The Betrayed Princess Rising (Lylah and Ezra) novel Chapter 59

Chapter 59

Lylah’s POV

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Finished

The door slid open, and Alpha Ezra stood in the doorway. Our eyes meet. Something about the moment made it feel as though he knew I was there, waiting, instead of just Bambi.

“Come in, Ezra. You must be hungry.”

The instinct to reach for him–to touch, to pull him inside–rose fiercely in my chest. But I restrained myself.

“I made shrimp soup,” I said as we walked toward the kitchen together. “I knew you’d be home late, so you’d need something warm right away.”

Steam curled up from the pot on the stove, carrying the rich scent of broth and spices into the air.

I hadn’t had time to tidy the kitchen, and a flicker of nerves tightened in my chest–if Ezra noticed the mess, he wouldn’t say anything, but I knew it would bother him.

“It smells nice,” Ezra said.

“Really? Thank you.” Relief softened my shoulders. “Bambi gave me the recipe. Should I make it spicy, or very spicy?”

“I can handle either,” he replied, already loosening his jacket. “I’ll change first.”

I nodded. “Of course.”

His presence faded down the hall.

Moments later, Bambi’s small, floating form zipped in a cheerful circle.

“Lylah! Your phone has an incoming call!”

I stilled. It had to be Tiara–probably demanding every dramatic detail of my day.

“Bambi, could you bring it from my room and put it on speaker?” I asked. “My hands are full of spices.”

“Sure!” He darted off and returned quickly.

His eyes rotating as he synced with it, a soft chime signaled that the call had been routed through his system and switched to speaker.

I braced myself for Tiara’s voice–her usual playful chatter, the kind that always managed to pull a laugh from me no matter how heavy my mood.

But the voice that filled the room was not hers.

“Lylah!” Gavriel’s voice rang out, harsh and desperate. “Can you come over? Alpha Rowan hasn’t eaten, but he’s been drinking nonstop. His condition worsened–he threw up blood. You’re the only one who knows how to handle this. You used to take care of him.”

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1:22 pm

Chapter 59

Finished

My breath caught.

Then Rowan’s voice bled through the background.

“Lylah… I miss you. I was wrong. Please forgive me, come back to me.”

My heart slammed against my ribs.

Not because I cared. But because the speaker was loud. Too loud.

Alpha Ezra could hear everything.

I snatched my phone off Bambi without thinking and rushed from the kitchen, my pulse roaring in my

ears.

“Lylah? Are you still there?” Gavriel pressed. “Answer me. I’ll send the address-”

“Don’t you dare,” I hissed.

Silence.

Then, cautiously, “You’re there. What did you say? No? You’d let Alpha Rowan die?”

A bitter laugh escaped me. “Do you think I’m some miracle healer? Take him to a doctor, you idiot. Or better yet, ask his Luna. It’s impressive how your first instinct is to drag me back into this mess.”

I heard Gavriel’s sharp gasp on the other end of the line. I rolled my eyes and ended the call without

another word.

Then I returned to the kitchen.

I set our dinner on the dining table, forcing myself to concentrate on each small task instead of the echo of Gavriel’s words–bowls aligned, spoons placed, steam still rising from the soup.

Twenty minutes passed as I waited. But Alpha Ezra still hadn’t come out.

A prickle of unease crept over my skin.

“Maybe I should check on him.”

I walked to his door and knocked once.

The heavy door swung open unexpectedly. He hadn’t locked it–something he always did. Strange.

“Ezra-”

I froze.

He stepped out of the bathroom, wearing nothing but a towel wrapped low around his waist. Water still clung to him, sliding from his dark hair and tracing slow paths over the sculpted lines of his back and

chest.

1:22 pm

Chapter 59

Moon Goddess.

My heart thundered. Heat rushed to my face. I couldn’t move. Couldn’t look away.

Finished

Ezra approached calmly, as if he didn’t notice the way the air thickened between us, as if he wasn’t fully aware of the effect his presence had on me.

“Why are you still here?” he asked quietly. “I thought you were leaving.”

“Ezra, I-” I swallowed, forcing my eyes away. “I’m so sorry. I didn’t mean to barge in while you were showering. I’ll go-”

His hand closed around my wrist. He turned me to face him.

“No need,” he said, his calm edged with something dangerous. A faint curve touched his lips. “I don’t mind you see this.”

His gaze darkened, lingering on me with quiet intensity.

“You shouldn’t either.”

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