The Betrayed Princess Rising (Lylah and Ezra) novel Chapter 425

Chapter 425 

3rd Person’s POV 

Volunteer assignment. 

Next week. 

Leaving. 

Each word struck Ezra as a blade dragged across raw instinct. 

His wolf rose violently beneath his skin. 

Away. 

Lylah would be away from him. 

The possessive creature inside him hated the thought with immediate, savage intensity. 

“How long?” Ezra asked at last, though his voice had gone noticeably rougher. 

“Two weeks,” Lylah explained gently. “It’s part of the department’s program for selected students. I still don’t know where they’ll send us yet, but…” She gave a small helpless smile. “I’ll be away from home for a while. So your plan about reviewing the project together every evening…” Her fingers brushed lightly against his wrist. “We’ll have to postpone it.” 

Silence settled inside the car. 

For one brief moment, Lylah thought he had accepted it. 

Then suddenly, 

Ezra reached forward and pressed the divider button. 

The glass slid down instantly. 

“Tell Archer to postpone the progress meetings,” Ezra ordered flatly. “I’m taking two weeks off.” 

Zyrelle nearly swerved. 

“What?” she blurted, staring at him through the mirror as she’d just witnessed the moon fall out of the sky. “Are you crazy?” 

“Don’t listen to him,” Lylah said quickly before Zyrelle could say more. “He’s joking.” 

Then she turned back toward Ezra fully. 

And this time, she made sure every word reached him clearly. 

“What is this, Ezra?” she asked softly, though there was unmistakable firmness beneath it. “You’re going to abandon your responsibilities because of me? Leave your team behind? Delay your entire project?” 

His jaw tightened. 

“I can’t be away from you.” 

“You said you’ll be gone for two weeks,” he continued quietly. “Out there alone.” His gaze darkened, silver flickering faintly beneath the surface. “Lunar Grace may provide protection, but how am I supposed to stay calm if I can’t make sure myself?” 

But beneath the possessiveness, Ezra also understood something else. 

Lylah would never belong in a cage. 

Not even one built out of love. 

The silence that followed felt strangely vulnerable. 

And when Ezra finally spoke again, his voice had lowered into something quieter. Rougher. 

“If that’s what you want,” he murmured. 

Lylah’s chest tightened instantly at the sadness hidden beneath the words. 

Then his hand tightened around hers. “But don’t say we can’t always be together. Because we will be.” 

The certainty in his voice felt almost frightening. 

Ezra murmured, brushing his forehead lightly against hers. “This is only temporary.” 

Lylah smiled softly. 

“Yes,” she whispered. “Temporary.” 

From the driver’s seat, Zyrelle listened to the entire exchange in silence before rolling her eyes.