The Betrayed Princess Rising (Lylah and Ezra) novel Chapter 293

Chapter 293

Cora’s POV

Finished

Whitepine greeted us beneath a heavy, colorless sky, the air sharp with cold that bit through fabric and skin alike. The estate sat hidden deep within the woods, half-swallowed by towering pines and silence, more a relic than a home.

I walked beside Rowan toward the entrance, my senses drawn taut. Beneath my skin, my wolf stirred, its hackles rising with a low, instinctive warning that things might not go the way I planned.

Still… bringing him here was long overdue.

“Whose residence is this?” Rowan’s voice cut through the stillness. His expression remained tight, skepticism etched into every line of his face. “Who exactly are you bringing me to meet? Someone who lives like this can’t possibly have anything to do with me.”

“You’ll see,” I replied, offering nothing more.

Before he could press further, the front door swung open.

A maid stepped out to greet us, her eyes lighting with immediate recognition. Of course, she knew me-I had walked these halls before, long before I ever found my way back to Ironcrest and my true parents.

“Lady Cora,” she said with a respectful bow. “Happy Renewal. Welcome

“I’m here to see Commander Ivar.” I placed the box firmly into her hands. “This is for him, a gift for the New Moon celebration. Make sure he receives it immediately. And be careful with it,” I added sharply. “It’s a very expensive diamond watch.”

The maid hesitated.

My patience snapped. “Well? You heard me, didn’t you?”

She lowered her gaze. “Forgive me, Lady Cora… but since the Commander retired, he no longer accepts gifts of such value. He avoids anything that could be mistaken for obligation, or worse, bribery. If you wish to offer him something… a simple token, or food, would be more appropriate.”

My wolf surged, bristling at the implication.

“You think I’m a fool?” My voice dropped, edged with steel. “The legendary war commander of Whitepine, and you expect me to bring him scraps like some common visitor?” I stepped closer, my presence pressing against hers. “He may refuse strangers, but I am not one. He raised me under his protection. He cares for me. He loves me.”

I lifted my chin, unyielding. “He would never turn me away and hurt me.”

The maid fell silent.

I didn’t wait for another word. Dismissing her entirely, I brushed past her and stepped inside.

The house feels empty.

C

13:01 Thu, Apr 16 MO

Chapter 293

Finished

“So this is Ivar the Fearless’s home?” Rowan’s tone shifted instantly, the tension in him dissolving into something brighter-almost eager. “Cora… you know him?”

He turned to me, disbelief giving way to excitement. “Why would you keep that from me all this time? Do you have any idea who he is? He’s a legend. I’ve spent years trying to earn even a shred of his attention, his respect.”

“If I’d known you had a connection…” he said, voice lowering, more calculated now, “I wouldn’t have wasted my time chasing shadows.”

I gave him a small, controlled smile.

“I knew him long before I found my real parents,” I said. “You’re my mate. Of course, I would bring you to meet him.” I held his gaze. “He’ll be glad to see you.”

The words left my lips easily.

Too easily.

VERIFYCAPTCHA_LABELVerify