The Betrayed Princess Rising (Lylah and Ezra) novel Chapter 357

Chapter 357

3rd Person’s POV

Finished

He said it so casually-as if rewriting memory itself were no more troublesome than adjusting a line of code.

Lylah stared at him, equal parts exasperated and relieved. For all his brilliance, there was something unsettling about the ease with which he shaped the world around him. Thank the Moon Goddess he created machines… not living souls.

“You re truly vile, Daddy,” she muttered, jabbing a finger lightly against his chest.

“And Ezra,” she added, tilting her head as her fingers brushed the necklace resting against her throat, “why did I wake up with a ruby around my neck? When did you decide to buy me another gift?”

The gem shimmered like captured blood, warm against her skin.

“For getting eleven marks from the judge and winning the paper competition,” he replied.

Lylah huffed, though amusement danced in her eyes. “You already gave me something on the Night of Renewal. And much more before that. At this rate, our bedroom is going to look like a pirate’s treasure hoard.”

Ezra’s lips curved, “And I intend to give you far more.” His voice dipped, laced with quiet certainty. “I’m wealthy, Lylah. My Luna doesn’t live modestly, especially when everything I do is for her.”

Her wolf stirred faintly at his words, restless, possessive, yet oddly pleased.

Indeed a wealthy Alpha… and utterly incorrigible.

Lylah shook her head, knowing full well nothing she said would ever temper him. So instead, she leaned into it, a spark of mischief lighting her expression.

“Then you’d better prepare yourself. I haven’t truly begun to show you my feisty Luna side yet.”

By afternoon, Lylah was already back at Lunar Grace, seated across from Thane Blackridge as they finalized revisions for their publication.

On the surface, everything was as it should be-papers aligned, ink drying, logic sharpened into elegant

arguments.

But her focus was fractured.

Her gaze kept drifting to her phone.

Silent.

A faint unease curled low in her chest, her wolf pacing restlessly beneath her skin. Tiara’s absence wasn’t normal. She was the type to chatter, to reach out first, to fill the quiet with her chatter. But it had been

10:32 am

Chapter 357

ppp.

three days: no messages, no replies, nothing.

Lylah had even sent a letter to Tiara’s grandmother.

Still nothing.

Finished

“This isn’t right,’ she murmured inwardly, ears flattening in instinctive warning. ‘Something’s wrong since Tiara returned to Blackfang.

“Lylah.”

Thane’s voice cut through her thoughts, pulling her back. “I think that’s enough for today.” He leaned back slightly, studying her revised work. “I’ve gone through everything and you did incredibly well.”

She blinked, refocusing.

“And congratulations,” he added, a faint smile tugging at his lips. “Publishing in your first year as a student isn’t something many future healers achieve.”

“Thank you,” she replied softly.

Now that she truly looked at him, she noticed the shadows beneath his eyes. He must have stayed late at Cora’s engagement.

Her phone remained in her hand.

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