Tempted By my Evil Lycan Stepbrother novel Chapter 76

Chapter 76: How Dare You

Riley’s POV

The moment King Soren spoke of a marriage partner already waiting in the palace, I felt Ezra change beside me.

Until then, he had been holding himself together by force. I could see it in the set of his shoulders and the way his jaw kept tightening.

But now something darker broke through. His whole body went still. The air in the room felt charged, as if a storm had suddenly pressed itself against the windows.

“You don’t get to decide that for her!” Ezra growled.

King Soren stood with one hand resting against the back of a chair, completely at ease, as if he were discussing a trade agreement instead of my future.

“And since when,” he asked his son, “is this your concern?”

Ezra’s hands curled into fists.

Strong feelings flashed through his face before he could bury it-rage, protectiveness, something far more dangerous.

$

I could tell he wanted to tell his father the real reason why this whole thing pissed him off so much.

But the same truth that was choking him was choking me too.

If he said it, we were finished.

Stepsiblings couldn’t be mates. Period.

If nobody knew about us, we could probably still enjoy our temporary little fling. But if people found out, only the worst thing would happen.

King Soren noticed his hesitation at once. Men like him built their power on reading weakness faster than anyone else. “There,” he said to his son with a freezing tone. “You can’t even give me one plausible reason. Which means this whole thing isn’t your goddamn business. And you should leave this room right now.”

Ezra turned his head sharply and looked at me.

“Riley?”

I knew what he was asking of me.

ľ

He was waiting for me to say no. Waiting for me to draw a line and refuse, even if we both knew the refusal would come with a price.

“You don’t want this,” he pushed, his eyes blazing. “You can say no. Nobody can force you to marry anyone.

I opened my mouth and then closed it again.

A hundred thoughts crashed through me at once.

Thad just won the biggest fight of my life. King. Soren already hated it. My mother was furious, and that meant she would be desperate enough to make things worse,

#1 pushed back now, right here in front of him, I would only make myself a bigger target and del really want that?

The king could force mus in meet with my manage partner whether agreed or not. The smart thing to do is to give in just enough to buy myself time before I could work out a backup plan.

YOU

I looked at Ezra and saw the hope he was trying not to show, and that made what I said next feel even crueler.

“If this is what you want, yourniajesty, then I’m happy to meet with that person,” I said.

Ezra’s eyes widened.

He stared at me as if he had misheard.

King Soren smiled. He didn’t speak right away. Maybe he could see that we were doing enough damage on our own.

“Are you fucking serious?!”

Ezra suddenly roared. He looked so furious as though his inner beast had been unleashed.

“He asked you to marry a fucking stranger! He asked you to sacrifice your freedom and lifelong happiness! And you just —give in?! What the fuck is wrong with you Riley Monroe?”

I forced myself to keep looking at him, even though my chest was already starting to hurt. “I’m agreeing to meet him. That’s all. Nothing serious.”

“That’s not all.” The control in his voice was slipping now. “You’re letting him put a leash on you.”

I inhaled sharply. His persistence was making this whole thing even harder for me.

“What do you want me to do then?” I snapped. “Remember, Ezra, that you are only my BROTHER! You don’t have a say in my marriage. Never.”

His face changed at once. Some of the fury drained out of it and left behind something…more wounded.

“So that’s it?” he said, taking a step back, his voice hoarse. “You’re just going to go along with this?”

“Ezra…”

“You are such a fucking coward, Riley!” he growled.

The words struck harder than I expected. Heat rushed up my throat.

I wanted to tell him he was being unfair. I wanted to tell him he had no right to stand there and act like this was simple.

He was the prince born with everything. Of course it was easy for him to stand up to his father and act like a hero. But I got nothing. Even surviving in this palace was hard enough for me.

I wanted to yell at him. But with the king watching us both like a hunter watching trapped animals wear each other down, 1 eventually chose silence.

King Soren chose that moment to speak.

“Riley had made her decision,” he said. “And what are you doing still standing here?”

Ezra turned on him so fast. The hatred in his face was naked now. I had seen him furious before, but nothing like this.

