The Rejected True Heiress (Liora and Callum) novel Chapter 461

Liora’s POV

As I watched the shredded pieces of Mrs. Oakes’ note scatter across the floor, swirling around my feet like tiny pieces of confetti, something in me snapped.

I looked up slowly, staring at Bianca through my brows. I dragged my gaze over her, taking in her haughty stance, her perfectly manicured nails tapping against her folded arms. Her lips were curved like this was all a joke to her. Like she only saw humiliating me and my entire family, my entire kingdom, as entertainment.

“You think you’re so clever,” I hissed, curling my hands into tightly balled fists at my sides. “But I’m going to expose you for the liar you are. I’m going to break whatever spell that witch put on my father, and I’m going to take back what’s mine.”

Bianca laughed. “Oh, Liora,” she said, shaking her head. “You really think it’s that simple?”

“I know it is.”

“You don’t know anything.” She stepped closer, lowering her voice to a near-whisper. “You want to try to dethrone me? Fine. Go ahead and try. But if you do, I’ll make sure your precious Delta never sees the light of day again.”

My breath caught. Marcus was alive?

Bianca’s eyes glimmered like she noticed the realization forming there. “Oh, yes,” she whispered. “Marcus is alive. Don’t worry; he’s comfortable for now. Well. Sort of.” She cocked her head and smiled. “That could change at any moment, of course.”

The hallway tilted. “Where is he?” I bit out.

“Somewhere safe. Somewhere you’ll never find him.” She paused, examining her nails. “And if you cause any more trouble, it won’t just be Marcus who suffers. Your mother is so frail these days. It would be such a shame if something happened to her, too.”

My mother. She was threatening Marcus, and now my sick, fragile, and defenseless mother.

Coward.

I saw red.

Before I could think, I lunged forward, my hands reaching for Bianca’s throat.

“Tell me where he is, or I swear to the gods—”

I didn’t get a chance to finish. Someone grabbed me from behind, yanking me backward with enough force to knock the air from my lungs. My back slammed against the lockers, metal digging into my spine, and then there was a hand clasping around my throat like a vise.

I gasped, clawing at the thick, sturdy fingers. They didn’t budge. I looked up, following the muscular arm with my eyes until they reached a cold, emotionless face.

The girl holding me was massive; easily six feet tall with shoulders like a linebacker and arms thick with muscle. I recognized her vaguely from around campus—she was on the women’s rugby team, if I recalled correctly—but I had never paid much attention to her before, because she had always seemed to keep to herself.

She had dark hair pulled back in a tight bun, wore a black tracksuit, and most jarringly of all, she had eyes that were completely blank, like she wasn’t even present in her own body.

“Liora, meet Daisy,” Bianca said, stepping forward. “She’s been very helpful lately.”

The girl’s grip tightened. I tried to pull her hand away, but it was like trying to move a boulder. My vision started to blur at the edges.

“Daisy’s wolf is strong,” Bianca went on. “Not as strong as yours used to be, of course. But you don’t have a wolf anymore, so I guess that doesn’t matter, does it?”

“C’mon.” He wrapped one arm around my waist and gently helped me to my feet, which took some effort. My legs felt like they were made of ropes, and I was still seeing stars. I nearly collapsed, and Zane cursed under his breath, keeping me upright. “Woah. It’s alright. I’m here.”

As I steadied myself against Zane’s shoulder, I looked over, watching Bianca and her two companions; mostly, I studied Daisy. I watched her slow, trudging gait as she disappeared around the corner, and noticed the way her arms swung at her sides.

Something was off with that girl. I could sense it, just as I could sense that something was off with my father.

“She’s got a fucking rugby player now as her bodyguard,” I muttered.

Zane followed my gaze. “Yeah. I know that girl. Biggest female in the school. I think her father is a Beta.” He glanced at me. “She’s tough.”

I reached up and touched my sore neck. “Tell me about it.”

I thought back to what Mia said this morning, about the witch’s council. At the time, I thought it seemed too dangerous, that Belinda might have too many allies at the academy to risk speaking to anyone about what was going on.

But black magic was definitely at play here. If I wasn’t certain of it before, then I definitely was now.

In that moment, I decided to take a little trip to the academy myself as soon as I could. Maybe there, I could find answers. Maybe there, I could find Marcus.

First, though, I needed to get through a week of school without getting myself killed.

Right now, that felt easier said than done.