The Betrayed Princess Rising Chapter 136

Lylah's POV

Today’s lecture ended without any trouble.

As I stepped out of the classroom, a lightness settled across my shoulders. The crisp air of the academy grounds brushed against my face, carrying the distant hum of students scattered across the lawns.

Iris had just called, asking me to meet her for lunch. I was heading toward the courtyard where we usually met when—

Suddenly, a pair of strong hands clamped down on my arms.

Another covered my mouth.

“No—”

My cry was swallowed before it could escape.

In one swift motion, my body was lifted from the path and dragged across the lawn toward the quiet corner beside one of the stone buildings. My mind snapped into alarm immediately.

Attack.

Selestine stirred beneath my skin, claws scraping against my nerves.

Who—

Only one name flashed across my mind.

Alexander Blackridge.

Rage surged through me. I twisted sharply, preparing to strike and see his face. But the moment I turned, my body froze.

“…Rowan?" The name left my teeth in a tight hiss as disbelief washed over me. “You’re insane.”

His eyes burned as he stepped closer.

“Not nearly as insane as you, darling.”

In a blink, he closed the distance between us, forcing me backward until my spine hit the cold stone wall behind me.

My wolf growled low in my chest.

“This is academy ground,” I said coldly. “I don’t know if you’ve completely lost your sense of dignity, but I haven’t. I’m not about to let my friends see me trapped alone with you.”

My gaze hardened. “Step away, Rowan Blackfang… unless you want the entire building watching guards drag you out.”

His eyebrow lifted slowly.

“You can’t stand being near me,” he said. “Yet you had no problem sleeping with that bastard from Moonclaw… letting him touch you until your scent clung to him?"

“What…?” The words caught in my throat.

This man had truly lost his mind.

“What are you talking about—”

“Don’t play dumb!” Rowan roared.

The force of his voice carried a sharp edge of Alpha command, his wolf pushing dangerously close to the surface.

“All that time we were together, I never touched you!” he continued, his chest rising and falling rapidly. “I respected you I protected your purity. And yet with him—you gave it away! You gave your body to him!”

His voice dropped into something uglier.

“What a cheap little whore you turned out to be.”

My fingers curled slightly at my sides.

“And then you made sure I knew,” he went on bitterly. “You let your scent cling to him when he walked into that meeting. Let everyone in the room smell it.”

Realization slowly settled over me.

Had Ezra attended a meeting with Rowan?

I hadn’t known that.

I also had no idea how my scent had ended up on him.

But honestly? I didn’t care. I didn't mind.

“Whatever Ezra and I were doing before he left for that meeting,” I said calmly, “is perfectly natural between mates,” My gaze met his without flinching. “Ezra and I are together now. Surely you don’t expect me to pretend nothing has happened between us.”

The fury that flashed across his face was immediate.

Sharp.

Unrestrained.

“And it doesn’t even require a mate bond,” I continued coolly. “Two people don’t need some sacred tie just to sleep together."

My eyes hardened as the words struck him.

“Just like you and Cora did.”

“You—” Rowan’s breathing turned rough. “You still drag Cora into this?” he snapped. “Are you really that vengeful toward her?”

I shook my head slowly. “No. I was reminding you that you already have someone to comfort you when you’re angry.”

My voice dropped colder.

“So remember this clearly, Rowan Blackfang. You don’t get to come running back to me whenever you feel like it.”

A muscle jumped in his jaw.

“I don’t love Cora,” he said.

I stared at him.

“After everything you’ve done with her?” I scoffed softly. “After you went so far as to betray me?” A hollow laugh left my lips. “How ironic.”

“Lylah, listen,” he said urgently, taking a step closer. “I don’t love her.”

His voice softened slightly.

“I only stayed with her because… she doesn’t have much time left.”

My brow furrowed.

“The healer confirmed it,” Rowan continued quietly. “Cora has malignant cancer. And they said that she won’t live longer than three years.”