The old king and the young prince stared at each other. Tension between them cracked in the air.

“If you are done throwing a temper, I’d like to talk to Riley about her marriage partner now, Ezra dragged a hand through his hair, breathing hard as though he were physically trying not to explode.

Then he looked back at me. and what I saw in his eyes made my stomach twist.

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King Soren saki

It made me feel like thad betrayed him.

“Fine,” he said at last.

Then he turned and stormed out. The door slammed so hard behind him that the lamp flame on the side table shook

For a moment I could do nothing except stare after him.

I told myself he had no right to make me feel guilty for choosing caution. And I had done the only smart thing.

But none of it helped.

I still felt like shit.

King Soren let the silence stretch a bit. Then he poured himself a drink as calmly as if his son had not just stormed out of the room in a rage.

“You did the right thing,” he said.

I looked at him, my face cold and blank.

He took a slow sip and continued, “There will be a tea tomorrow afternoon. Your future husband is already staying in the palace. You will attend and meet him properly.”

His tone made me feel like I was his lap dog. I felt so weak and small.

“You want to see his picture first? And his profile? He is from a rich family I can assure you of that—just as your mother has demanded,” he said. And I had sensed the sarcasm in his tone.

“No need,” I looked the king in the eye and tried to maintain the last bit dignity I had, “I’ll be there.”

He gave a small nod, dismissing me without another word.

I turned and left as quickly as I could.

By the time I reached the great hall again, the party had settled into its own rhythm. Music flowed through the room, softer now, rich strings rising and falling over the polished floor while/couples danced beneath the chandeliers.

The earlier shock had not disappeared, but it had been pushed under wine and practiced smiles. Nobles were very good at pretending disaster was merely a small inconvenience. That’s why I hated this place so much.

Silas spotted me almost immediately.

He immediately abandoned the group of girls surrounding him and walked up to me with two glasses in hand, one clearly meant

for me.

The moment he saw my face, his expression sharpened.

“That bad?” he frowned. “Did the king punish you? Take back your metal?”

I shook my head.

For a moment, I had a strong urge to tell him everything. I really need a friend right now. To share all my worries and troubles. The arranged marriage, Ezra, my mother, or even my secret identity as the Veilwalker.

But Silas didn’t deserve to be dragged into this. I couldn’t do this to him.

He handed me the drink without comment. I took it, though I barely tasted the wine when I swallowed

Silas studied me for another moment, then jerked his head toward the dance floor. “Come ou

blinked. “What?”

He grinned, “You just won the most brutal competition in school. I think you deserve a dance-

That surprised a weak laugh out of me.

and a great dance partner.

+15 Bo

He smiled, and for the first time since leaving King Soren’s room, I felt some of the tightness in my chest loosen. So I let him lead me out beneath the lights.

Silas danced the same way he fought with calm confidence and elegance. His hand at my waist was warm and steady, never wandering, never claiming more than the dance required.

Around us, the room kept moving. Dresses swept over the floor. Jewelry flashed. Conversations rose and fell in warm bursts.

For a few minutes I let myself stop thinking about kings and marriages and Ezra’s face when I had said yes.

“You know you can trust me with your worries, right?” Silas murmured. “Maybe I can help.”

“Yeah I know.” I paused, “But I’m fine, really.”

He didn’t push me. We turned once more through the music, and I became aware of the eyes following us again.

They were still watching me, but the quality of those looks had changed.

Earlier, the room had stared because it could not believe what Ezra had done. Now the curiosity had turned sharper. I could practically feel people reassessing me, weighing my title, my usefulness, my value.

Silas noticed it too.

2

“Congratulations,” he said under his breath. He didn’t sound too happy though. “You’re suddenly interesting to all the men in this room.”

He was right. The moment our dance ended, two young men from families I vaguely recognized approached within seconds. They asked for the next dance. I accepted because refusing everyone would only stir more gossip, and because the rhythm of the evening gave me something to hide inside.

I smiled when expected. I let them lead me in circles under the chandelier light. I listened to compliments I barely heard:

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