The Betrayed Princess Rising (Lylah and Ezra) novel Chapter 169

Chapter 169

3rd Person’s POV

The tension inside Iris’s hospital ward had been suffocating.

Again and again, Iris had cornered Cora with quiet, cutting remarks–each one sharper than the last. Normally, Cora only needed to lower her gaze and wear that fragile, wounded expression to win sympathy from the room.

It had always worked before.

But not today.

Not a single person stepped in to defend her. Not even Thane.

So when Iris casually threw another barb about her “loyal friendship with Soren,” Cora finally turned and left the ward.

Her fury simmered beneath her skin as she stormed down the hallway, her wolf pacing restlessly inside her chest.

By the time she reached the treatment center where Soren was recovering, the anger had become a living thing inside her veins. She shoved the door open and stepped inside, carrying that storm with her.

The air in the room instantly grew heavy.

“Cora?” Soren lay propped against the bed pillows, her injured arm secured in a sling.

Despite her condition, a faint, mocking smile curved her lips.

“So you finally decided to show up,” Soren said lazily. “What happened–did you finish performing your sweet little innocent act for Thane Blackridge first?”

“Shut your mouth.” Cora’s patience snapped.

She crossed the room in long, sharp strides, every movement tight with restrained aggression. If Soren hadn’t been injured, Cora would have dragged her off that bed and challenged her to a duel right there.

“Do you ever stop to think before you act?” Cora demanded, her voice low with fury. “You think you’re some brilliant mastermind, but everything you’ve done has only destroyed the plans I spent weeks setting in place.” Her eyes burned. “Your only job was to stay quiet and let me handle things. But that was apparently too difficult for you.”

On the bed, Soren’s gaze turned icy.

“So I was supposed to sit quietly and wait for you to act?” she scoffed. “We’re not the same, Cora.” She tilted her head, studying her. “It takes you forever to move because you’re afraid of Lylah. I acted because I’m not.”

“What did you say?” Cora’s eyes flashed with raw fury.

“You heard me.” Soren’s voice was calm, almost amused. “You can pretend all you like, but I can smell fear. And yours is very obvious.”

Her gaze slid over Cora slowly.

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