The Rejected True Heiress (Liora and Callum) novel Chapter 229

Liora’s POV

I slipped into the leathers, feeling strangely soothed by the familiar, cool material against my skin. I couldn’t recall the last time I’d worn these. Before I left the palace, that was for sure.

When I emerged from the locker room, still adjusting the straps across my chest and around my legs, I spotted Zane and Callum already standing near the training area. Zane was stretching out on one of the mats, and Callum was standing off to the side, going through his pack.

He looked up at me as I approached, and I saw something flicker across his face when he saw the leathers strapped across my skin. The tips of his ears reddened. He quickly looked away, throat bobbing, but I knew I wasn’t imagining the way his gaze flicked over my body.

“Good. You’re all ready.” Marcus placed his hands on his hips. “Before we head out, I’d like to test your combat skills. See if anything needs brushing up. Zane, go spar with one of the Gammas.” He gestured to me and Callum next. “You two partner up. Grapples only.”

Callum shot me that look again but nodded, and we took our places on the mat. We circled each other at first. I watched his posture for an opening, then lunged when I spotted one.

We fell into an easy routine after that, one that was pure muscle memory now from weeks of combat classes and more times sparring together than I wanted to think about. Callum twisted out of my reach, but I was faster. I hooked my leg behind his knee and pulled us both to the mat, grunting as he got a good elbow jab in on my side.

“Don’t go easy on her, Callum,” I could hear Marcus saying as we grappled on the mat. “She’s a better fighter than she’s letting on.”

“Trust me,” Callum grunted, “I know.” He tried to flip us so he was on top. I kicked my foot up beneath him, pressing my sole into his abdomen, and gave him a shove. Callum went sliding back across the mat, but he didn’t waste a moment.

His arms shot out. Before I could react, he had wrapped his left arm around my throat, hooking it into the crook of his other arm. His legs wrapped around my hips, and with one pull, he had me gasping for breath.

Marcus crouched, watching the hold with interest. “You’re just gonna let him get you in a headlock that easily?” he asked through our mindlink.

I struggled for air, bucking my hips at the same time. “I don’t have my wolf. I’m weaker these days.”

“No, that’s not it. I think you’re just too smitten to pay attention to his tells. He leaves his left side open like a fucking book. Do something about it.”

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