The Betrayed Princess Rising (Lylah and Ezra) novel Chapter 85

Chapter 85

30

Finished

3rd Person’s POV

“Ezra, I’m home!” Lylah’s cheerful voice filled the penthouse as she stepped inside, her presence warm and bright, as if she carried sunlight in with her.

“You sound so happy,” Ezra said as he emerged from deeper within the penthouse, his presence filling the space. “Did your application get approved?”

“Not yet. There’s still no news,” Lylah admitted, but her smile didn’t fade. Instead, it widened. She lifted the paper bag in her hand and pushed it toward him. “I got you something. Try it on.”

Ezra blinked in surprise. “For me?”

Yes. A gift. For convincing Professor Clark Grimwood to become my supervisor.”

‘Lylah, there’s no need at all.”

‘But I want to,” she insisted softly. “I can’t keep accepting your help without giving anything back. So please.”

Ezra sighed, relenting, and removed his usual glasses. His vision immediately dulled into a heavy dark olur.

Lylah had already taken the new pair from the box.

Her breath caught.

Without his glasses, there was nothing to hide the full force of Ezra’s features–the sharp line of his jaw, the quiet strength in his eyes, the devastating handsomeness that never failed to make her heart stutter.

She rose onto her tiptoes and carefully slid the new glasses onto his face.

The moment they settled, she gasped.

“I knew it,” she whispered, her voice filled with pride, “This model looks incredible on you!”

Her eyes sparkled as she clasped her hands together, delighted with her choice.

“Do I look good?” he asked quietly, uncertain. He had never worn glasses for appearance–only the specialized pair he relied on every afternoon to see the world clearly.

“Ezra, you surpass good.” Lylah breathed, her voice full of awe, “You’re devastatingly handsome.“

The words struck him harder than they should have.

He had heard praise all his life. But nothing had ever felt like this.

“You like it?” he asked, needing to hear it again.

“I do,” she said, her happiness pure and unguarded. “If you went outside like this, I know every she–wolf in

1/3

1:25 pm

Chapter 85

Lunaris would stop and stare.”

Finished

Ezra chuckled softly, warmth spreading through his chest at her excitement. But he shook his head. “I don’t want to go out.”

She blinked. “Oh. Right. You don’t like crowds.”

“No.” He stepped closer, his voice lowering. “What I mean is, this view is only for my Luna.”

Ezra regretted that he had removed his special glasses. Without them, her expression was a blur, and he couldn’t see the effect his words had caused. But he could feel her nervousness–hear it in her breathing and smell it in the subtle shift of her scent.

She was nervous.

And adorable.

“I’ll… make dinner,” Lylah said suddenly, turning away, her voice flustered as she retreated toward the kitchen.

Ezra followed her instinctively, but without his usual glasses, the world was unfocused, and his steps faltered.

“Ezra, be careful!” Lylah gasped, rushing back to him.

Her hands caught his arm, steadying him. Her fingers wrapped around his sleeve, her body only inches from his, her warmth bleeding into him.

They both froze.

“Sorry,” he murmured, swallowing as he straightened.

For a moment, neither of them moved.

Then Lylah released him abruptly, a small frown forming as she realized he wasn’t usually this clumsy when he walked.

“I’ll join you shortly. I just need to change into something more comfortable,” Ezra said before retreating toward his room, his steps slower this time, careful and slightly uncertain.

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