The Rejected True Heiress (Liora and Callum) novel Chapter 468

“Someone like Callum,” I whispered.

Mrs. Oakes nodded. “She just needs enough to make him mark her. Then, once the bond is in place, she will have a direct connection to his mind and therefore no need for magic. She will be able to compel him to do whatever she wants, and she will be able to step into her full inheritance with Belinda by her side. And once Bianca is firmly established and married to Callum, Belinda will have access to the entire royal family.” She paused. “With that kind of power, she could influence policy, make decisions, essentially rule through Bianca without anyone realizing it.”

I ran my hands over my face. “A witch on the throne,” I muttered. “Sounds fantastic.” I peeked at her through my fingers. “No offense.”

“None taken. Mages were never meant to be in political power. We’re educators, healers, academics. Not Queens.”

I swallowed, lowering my hands. “What am I supposed to do to stop this?”

Mrs. Oakes glanced around the tavern, even though the soundproof barrier was still shimmering around us. “You’re still the true heir. And as long as you and Callum are together, Bianca sees you as an obstacle. If you want to keep him safe and be able to make moves without winding up like your father or Marcus or any of the others, then you need to make her think she’s won.”

I stared at her. “What are you saying?”

“Break up with Callum. Publicly.” Mrs. Oakes’ voice was matter-of-fact, like she was discussing the weather. “Make it messy. Make it convincing. If Bianca thinks your relationship is over, she’ll focus her energy elsewhere.”

“You want me to fake a breakup.”

“I want you to stay alive. And I want Callum to stay free of Bianca’s influence. Because without him, without that mark, she won’t be able to take the throne. You know that as well as anyone.”

“A Queen needs a consort,” I murmured.

The bartender glanced over at me, then went back to wiping his glass.

Once she was gone, I looked down at the wood grains in the table, searching for answers. The very idea of a breakup, fake or not, made my stomach churn. Callum was already doubting whether I really loved him. If I brought this up now, he might assume I was giving up on us entirely.

But if I didn’t do this, then Bianca would push harder. She would find a way to get her claws into him before I had a chance to stop this. She would use her magic to twist his mind until he wasn’t Callum anymore. Until he was just another puppet, like my father, like Daisy.

I couldn’t let that happen.

Even if it meant losing him.