Chapter 322
Chapter 323
Lylah’s POV
Professor Grimwood had barely closed his mouth when Eldric’s voice sliced through the hall, edged with a rising growl.
“Is it truly so difficult to reveal the real scores just as my wife suggested? Or is fear the reason?” he continued, eyes gleaming with accusation. “Because the truth would expose whatever dirty trick was used to make my daughter lose p>
The head judge, Andrei, carried himself with composed authority since the moment he entered the hall, untouched by the rising tension. But now, frost crept into his gaze.
The temperature in the room dropped as his eyes locked onto Eldric.
“By making such claims,” he said quietly, each word edged with steel, “you are questioning the integrity of Lunar Grace itself p>
Eldric did not flinch. “Then you should have no issue proving its integrity. Make the scores transparent p>
Silence swallowed the hall.
Andrei let it stretch-long enough for every heartbeat in the room to grow unsteady-before he spoke again.
“Very well.” His voice was calm again, but something colder lingered beneath it. “But the decision does not belong to me, Alpha p>
His gaze swept over us.
“Participants,” he called, “do you consent to us revealing your scores publicly p>
I watched as Cora’s eyes found Thane Blackridge, a silent plea passing between them. Subtle. Quick. But not quick enough.
He hesitated.
Only for a breath.
Then he rose. “I agree p>
His voice was steady, carrying easily through the hall.
One by one, the others followed.
“I agree p>
“I agree p>
“I agree p>
Each voice stacked atop the last, forming something unbreakable. I caught the faint curve of Cora’s lips.
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Beside her, Daia’s grip tightened around her daughter’s hand, as though anchoring her against an unseen
storm.
Across the chamber, Professor Vale watched with open amusement, his gaze gleaming with challenge as it slid toward my mentor.
“Almost everyone,” Andrei noted. He turned his attention to me. “Lady Lylah, do you agree to have your score revealed before all p>
Before I could answer-
“Why would she?” Eldric cut in, his tone thick with scorn. “Of course she’ll refuse. Once the truth is laid bare, her little victory will crumble, and we’ll all see how she sabotaged this entire trial p>
For a moment, everything stilled.
Then Selestine surged within me.
A low, furious presence unfurled in my chest, her growl curling through my veins like smoke.
The audacity.
Even after he severed the bond between us-after he cast me out six years ago, stripped me of name and blood, and cast me into something feral, something unclaimed-I remained a shadow over his pride.
A threat to his perfect, carefully guarded family.
Even now, he believed I existed only to eclipse his precious daughter.
How wrong.
I do not eclipse the already extinguished.
“I agree.” My voice cut cleanly through the hall.
Andrei gave a single, decisive nod.
“Then it is settled p>
He struck the pulpit once. The sharp crack echoed like a bone snapping beneath pressure.
An attendant brought a parchment forward after that. I watched it pass through the hands of the ten other judges. Each one read it in silence, their expressions tightening, shifting, before they nodded in agreement.
Only then did Andrei unfold it.
The faint rasp of parchment seemed unnaturally loud.
“Each judge was granted two votes,” he began. “These votes were distributed among the participants. I will begin from the lowest. Seraphina of Blackmaw, zero marks p>
A sharp inhale somewhere in the crowd.
“Donovan of Whitepine, zero marks p>
C
Another.
Each name followed like a lash through the air. The tension climbed, coiling tighter, until it was nearly unbearable.
Then.
“Coraline of Ironcrest, four marks p>
“Thane of Blackridge, seven marks p>
The silence that followed was suffocating. I felt it pressing against my skin, crawling down my spine.
“And Lylah… of Lunaris p>
Time fractured.
…eleven marks p>
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The Betrayed Princess Rising
Ruby Walker
Ruby Walker is a rising voice in the world of romance and spicy fiction. With a gift for weaving deep emotions, sizzling chemistry, and unexpected twists, her stories are a blend of passion and drama that captivate readers from start to finish. Ruby’s writing style is bold and irresistible—perfect for those who crave intense, addictive love stories.