Dream We Follow Trails Toward Tomorrow by Evan Milesa Cade**

Kairos stood at the edge of the gym, his gaze fixed on Thorne, who had inexplicably chosen to linger after Basics. Thorne was too close to that girl for Kairos’s comfort, and the sight stirred a mix of irritation and curiosity within him. With his arms crossed tightly over his chest and an eyebrow arched in skepticism, he observed as the rest of their classmates filtered into the locker room, oblivious to the tension simmering just a few feet away.

What was it about her that drew Thorne in? To Kairos, she was nothing more than an inconsequential presence, a pathetic nobody who somehow managed to secure a spot in the prestigious Alpha Academy. It was baffling, really. How had she even made it through the selection process? There were countless other institutions around the globe where she might have been a more fitting candidate. Who had decided that this school was right for her? The very thought made Kairos’s scowl deepen as he continued to scrutinize the interaction between Thorne and the girl.

Thorne was shifting nervously on his feet, a telltale sign that Kairos had come to recognize all too well. Why would Thorne feel anxious around her? It was beyond Kairos’s comprehension, especially given their fractured friendship. The girl snapped at Thorne more than once, her frustration palpable, before she stormed off toward the women’s locker room. Thorne let out a heavy sigh, tugging at his ponytail with a mix of exasperation and concern. He turned to head toward the men’s locker room but halted when he caught sight of Kairos.

“What’s up?” Thorne asked, attempting to sound casual, but there was an edge to his voice that betrayed his unease. Kairos raised an eyebrow, unimpressed.

“What’s up with you?” he shot back, gesturing dismissively toward the women’s locker room. “Fraternizing with the enemy, I see?”

Thorne shrugged, his nonchalance failing to convince Kairos. “Just keeping tabs on her.”

“Don’t pretend I didn’t overhear your entire conversation,” Kairos growled, his tone sharp. “We had an agreement on the day of the hunt: either kick her off campus or eliminate her. What part of that did you not understand?”

Thorne bit his lip, the tension in his shoulders evident as he met Kairos’s gaze. “Do you really think she deserves that?”

“Does it matter whether she deserves it or not?” Kairos snapped, his frustration boiling over. “She’s weak. We cannot afford to have weakness within our ranks.”

Thorne’s voice dropped to a hiss, his loyalty to the Queen surfacing. “The Queen appointed me as her knight. Do you think I want to watch her get herself killed? Do you have any idea what the Queen will do to me if that happens?”

Kairos huffed in irritation. “You and your damned Queen,” he retorted, the disdain evident in his voice.

“She’s our ruler,” Thorne insisted, his voice firm. “We follow her orders. Did you forget that she is the reason we are no longer enslaved?”

With a growl of frustration, Kairos turned on his heel, knowing he couldn’t argue with that logic. Memories of the war flooded back to him—vague but powerful. He recalled the exhilarating shift in the atmosphere when the vampires fell, the surge of freedom that had coursed through him as the cheers erupted from his neighbors.

Thorne caught up with him, and together they stepped into the steamy atmosphere of the locker room. The air was thick, almost suffocating, and most of their classmates had already dispersed. Kairos tossed his shirt into the laundry with a grunt of annoyance and stomped toward the showers, Thorne trailing closely behind.

“I think there’s something off about her,” Thorne murmured under his breath, his voice barely above a whisper as they stood side by side under the cascade of water. “She has this strange aura. Plus, Lunerly’s been all over her since she arrived. You know he’s got connections with the Queen.”

Kairos grunted noncommittally, his focus shifting as he stepped fully into the warm spray of the shower. He peeled off his shorts and shoes, letting the steam envelop him. Thorne followed suit, the two of them standing side by side, the tension between them palpable.

“If I can win her over, maybe I can figure out what her secret is,” Thorne continued, his voice still low, almost conspiratorial.

Thorne immediately averted his gaze, but Kairos held Maximus’s stare, a silent challenge passing between them. Maximus seemed unfazed, turning on a shower and letting the water flow. Kairos glanced at Thorne, who still kept his head down, a cowardly move that only fueled Kairos’s irritation.

Pussy-ass bitch, Kairos thought bitterly, rolling his eyes as he resumed washing himself.

“We were just discussing your obsession with that little wolfless bitch,” he said, his voice bold and taunting.

“She’s not wolfless anymore,” Maximus shot back, his tone sharp. “You know that.”

Kairos glared at Maximus, their eyes locking in a silent war of wills. In that moment, he could sense an unspoken threat in Maximus’s gaze, a warning that he chose to ignore. He huffed out a breath, scrubbing the last of the soap off his body before shutting off the water with a definitive slam.

“You know,” Maximus called over his shoulder, his tone almost casual, “if you gave her a chance, I think you’d find that Zora is a lot stronger than you expect.”

Kairos wrapped a towel around his waist and turned to face Maximus, his eyes blazing with defiance. He darted his gaze between Max and Thorne, feeling a growing sense of alienation. How was it that he was the only one not captivated by the girl? Sure, there was something intriguing about her, and the memory of their brief contact sent shivers down his spine, but it didn’t change the fact that she was weak and deserved whatever fate awaited her.

He glared back at Maximus, determination burning in his chest. “I don’t tolerate weakness in my school,” he snapped. “From the moment she stepped foot in here, Zora Smith has reeked of weakness. I refuse to see her as anything other than a nuisance.” He turned his gaze to Thorne, ensuring his point was clear.

“Not recognizing that will be your downfall,” he warned, his voice low and menacing. Then, he turned back to Maximus, his expression hardening. “And it could very well get you killed.”