The Rejected True Heiress (Liora and Callum) novel Chapter 543

Liora’s POV

“Liora.”

My name came out in my father’s voice. His real voice, not whatever that thing was that had taken him from me for months. The voice that I’d heard all my life, ever since I could remember, full of love and adoration.

“Dad,” I whispered, clutching his jacket. “You’re—”

“I’m here.” He pulled back just far enough to look at me, his hands still gripping my arms. His eyes were red and shining, but they were his, all the way through.

“I saw everything,” he said. “All of it.” He sniffled. “I watched my daughter lose everything I failed to protect her from. And I watched her win it all back with nothing.” His mouth split into a grin that was such a relief to see I could have sobbed. “I have never been prouder of anyone in my entire life.”

I pressed my face into his chest and breathed him in.

“I found the box,” I said into his coat. “I didn’t know Mom was…”

“I know.” His hand cradled the back of my head. “She would have loved watching you throw it. You were almost as good at it as she once was.””

A laugh escaped me, a wet and sad sound, but a laugh nonetheless.

Just then, the door burst open again, and Marcus ran out onto the parapet, gasping, his sword clutched his hand. The guard’s armor he was wearing was covered in blood, his hair hanging in his face, but he was alive.

“Your Highness.” He dropped to one knee, still breathless, bowing his head. “The usurper has been arrested.”

My father stood, helping me to my feet, and walked over to Marcus. I watched, shivering in Callum’s hoodie, as he clapped a hand on Marcus’s shoulder.

Callum, who had quietly faded into the background to give me space to reunite with my father, stepped up beside me. I turned to look at him, and the world stopped.

Heat suddenly washed over me as our eyes locked, all the way from the very top of my head to the tips of my toes. Callum felt it, too, if the way he was staring at me, eyes wide and unblinking like I was the only woman in the world, was any indication.

“Mate,” my wolf breathed. All the ferocity was gone out of her. She sounded reverent.

For the first time since we’d met, I finally felt it. The bond in all its glory, shining so bright it was nearly blinding. A true mate bond, fated, fully powerful. No missing wolf to dull the shine. No one standing in our way.

Callum’s lips parted.

“Liora…”

My father looked between the two of us. Marcus, on his feet now, cleared his throat and silently nodded his head toward the exit, giving my father a meaningful look.

“We should go see to things below,” my father said. He paused beside Callum on his way to the stairwell door and gripped his shoulder. “You held on to me at the cost of yourself. I won’t forget it.”

The door closed behind them, and we were alone with the wind and the flags and the whole glittering city below.

Callum’s hand rose and cupped my jaw, thumb tracing along my cheekbone. The bond pulled tight between us, and I heard his breath catch at the exact moment mine did.

“You feel it too,” I said.

“I’ve felt it for a year.” His thumb kept moving. “It just finally decided to answer me back.”

I turned my face into his palm.

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