The Rejected True Heiress (Liora and Callum) novel Chapter 220

“That’s what I thought at first, too.” She swallowed hard, her voice growing raspy, and Zane handed her a cup of water that she gulped down greedily. When she was finished, she went on, “But then I found out they were looking for the princess. She doesn’t look anything like me, or Bella. It doesn’t make any sense.”

Zane’s eyes widened. “Bella. She was with you at one point?” Marissa nodded, and he dropped down to one knee beside the sofa, clutching her hand. “Is she okay? Where is she now?”

Marissa’s face fell. She looked down at where Zane was holding her hand. “She, um… I’m not sure. There was a third rogue there at one point. A female. The rogues were planning on killing us, since neither of us was the princess. But then Bella insisted on talking to the female alone. I don’t know if she bargained for my life or what, but… The rogues decided to keep me alive. By the time I woke in the morning, Bella and the female were gone.”

Zane stared at Marissa for a long moment, his skin turning ashen. I reached out to touch his shoulder, but he shrugged me off and stood, pacing over to the window without a word.

Suddenly, Marissa’s girlfriend appeared in the doorway, eyes wide.

“Mari,” she whispered.

Marissa held her arms out to her, and she launched herself into them. Both girls began sobbing and kissing each other all over.

I stood, wanting to give them a little privacy. Gods know they needed it. Callum seemed to understand and stood, too. We both walked a few paces away, where he turned to me, his brow furrowed.

“So they’re looking for Bianca,” he whispered. “But none of the girls they tried to take look like her at all.”

Yeah. Because Bianca wasn’t the princess they were looking for.

I was.

Callum stared at me.

My heart cracked when I saw the expression on his face. He was devastated.

Bella might still be out there, just like Marissa, but she also might not be. What did she say to the female that Marissa described? Did she claim to be able to lead them to Bianca? Or did she simply exchange her life for Marissa’s on a whim? It was hard to believe, especially if she was carrying a baby in her belly.

“Callum. Zane. Wolfless.” The guards appeared behind us, causing all three of us to turn. Zane sniffled, but his face remained expressionless.

“We can explain—” Callum began, but one of the guards cut him off with a raised hand.

“You are to be escorted to the principal’s quarters immediately,” he said. “Prepare to be expelled.”