The Betrayed Princess Rising (Lylah and Ezra) novel Chapter 167

Chapter 167

Cora’s POV

The sharp crack of bone sliding out of place was sickening.

Soren’s scream tore out of her like a wounded animal’s howl as she crumpled to the floor.

“My shoulder!” she shrieked, clutching her arm, her face twisted in agony. “You dislocated my shoulder!” Her trembling finger shot toward Lylah. “How dare you!”

I froze.

Part of me wanted to rush to her side–to help her, to pull her up, to defend her.

But something colder held me back.

The moment I saw what Lylah had done, a chill crept down my spine, spreading through my body like frost. There had been no hesitation in her movement. No mercy. Just pure, predatory precision.

And deep down, I knew one thing with terrifying clarity.

did not want to become the next target of her anger.

“What are you doing?” Thane asked, his voice steady but edged with warning as he looked at Lylah.

Lylah barely glanced at him.

“Ask her,” she said coldly, nodding toward the girl writhing on the floor. “Ask her what she told Iris to do. I’m certain it involved some kind of trick. Iris would never have followed her willingly otherwise.”

Thane’s brows furrowed, confusion flashing across his face. “But what makes you so sure Soren would do something like that to Iris? Did they even know each other?”

“They didn’t,” Lylah replied. “But Soren was holding a grudge.”

Her voice remained calm, but the words cut cleanly through the tension in the air.

“Last night, Iris and I went out for dinner. We ran into her. Iris said something by accident that bruised her pride.” Her gaze flicked briefly toward Soren. “And today, she chose to repay it.”

Silence followed.

Thane still looked uncertain, as if the pieces hadn’t fully fallen into place yet. But Isaac Grey…

Isaac’s expression changed.

Understanding dawned across his face like a gathering storm.

“Iris did go out to dinner with you last night,” he murmured slowly.

Lylah met his gaze. Then her eyes lowered to the floor. “I’m sorry I couldn’t stop what happened,” she said quietly. “If you want to hold me responsible for Iris’s condition… I’ll accept it.”

Isaac didn’t answer.

His silence was heavier than anger.

And suddenly, a terrible realization sank into my stomach.

Damn.

If this reached the Dean… If Isaac decided to bring the matter before the Lunar Grace officials–or worse, the law–Everything could collapse.

Soren’s gaze.

Isaac’s gaze dropped to us, cold and unyielding.

VERIFYCAPTCHA_LABELVerify