The Betrayed Princess Rising (Lylah and Ezra) novel Chapter 420

Chapter 420

3rd Person’s POV

“Lylah. We want a moment to speak with you.”

Thane Blackridge stepped forward first, strain etched deeply across his face. The wolves behind him- Jude, Isaac, and the others-stood rigid beneath the gathering clouds, their scents thick with guilt and

unrest.

But the moment Thane neared her, Ezra’s presence shifted.

The air sharpened instantly.

The Moonclaw Alpha’s wolf rose beneath his skin like a living shadow, ancient and territorial. Predatory eyes locked onto the group with enough dominance to make even seasoned wolves instinctively lower their gazes.

“My Luna does not wish to speak with you,” Ezra said coldly.

Power rolled off him in crushing waves, pressing against the courtyard like the warning growl of a beast moments from violence.

Thane immediately stopped.

Even Isaac stiffened beside him, his wolf restless beneath his skin.

They knew exactly what they deserved.

“Ezra,” Lylah said softly. The sound of her voice alone eased some of the lethal tension coiling through the air. She turned slightly toward him, “It’s alright. It won’t take long.”

A heavy silence followed.

Then Ezra finally gave a single sharp nod.

Though his expression remained unreadable, his wolf clearly disliked allowing distance between them.

Lylah walked a short distance away across the stone courtyard. Wind curled through her dark hair as distant thunder rumbled overhead.

Thane followed immediately.

The others lingered several steps behind him, uneasy beneath the suffocating pressure of Ezra’s watchful

stare.

Lylah looked at them quietly. “You want to talk about my biological parents.”

It was not a question.

The moment the words left her mouth, shame crashed into the five wolves with brutal force.

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Chapter 420

Only Thane still managed to hold her gaze.

“After everything that happened… after our blindness, our stupidity…” His voice roughened with self- disgust. “You have every right to hate us. We’re not asking for forgiveness, we only wanted you to know the truth revealed itself to us too.”

Jude Knight stepped forward next.

For once, the usually composed heir looked shaken.

“If Cora hadn’t manipulated all of us, we never would’ve stopped searching,” he said hoarsely. “We would’ve found the truth eventually. We would’ve realized you were Jax Stillward’s real daughter.” Bitterness darkened his expression. “Cora orchestrated all of this from the beginning.”

His eyes lifted toward Lylah desperately.

“Just tell us what you want done to her,” he said. “Anything. Whatever punishment you wish for, we’ll carry it out ourselves.”

Cold wind swept through the courtyard then, carrying the scent of rain.

Lylah stood motionless beneath the darkening sky.

She remained calm.

Composed in a way that made the others feel even more ashamed.

“No,” Lylah said gently. “What happened between you and Cora has nothing to do with me in the first place. And I have no desire to poison my heart with revenge.”

Jude stared at her in disbelief.

“But why?” he demanded. “Cora stole your place. She made your life miserable. She took everything that should’ve belonged to you.”

Emotion cracked harshly through his voice now.

“We devoted ourselves to her because we believed she was the last living connection to Jax Stillward.” His fists clenched tightly at his sides. “She was a thief wearing your place while you suffered alone. How can this not have anything to do with you?”

“Lylah…”

Thane suddenly reached for her hand, almost unconsciously.

Pain flickered across his face as he looked at her.

“Curse us,” he said roughly. “Be angry. Hate us if you need to.” His throat tightened. “That would honestly be easier than this.”

Easier than her calmness.

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