The Betrayed Princess Rising (Lylah and Ezra) novel Chapter 94

The Betrayed Princess Rising

Chapter 94

Finished

3rd Person’s POV

The way Cora faltered–her words tangling on her tongue, her scent spiking with panic–told Thane more than any confession could have.

Earlier, when he had questioned Alexander, that man also deliberately concealed the truth. So if Cora hadn’t slipped–had guilt not loosened her tongue–Thane would have remained blind to the fact that this entire scheme had been born from her mind.

A low, bitter thought coiled in his chest.

At least Alexander had paid in blood. Thane could still picture the wound at his temple, the punishment Professor Vale had delivered with clinical cruelty.

But Cora…

She had remained untouched. Standing in the laboratory with wide, wounded eyes while blame fell elsewhere, as if she were nothing more than another victim of circumstance rather than the architect of it.

The realization left a strange, hollow disappointment inside him.

“Thane, I’m so sorry.” Her voice trembled, soft and breakable.

His wolf did not stir. That, more than anything, unsettled him.

Thane’s mind drifted back to the night he returned from Whitepine Rest–the first time he had met Cora -and told his brothers about her. Their reaction had been immediate doubt.

Logan and Victor had frowned, questioning whether the girl they found was truly Jax Stillward’s daughter, because according to their investigation, Jax’s daughters had been switched at birth.

Switched.

Though Cora had told Thane herself that she wasn’t Jax’s blood, that Jax’s biological daughter had died as a baby and Thane had believed her without hesitation, now the contradiction gnawed at him.

Cora said Jax’s real daughter died. His brothers said she was switched. Both could not be true.

So which one of them had told the truth?

“Thane please…” Cora’s voice broke again, pulling him back. “If it’ll make you hate me less. You can hit me. Please hit me!”

His head snapped toward her, his brows pulling together in a hard frown. “What are you talking about? Professor Vale has already punished you. That’s enough. I won’t interfere.”

He studied her, searching her face.

Why would she say that?

1:49 pm

Chapter 94

0:91

Finished

Offering herself up so easily, as if she knew exactly what would soften him.

It felt calculated, like someone too used to wearing the mask of a victim.

“Forget it, Cora,” Thane said finally, “Let’s not speak of this again.”

He didn’t wait for her response.

Thane moved back into the gathering, reaching for a glass of dark red wine, the liquid catching the light like blood.

He approached Isaac.

“I’m sorry,” Thane said, voice measured. “For what happened to your sister Iris at the academy this afternoon. I wasn’t there to protect her.”

Isaac clinked his glass against Thane’s.

“Don’t be guilty,” he replied. “You had your own responsibilities.”

His eyes drifted past Thane.

Toward Cora.

“If Jax Stillward were alive today, he would be proud to see his daughter grown into such an intelligent young lady.” Isaac smiled faintly, “Especially knowing she will soon become Luna to one of the most powerful packs in Verdanth.”

Thane said nothing.

His fingers tightened slightly around his glass.

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