Their Hidden Princess (Zora) novel Chapter 96

As the clock struck midnight, I finally returned to my room, making every effort to tiptoe quietly. But my cautiousness proved futile when I noticed that Loren was absent from her bed. A frown creased my brow, and I flicked on the light, banishing the shadows that threatened to trip me up like a bull in a china shop.

With a sigh, I shrugged off my coat, letting it fall to the floor, and flopped onto my bed, the mattress welcoming me with a familiar embrace. I could still feel the sweat clinging to my skin from an intense training session, yet my mind felt submerged, as if drowning in a sea of confusion and uncertainty.

Thoughts swirled chaotically in my head, like a battlefield caught in the throes of war. Valentin’s revelations weighed heavily on me, while Kairos’ recent attempts to befriend me left me questioning his motives. I oscillated between memories of my mother, the anguish of Valentin losing Zahara, and the nagging question of what Kairos stood to gain by cozying up to me.

None of it added up.

Why had Renault targeted Zahara? Did Kairos truly believe I was naïve? Surely, Valentin had omitted the part where he and Victoria had killed Aveline. That soft, almost vulnerable look in Kairos’s eyes felt so out of character; it was almost human. Did Valentin still harbor feelings for Zahara?

Frustration bubbled within me as I slammed my hands over my eyes, pressing my palms into my sockets as if I could physically block out the turmoil. I groaned, letting my hands fall back onto the quilt. It seemed that sleep would be a distant memory tonight, plagued by dark thoughts. Reluctantly, I swung my legs over the side of the bed and padded to the bathroom.

Upon my return, the room was still empty, Loren’s absence a heavy weight in the air.

I furrowed my brow at her neatly made bed, a stark contrast to my own disheveled state. I glanced at the clock—almost one in the morning. Even during her late-night study sessions, she always managed to return by this hour. I toweled off my damp hair, worry etching lines into my forehead, before changing into my pajamas and climbing back into bed.

The next morning, the absence of Loren was palpable when I awoke.

“Maybe she’s just with a friend,” the rational part of my mind suggested, attempting to quell the rising tide of anxiety.

“You are the small Moonbeam girl’s friend,” Mona chimed in, her voice echoing in my thoughts. I rolled my eyes in response.

“Not helping,” I shot back, irritation creeping into my tone.

Mona huffed in annoyance before retreating to the back of my mind. Oddly enough, her concern was a small comfort. Normally, I would brush off such worries, but this felt different. Loren had never gone missing for long, and a whole day without any word was beginning to feel like too much. I bit my lip anxiously as I dressed for the day ahead.

The morning dragged on, each class stretching out like an eternity without Loren’s signature white-blonde hair appearing to brighten the room. By lunchtime, my anxiety had escalated to a near breaking point. Maximus approached my table, concern etched on his face as he stood beside me, arms crossed.

“No Moonbeam?” he asked, his frown deepening.

I shook my head, my heart sinking. “I didn’t see her last night either. Is it bad that I’m worried?”

“No,” he replied with a reassuring nod. “It’s completely normal. I’ll ask Petyr if Alessia has heard anything.”

I watched him walk over to join Petyr and Kairos, noting the surprise on Kairos’s face at Maximus’s boldness. It had been months since Maximus had sat with the others, especially since he began training me. I half-expected Kairos to lash out at him, but he merely returned to his meal, jabbing at it with his fork in silence.

But by the time I returned to my room, panic surged through me like a tidal wave.

My eyes landed on a piece of paper protruding from my door, and I rushed forward, snatching it up before locking myself inside my room. As I unfolded the note, my heart raced with dread.

**Tonight after the sun sets. Come alone to the western forest or more blood will be spilled.**

The message was scrawled in an unsettling burgundy, resembling a heart dripping with menace.

“Fuck,” I hissed, the word escaping my lips like a curse. “Fuck, fuck, fuck.”

“Calm down,” Mona urged, her voice stern. “We need to think rationally.”

“Rationally?!” I exclaimed to the empty room, incredulous. “My best friend is missing—captive!—and I’m supposed to remain calm?!”

“The blood is a threat, Zora,” she spat back. “Going there will only lead to our demise. We should consult the High Alpha—”

“No!” I blurted out, then cleared my throat, forcing a soft smile onto my face. “I mean, no thank you.”

Maximus’s lips curled into a snarl. “You’re seeing him, huh?”

“What?” I snapped, my cheeks flushing. “No, I—”

“Whatever,” he retorted, his voice dripping with disdain. “Just know my timeline still stands. End of the semester.”

With that, he turned on his heel and marched down the hall to his room. I had to fight the urge to roll my eyes; men were so predictably infuriating.

“Focus!” Mona snapped, urgency lacing her tone. “The sun has nearly set.”

I nodded, steeling myself, and bolted down the stairs, bursting out of the dorm. I tried to maintain a casual demeanor as I crossed the campus, but urgency propelled my steps faster than usual. A few students shot me quizzical glances, but as soon as I stepped into the forest, beyond the shelter of the trees, I was enveloped in solitude.

I immediately shifted, the transformation igniting a rush of energy as I fought to keep my clothing intact. The sensation overwhelmed me, but I shook out my coat, focusing on the task at hand. I dropped to all fours, my nose to the ground, and inhaled deeply. The earthy scents of the forest surrounded me, but there was something else—something metallic and acrid that clawed at my senses.

Blood.

“Follow that!” Mona commanded, her voice sharp and insistent. I took off, my nose guiding me as I sprinted through the underbrush. I had no idea how long I was focused on the ground until I stumbled upon a puddle of bright red liquid. My heart raced as I looked up, and horror gripped me when I saw a figure hanging from the trees. I shifted back in shock, tearing through my jacket, the cold winter air biting at my skin.

“Loren?” I whispered, my voice trembling with dread.

“Guess again,” a sinister voice replied.

I whipped around, only to be met with a sudden blow to my head. Darkness engulfed me as I succumbed to the maniacal laughter that echoed in the void.