The Betrayed Princess Rising (Lylah and Ezra) novel Chapter 188

3rd Person’s POV

“What did Vargan say to you?”

Finished

The question had been prowling at the edges of Ezra’s mind all evening, restless and insistent, refusing to be ignored. Even after dinner, he hadn’t taken Lylah straight back to the penthouse. Instead, he led her. through the quiet stretch of the city park.

Lylah glanced at him, her expression calm–unaware of the weight of his gaze, or how closely he was watching her every reaction.

“Grandpa asked about my health and told me not to push myself too hard.” A faint smile lingered on her lips. “He even gave me chamomile tea from Moonclaw and told me to call him that.”

“He didn’t try to convince you to return to Moonclaw with him, did he?”

“He did,” Lylah admitted easily, giving a small nod. “But I told him my place is with you. So if I visit Moonclaw again… it will be with you.”

The simplicity of her words struck deeper than any vow. Something fierce and possessive stirred within Ezra, as if it had just been handed the one thing it would never willingly surrender.

“Ezra-!”

Lylah’s startled gasp was swallowed as he pulled her sharply against him, one arm locking around her waist. His lips crashed onto hers, the kiss sudden, consuming. It tasted of fragrant wine and something darker–something wild that belonged only to him.

Lylah didn’t resist.

She melted into him, answering with a quiet fervor that only fed the fire. Her hands moved instinctively, tracing the hard lines of his body–through his hair, along his arms, over his chest…

…and then lower–drawn by something neither of them dared to name.

“S–stop.” The word came rough, dragged from him like a growl forced back into restraint.

Ezra tore himself away, breath unsteady, his eyes flashing with something dangerously close to snapping

restraint.

“Don’t,” he added, more quietly this time.

Lylah tilted her head, confusion softening her features. “Why?”

Ezra dragged a hand down his face, as though trying to gather himself before he unraveled completely. “Lylah… we should stop here. Before we-” His voice dipped, strained. “Before we do something we might regret.”

‘Before I lose control completely… and don’t stop.

14.470UELL

Chapter 188

Pleashed

Far from the city’s glow, deep within the territory of Blackmaw Pack, the forest breathed with a different kind of life. The trees stood thick and ancient, their tangled canopies swallowing the moonlight whole.

Rowan Blackfang moved through the narrow path like a predator who refused to be cornered. Since fleeing Ezra’s presence that night, he hadn’t returned to Lunaris. Instead, he lingered here, watching. waiting, pulling strings from the shadows while Cora covered his absence with carefully crafted lies.

“Alpha.” Azrel, the Beta Rowan had chosen after Gavriel’s death, approached with a respectful dip of his head. “A message from Logan Silver.”

Rowan didn’t slow. “Speak.”

“The Coravia project has secured new investors,” Azrel reported. “Logan didn’t name him, only that he’s extremely wealthy.”

A slow smile curved Rowan’s lips. “Good.” His voice was low, “I don’t care who he is. As long as the project grows strong enough to eclipse Ezra when the time comes.”

At the mention of Ezra, something dark coiled tighter in his chest. The memory of that night–of blood, of loss–still burned.

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