Their Hidden Princess (Zora) novel Chapter 65

As I stepped out of the building, fate had a cruel sense of humor. I collided with none other than Bella. Thankfully, the tears that threatened to spill from my eyes had not yet made their descent down my cheeks. I quickly inhaled and swallowed the emotions back down as she approached, her presence looming like a dark cloud.

The audacity of her appearance at eight in the morning was infuriating. Bella was perfectly polished, her outfit a stark contrast to my disheveled state. Her skirt was absurdly short, flouncing around her thighs with every step, and she wore heeled boots that clicked against the floor, announcing her arrival like a queen entering her court. A cropped cardigan hugged her waist, leaving a tantalizing sliver of tanned skin exposed. Her long, raven-black hair cascaded down her back, shimmering like silk in the morning light, perfectly straight and undeniably alluring.

And there I was, looking like I had just rolled out of bed.

“What are you doing here?” Bella snapped, her voice sharp as she closed the distance between us.

I pointed dismissively toward Valentin’s office, a smirk creeping onto my lips. “Oh, you weren’t aware?” I feigned sweetness, my smile dripping with false charm. “We have our little rendezvous at seven most mornings. Just before the rest of the professors arrive.” I bared my teeth in a grin that felt more like a grimace, the sweetness in my tone laced with venom.

“Just so the gossipers don’t have anything to chew on,” I added, lowering my voice conspiratorially.

Bella’s expression twisted into a bitter sneer, her eyes narrowing as she stepped closer, towering over me with an intimidating presence. I should have felt fear, standing before someone nearly half a foot taller, but this was Bella—a creature of drama and deceit.

“Listen, you little bitch,” she spat, her words sharp enough to cut. “No matter how hard you try, it won’t change the fact that he’s mine. He’s proposed to me.”

She straightened, her posture proud as she returned my fake smile, a mockery of my own. “I heard about what happened at Kairos’s,” she continued, her tone dripping with disdain. “Of course, you’d be the one to hook up in a bathroom.”

My jaw dropped in disbelief, the sheer audacity of her words leaving me momentarily speechless. How dare she insinuate that I would willingly engage in such a situation? I had faced an attempted assault, and here she was, implying that I’d somehow invited it.

Instead of retaliating, I squared my shoulders, standing as tall as I could manage. I summoned the sweetest, most sickly smile I could muster and gracefully sidestepped past her. As I brushed by, she scoffed, the sound filled with contempt. I pivoted on my heel, turning back to face her.

“Oh, and by the way,” I called out, a wicked glint in my eye. “Please tell Valentin I’m truly sorry for breaking his chair. I had no idea he could be so… passionate.”

Bella’s eyes widened in shock, nearly bulging from their sockets. The fury in her glare intensified, and I couldn’t help but blow her a playful kiss before turning away, my heart racing with exhilaration. I almost made it out of the Admissions building when the sound of screaming and banging erupted from the hallway where Valentin’s office was located. A smirk tugged at my lips as I darted out, relishing the chaos I had left in my wake.

Deep down, I didn’t believe that Valentin had any real feelings for Bella. I was certain that the connection I felt toward him was mutual. I had sensed it in the way he responded to my touch, the undeniable hardness I felt when our bodies were close. There was an electric current between us, a pulsating rhythm that echoed the bond I was beginning to understand—the mate bond.

The fated mate bond.

A bond I was starting to believe I had formed with multiple people.

—

A queen deserves a royal court, Mona drawled from the recesses of my mind, her voice smooth yet commanding.

I couldn’t suppress the roll of my eyes. “I’m barely a princess,” I shot back mentally. “In fact, no one even knows I’m a damn princess.”

The whistle blew again, and I scanned the crowd for Maximus. He approached me, his expression as emotionless as ever. I licked my lips and offered him a half-hearted smile.

“Hi,” I greeted softly, trying to inject some warmth into my tone.

“Hi,” Maximus replied, his voice flat. “Ready to train?”

I nodded, and just like that, our conversation ended as we walked toward the training mat. Today, we were focusing on countering kicks. I was to throw a high kick while Maximus would grab my ankle and take me down, after which we would switch roles.

The moment his hand wrapped around my ankle, a jolt of electricity surged through me, igniting my skin. Our eyes locked, and we both savored the sensation. But when I blinked, the image of Valentin filled my mind, and I gasped, my heart racing. Blinking again brought Maximus back into focus, but the moment had shattered, and I lost my concentration, tumbling onto my backside.

“Shit,” Maximus hissed, dropping to one knee to offer me a hand. “You okay?”

“Yeah,” I mumbled, accepting his help as he pulled me to my feet. I caught a glimpse of something hungry in his eyes, but I felt nothing in return. I blinked again, pulling away as if his touch had burned me.

“Sorry,” I muttered, my voice barely above a whisper. “Just… distracted.”

A frown creased Maximus’s face, and it was as if he could sense that I was not distracted by him, but by someone else entirely.