The Betrayed Princess Rising (Lylah and Ezra) novel Chapter 269

Chapter 269

Lylah’s POV

Finished

What happened at the boutique yesterday left something sharp and bitter lodged beneath my skin. More than anything, I was furious for Tiara-she had only just arrived in Lunaris, and instead of seeing the city at its best, she was dragged into petty hostility with Cora’s circle.

So today, I decided to make it up to her. We would go out together, just the two of us-

Except… things rarely stayed simple.

By coincidence, Luca had also asked me to go for brunch. When I mentioned that I would be bringing a friend, his excitement was immediate and overwhelming.

“I’ll book the entire restaurant!” he had insisted. “And order everything on the menu. It will be my treat for you and your friend, Lady Lylah.” There had been no room to argue.

Which was exactly why I brought it up to Ezra that same evening.

The night before…

“Ezra,” I began carefully after dinner, “Luca feels indebted to my late mother and insists on taking care of me now. He wants to take me out to eat… but I’m worried it might be too much for him.” I hesitated, glancing down briefly. “That restaurant is very expensive.”

Ezra leaned back slightly, thoughtful-but only for a moment.

“I see,” he murmured.

And just like that, a solution came to him, as if strategy was second nature.

“I’ll ask Archer and a few of my colleagues from the research center to dine there as well,” Ezra said smoothly. “I’ll handle the reservation, but have it appear as though Luca arranged everything. He’ll still receive a bill-but only a quarter of it. Just enough to satisfy his pride without raising suspicion.”

I blinked at him. “That’s actually brilliant!”

Then realization hit me.

“But that means you’ll be paying for both Luca’s bill and Archer’s-”

I stopped.

Because Ezra wasn’t listening anymore.

His hand had already found mine.

Without a word, he guided me away from the dining table and toward the couch, his touch firm, possessive in a way that made my wolf stir beneath my skin. I settled beside him, my pulse quickening for reasons I didn’t care to name.

1/3

Chapter 269

“Tell me,” Ezra said softly. “Who would you rather have pay the bill, me or Luca?”

“You,” I answered honestly. “You have far more resources.”

A faint smile touched his lips.

“Exactly, my love,” he murmured. “So what are you worrying about?”

༡·

Finished

Relief loosened something in my chest. “Thank you,” I said, still a little stunned at how effortlessly he had solved yet another problem for me. “You can join us too, if you’d like. Tiara would love to see you again.”

“Is that all?” he asked gently, his voice lowering.

Something in his tone shifted.

Familiar.

Dangerous.

“Don’t you think I deserve a better reward than that?”

Before I could respond, he pulled me closer, the heat of his body wrapping around me like a claim I couldn’t ignore. His larger frame loomed above mine, presence heavy, instinctive-like a wolf closing in on what was his.

“I’m still on my moon cycle,” I reminded him quietly, my voice barely above a whisper.

Yet something feral inside me snarled at my own protest.

We hadn’t done ‘that’ since my moon cycle began this month. Ezra had grown restless, and I… I had gone half-crazy with the same aching need.

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