Their Hidden Princess (Zora) novel Chapter 70

**Zora**

I exited my first training session with Valentin feeling utterly defeated, my mood as dark as a stormy sky.

It was infuriating that I couldn’t shift in front of Thorne. That arrogant jerk would probably use it against me, like some twisted trophy. But what grated on me even more was Mona’s fury echoing in my mind.

*I don’t understand,* she raged, pacing restlessly within me. *He’s not even our mate anymore. Why does he still have this hold over us?*

*Beats me,* I grumbled back, staring down at my hand as I focused on the sensation of dirt beneath my fingers. In an instant, my hand morphed into a paw, fur sprouting from my skin all the way to my elbow. Just as quickly, I clenched my fist, and I was human again, the transformation as jarring as it was familiar.

*I don’t get it either,* I thought as I strolled out of the locker room. Now dressed in my regular clothes after training, I had an hour to kill before my first class. My damp curls were pinned back in a hasty braid, and I hoisted my bag higher on my shoulder, making my way across campus toward the cafeteria.

*I don’t even like Thorne,* I continued my internal dialogue. *If I were embarrassed to shift in front of anyone, it would be Valentin. I mean, I have a major crush on him.*

*Finally, you’re admitting it,* Mona chuckled, her tone teasing and wolfish. *But this shifting thing is definitely odd.*

*Do you think it’s related to the bond rejection?* I pondered aloud.

*Perhaps,* she replied thoughtfully. *Some kind of subconscious nerves, maybe?*

As I stepped onto the main lawn of the campus, I mulled over that idea. Did Thorne make me anxious? A bit, yes. In fact, he made me extremely uneasy. My secret felt most vulnerable around him. After all, he was in the castle when I was there, his mother was my mother in a way. If anyone knew my true identity, it was Thorne Blythwitch.

Yet, intertwined with my nerves was a sense of disappointment I couldn’t quite pinpoint. It wasn’t merely disappointment over the broken bond; it wasn’t about his choice to associate with Kairos and his band of obnoxious friends. It was more like a sorrowful recognition that he didn’t truly know me.

*That makes some semblance of sense,* Mona remarked, her voice softening. *He barely gave you a chance to show him who you are before he severed the bond. I can only imagine how that would bruise your ego.*

*But not yours?* I shot back, a hint of sarcasm in my tone.

*Please,* Mona scoffed. *I am an ancient High Magikal being. Nothing can touch my ego.*

*Noted,* I snorted, rolling my eyes. *But maybe you’re onto something. Maybe it’s disappointment stemming from the fact that he doesn’t see me as worthy of his time. Or perhaps strong enough for it.*

*That would explain why we’re unable to shift,* Mona mused. *Why give someone our strongest form if they perceive us as weak?*

I shook my head with a sigh, exasperated. *God, this wolf stuff is draining. Does it ever get easier?*

*Did you miss the part where I said “ancient High Magikal being”?* Mona replied, her laughter echoing in my mind. *It never gets easier. Only more complicated.*

I chose not to respond as I continued my trek across campus. Just as I approached the cafeteria, Loren came barreling toward me, arms flailing wildly. She was calling my name like a lunatic, drawing the attention of everyone around us.

“ZORA!”

I couldn’t help but laugh at her exuberance. She launched herself at me, and I caught her in a dramatic flourish. We almost tumbled to the ground, but we managed to stay upright, for the most part. I gently pushed Loren away, holding the bouncing ball of energy in my arms.

“I have news!” she squealed, her excitement palpable.

“Okay, okay,” I chuckled, trying to contain my amusement. “Seems like half the campus noticed.”

Loren was still bouncing on her toes as she leaned in, lowering her voice to a conspiratorial whisper that only we could hear. “I felt something!”

“Not at all,” I assured her, placing my hand on her shoulder for support. She lifted her head to meet my gaze. “I just care that you’re happy, that’s all.”

Loren’s face broke into a wide smile, a spark of joy lighting up her features. “Thanks, Zora. You really are a good friend.”

I tried to mask my internal conflict, forcing a smile that didn’t quite reach my eyes. I quickly steered the conversation in a different direction as I noticed a throng of people making their way toward the Admissions Hall. I nodded toward them.

“Are those the new students?”

Loren turned to look over her shoulder. “Probably,” she said, grabbing my hand and tugging me toward the building. “Come on, let’s go check it out!”

I laughed as Loren pulled me along, her energy infectious. As we got closer, I spotted a crowd gathering around a sleek black car parked near the Admissions building. It was the same type of vehicle that had brought me to school. My eyebrows knitted together in confusion. Was my mother here for the new students?

The car door swung open, and my stomach plummeted, hitting the ground with a force that shattered my composure. I couldn’t tear my eyes away as a woman emerged from the car. The sound of her cheetah-print heels striking the pavement sent a shiver down my spine, dredging up memories of her echoing footsteps in the castle during my time there before being sent to the Academy.

I followed her long, olive legs up to her equally dark olive midsection, finally landing on her short black bob that curled under her sharp jawline. Her golden eyes locked onto mine from across the crowd, and as she moved further away from the car, the throng parted like the Red Sea. Suddenly, it was just us.

“Fuck,” I breathed, the word barely escaping my lips.

The woman’s lips curled into a snakelike smile, predatory and unsettling. She stepped closer, and I could almost feel the weight of her rotten, sour breath wafting toward me as she spoke.

“Hello, sister.”

Beside me, Loren was buzzing with excitement once again. “Oh my god,” she exclaimed. “Welcome to campus, Princess Amara!”