The Betrayed Princess Rising (Lylah and Ezra) novel Chapter 308

Chapter 308

Lylah’s POV

0440

Finished

Tiara’s irritation still clung to her long after we left the bank, sharp as frost beneath her skin. I could feel it in the restless edge of her wolf, in the way her breath misted too quickly in the cold night air as we moved along the pavement.

“I heard about that restaurant, Lylah,” she muttered, her voice tight with restrained frustration. “It’s been on my list since I arrived in Lunaris! I had no idea it belonged to Victor.” Her lip curled faintly. “I won’t step foot in a place owned by someone who stood with Cora.”

“There are better places,” I said calmly. “I’ll take you somewhere else.”

That seemed to ease her, if only a little.

I led her to the restaurant Iris had taken me to before-the one that lingered strangely in my memory. The food had been exquisite, far beyond expectation… and the prices, impossibly low.’

The moment we stepped inside, warmth wrapped around us, thick with the scent of spices and slow- cooked meat.

We hadn’t even fully settled at the table when a man hurried toward us. The manager, if memory serves.

“Luna!” he greeted brightly. “It’s been too long. Welcome back!”

I stilled.

The word struck something deep, instinctive.

“Luna?” I repeated, my gaze sharpening. “How do you know that?”

His expression faltered instantly. The color drained from his face as if he’d been caught crossing a line he didn’t understand.

“I-” He swallowed hard, forcing a strained, uneasy smile. “I only learned recently that you’re a Luna. Please forgive me if I overstepped, It won’t happen again.”

I held his gaze a moment longer than necessary, my wolf pressing forward, testing him.

He lowered his eyes.

I let it go-but not the suspicion.

Beside me, Tiara had already grabbed the menu, her earlier mood shifting as curiosity took over. Her eyes flicked across the page, then narrowed.

“There are no prices listed,” she said, looking up, confused. “How are we supposed to know what we’re spending?”

The manager straightened quickly. “That’s intentional, lady. In celebration of the New Moon, our owner has decided that all guests dine free of charge.”

1/3

3:49 pm PP pp.

Chapter 308

Finished

Tiara blinked.

Then blinked again.

“You’re serious?” she demanded.

“Yes, lady.”

Her eyes lit up instantly, delight overriding caution. “Then I’ll have this, and this, and this.”

She began ordering with enthusiasm, pointing rapidly at the menu.

“Tiara,” I tried to interrupt, a quiet warning threading my voice.

Something wasn’t right.

Last time I visited with Iris, the prices had already been suspiciously low. And now it was free? No business runs like this without a reason. And reasons like this always came with strings.

My instincts sharpened, a low hum building beneath my ribs.

Without hesitation, I reached for my phone and called Ezra.

The line barely rang once.

Before I could speak, his voice came through-calm and smooth as if he’d been expecting me.

“How’s the dinner?”

My breath caught.

“Order whatever you want,” he continued easily. “Make sure Tiara does the same. Yesterday you mentioned craving shrimp soup, right? It’s available tonight. But if it isn’t, just ask. They’ll prepare it for you.”

Silence swallowed me whole.

How did he know where I was?

What was I doing right now?

But I swallowed my questions.

“…Alright,” I said quietly.

Our food arrived soon after, each dish steaming and fragrant, arranged with perfection. The rich aromas curled through the air, enough to make Tiara light up instantly, her earlier frustration melting into bright, unrestrained delight.

But my attention settled elsewhere.

The shrimp soup.

2/3

Chapter 308

Finished

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