The Rejected True Heiress (Liora and Callum) novel Chapter 287

Liora’s POV

The library was packed the next afternoon. Students were crammed into every available seat, studying for the makeup exam or working on final projects. I’d managed to snag a table in the back corner, away from most of the noise.

Zane showed up twenty minutes late, carrying an energy drink and looking like he’d just rolled out of bed.

“Morning,” he said, dropping into the chair across from me.

“It’s three in the afternoon, Zane.”

“Is it?” He cracked open the energy drink and took a long sip. “Huh. No wonder I’m so tired.”

I rolled my eyes and slid my notes across the table. “We’re starting with the basics. Pack history. You need to memorize all of the founding packs, their sigils, and their trade staples.”

“Ugh. Why can’t I just wing it like I do everything else?”

“Because you failed the written exam,” I said flatly. “That’s literally why we’re here.”

He groaned and slumped forward, resting his forehead on the table. “This is gonna suck.”

“It will if you keep acting like a baby. Now sit up and start reading.”

We spent the next hour going over the material. Zane was actually pretty smart when he bothered to pay attention, but his attention span was about as long as that of a goldfish. Every five minutes, he would get distracted by something—a cute girl walking past, a noise from outside, even his own shoelaces at one point.

“Zane, focus,” I said for what felt like the hundredth time.

“I am focused.” He was currently trying to balance a pencil on his nose.

“You’re really not.”

The pencil fell, and he caught it before it hit the table. “Fine, fine. I’m paying attention now. What were we talking about?”

“War theory. What are the five main strategies used by pack leaders in times of war?”

“Right. The five main strategies…” He tapped his chin with the pencil. “Okay, so there’s… propaganda.”

“Yep.”

“And… And then there’s the other one where you… Uh…”

“Can you not even name two of them?” I asked, rubbing my temples. “Zane, this is, like, basic stuff. The kind of stuff they teach kids in elementary school.”

“Well, sorry for not having fancy-schmancy royal tutors around all the time!” he protested.

“Shh! Zane—”

“You know, you’re cute when you’re annoyed.”

I frowned at him. “What?”

“You get this little crease right here.” He reached across the table and tapped the space between my eyebrows. “It’s adorable.”

I swatted his hand away. “Stop that.”

“Stop what?”

“Flirting with me. We’re supposed to be studying.”

“I can multitask.” He propped his chin on his hand and smiled at me. “Come on, princess. Don’t you think I’m charming?”

“No.”

“Liar.”

“Zane, I’m serious. Cut it out.” I glanced around and noticed that a few students at nearby tables were staring at us. My cheeks heated. “People are looking.”

“So what? Let them look.” He leaned forward, lowering his voice. “We’re supposed to be dating, remember? Gotta make it convincing.”

“We’re supposed to be going on dates. That doesn’t mean you get to hit on me every five seconds.”

“Aw, but where’s the fun in that?”

I kicked him under the table. Hard.

“Ow!” He rubbed his shin, laughing. “Okay, okay. I’ll behave. Mostly.”

“Cool,” she said. “Glad you guys had fun.”

“Mia, wait—” I stood so fast that my chair scraped loudly against the floor. Several students looked over, a few shushing me, but I didn’t care. “It’s not what you think. Let me explain—”

“Save it.” She turned and started walking away.

“Mia!” I grabbed my bag and hurried after her, leaving Zane standing there looking confused.

I caught up with her in the hallway outside the library. She was walking fast, and didn’t slow down.

“Mia, please. Just listen to me for a second.”

“No, you listen to me.” She stopped and whirled on me. Her eyes were wet. “I told you I liked him, Liora. I told you months ago. And you said you weren’t interested. You said you wouldn’t do that to me.”

“I know what I said.”

“And then you go and start dating him anyway!” Her voice cracked. “Do you have any idea how that makes me feel?”

“It’s not real!” I blurted out. “Mia, I’m not actually dating him. It’s fake. It’s—”

“Oh, so now you’re lying to me?” She laughed bitterly and turned away again. “That’s even worse.”

“I’m not lying! Mia, if you would just let me explain—”

“I don’t want your explanations. I don’t want anything from you right now.” She started storming away again. “Just leave me alone, Liora.”

“Mia, please…”

“I said leave me alone!”

The words hit me harder than if she’d slapped me. I just stood there, frozen, as she turned and stormed down the hallway.

I couldn’t take this. Anything else, I could handle. Bianca’s schemes didn’t even compare. But Mia, my best friend in the entire world, being angry with me? It was like a knife twisting in my chest.

I had to tell her the truth. I opened my mouth, ready to shout it all out right there in the middle of the hallway.

But before I could get the words out, the bell rang. Classroom doors burst open, and students poured into the hallway. Within seconds, I was surrounded by a sea of people, and Mia was gone.