The Rejected True Heiress (Liora and Callum) novel Chapter 454

Liora’s POV

The campus was blissfully quiet when we arrived, most of the students still asleep for an early Sunday morning. I was relieved not to run into anyone as we made our way up to the dorms, because I knew if anyone saw us, they would start asking questions about why we were covered in pine needles and dirt, why my feet were bare, and why it seemed like we were dressed for a gala gone wrong.

Mia was sitting up in bed, her hair slightly disheveled, when we entered the room. She gasped when she saw us.

“What the—”

“It’s a long story,” I muttered. I walked over to my bed and sank down onto the edge. I could deal with the consequences of getting my sheets dirty later, once my leg wasn’t throbbing quite as much.

Callum sat in the chair in front of my desk with a sigh. Zane stood in front of the door, looking between the two of us.

“So,” he said, “now that we’re back, can you please explain what’s going on?”

Mia leaned forward. “It wasn’t Callum’s parents again, was it?”

Callum’s expression tightened. “Not exactly.”

I sighed and decided to just get right into it.

“Bianca has been named heir.”

“What?” Mia breathed.

I took a deep breath and explained everything. My father’s strange behavior, the witch, Ambrose, Bianca showing up with a tiara on her head. It still felt unreal, saying it out loud. I kept glancing at my pillow, hoping that I would wake up and find it had all been a bad dream.

But then I thought about Marcus, potentially trapped in the witch’s academy or worse, and it gave me pause.

“If my father’s Delta is being held captive there,” I said, “then I’m not sure if we can trust any of the witches. Not even their council.”

Mia chewed on her lower lip. “Yeah, probably not. But it might be worth looking into.”

I nodded. “Either way, I have to go after Marcus. If he’s in trouble, I won’t leave him in there. He was the only one left in the palace who was on my side.”

“Your mother really won’t help you?” Zane asked.

I snorted. “Even if she wanted to, which she doesn’t, she’s too frail now. She can barely get out of bed, let alone lift a finger against a witch and an enthralled king.”