The Rejected True Heiress (Liora and Callum) novel Chapter 143

Liora.

“What are you doing here?” I blurted out. I glanced over her shoulder to see that the King’s apartment door was shutting behind her, as if she had just come out.

Liora didn’t answer right away. She just stared up at me, lips parted, just like…

Dammit.

Just like last night.

When I had almost kissed her.

I couldn’t explain why it had happened. I could try to blame it on the champagne or the chaos of the evening or the fact that she simply looked beautiful, but none of those explanations felt fair. Deep down, I think I was just weak. Pathetic. An ass who was betrothed to a fucking princess and yet I still wasn’t satisfied.

My bond with Liora was broken. I shouldn’t care about her. I shouldn’t look at her and wish I could feel her body press against mine.

And yet I couldn’t stop. Especially not when she was looking up at me like that.

Finally, Liora spoke. “I’m glad I ran into you,” she said, clearing her throat. She reached into her back and withdrew a leatherbound tome. “I finished this.”

“Already?” I arched my brows as I took the book back from her, ignoring the way our fingers brushed—and the way it sent a jolt of electricity running up my arm like I was some kind of lovesick schoolboy. “You just borrowed it a week ago.”

Once she was gone, I composed myself and walked up to the King’s apartment door. I knocked, and a few moments later, the door opened to reveal his Beta. The very same man who Bianca had had that strange interaction with last night.

“Callum?” He glanced at the box in my hands. “Can I help you?”

“This is for the King.” I handed him the box. “Tell him it’s a gift.”

The Beta nodded, taking the box, then thanked me and went to close the door. Just then, I spotted the apartment’s dining room over his shoulder; the table was laden with empty dishes, the scraps of what looked like a decadent meal left behind. It was set for two—with two candles flickering in the center as well.

The sight piqued my interest, but before I could get a better look, the Beta shut the door.