The Rejected True Heiress (Liora and Callum) novel Chapter 263

The servant’s chin wobbled. He looked between the four of us in terror. My heart sank somewhat, and I stepped forward, placing a hand on Callum’s shoulder.

“Let him go, Callum.”

“What?” Callum hissed.

“He won’t tell us what we need to know if you’re scaring the shit out of him,” Zane pointed out.

Callum released the servant, but he didn’t stop glaring at him.

I turned to the servant. “Did Ambrose put you up to this?” I asked.

The servant didn’t answer. Just stared at me in horror.

I lowered my voice. “It’s okay. You can tell me.”

For a long moment, he didn’t speak. I could hear Callum growl beside me, but I held my hand out, stopping him. Finally, the servant sank back down onto the bar stool behind him and scrubbed his hands over his face.

“I… I’m so sorry,” he whispered, clutching his hair so tightly with both hands that it came partially free from the knot. “I didn’t want to do it. I really didn’t. But Lord Ambrose, he… He beats us if we don’t comply. Starves us. And what he does to the women…” He shook his head. “He said he would hurt my girlfriend. I couldn’t bear it if my girl had to deal with that!”

I looked at Callum, Zane, and Mia. Mia was still clutching Zane’s chest, but her expression softened slightly.

“I could tell you weren’t comfortable with it,” she said quietly. “I’m not angry with you.”

The servant’s head drooped. “I really am sorry. I didn’t know what else to do. We’re all trapped here, in his house. He takes our IDs and doesn’t pay us enough to leave. We’re basically Ambrose’s slaves.”

The servant still looked uncertain, but he stood, wringing his hands, and followed us out of the room. We hurried down the hall, where the chimes grew louder. Everyone had moved to the chapel. I could see the flickering of candles coming from beneath the doors.

Callum and Zane rushed forward, grabbing the handles of the grand double doors. They nodded at each other, then flung them open.

We rushed into the chapel. The room was dim, lit only by hundreds of candles lining the pathway up to the altar. The students had gathered, all watching the ceremony with awe. Ambrose and his fiancee stood there in front of the priest, holding hands, gazing into each other’s eyes.

Even from here, I could see the predation in his eyes. Black and beady, like a falcon swooping in for the kill.

“Stop the wedding!” I cried out.

Everyone turned to us.