The Rejected True Heiress (Liora and Callum) novel Chapter 558

Liora

The front gates of the castle loomed ahead, tall and ancient, carved with snarling wolves and curling vines of power long since sealed into the stone. They didn’t creak so much as they breathed, like they sensed us standing there.

And tension.

Behind me, I could hear Jessica fidgeting with her bracelet, trying too hard not to say anything first. The others were buzzing low with excitement, the kind that made people ask dumb questions just to fill the silence. Even Mia looked conflicted, part awe, part suspicion. But I didn’t speak.

Because I wanted to see how far Bianca would take this lie.

I had no clue how she was planning to open this door. No theory, no guess. I’m certain she’ll fail. There were rules to these gates, old ones. They didn’t bow to crowns or reputations. Only blood.

Bianca stood at the center, every strand of hair perfectly curled, her skirt fanned like she’d stepped out of a storybook illustration. But it was all for show. Her composure was too perfect. Too forced.

Her hand trembled ever so slightly as she lifted it toward the pedestal in front of the gate, a carved wedge of silverwood, half-sunk into the stone, its edges glowing faintly with ancestral runes. I knew the design well.

They pulsed, faint but steady, like a heartbeat waiting to recognize its own.

Bianca hovered, her fingers close but not touching.

She was stalling. I could see it in the tightness of her jaw, the flicker of uncertainty behind her lashes.

And I could feel it in the magic. The gate hadn’t even stirred.

She had no idea how to do this.

And the truth was, she shouldn’t be able to.

I folded my arms, watching her. No comment. No smirk. Just stillness.

Waiting.

She was going to make a fool of herself.

Unless someone—or something—interfered.

Bianca’s polished smile twitched, betraying her. The others, all wide-eyed and impatient, buzzed around her like moths around royalty. But they were starting to notice.

Jessica tilted her head, tone syrupy. “Bianca? Is everything alright?”

Bianca blinked. “Yes, of course. I just—momentarily forgot the order of the steps. That’s all. It’s a complicated spell sequence, you know how these things are.”

She laughed lightly, like forgetting your own ancestral unlocking method was completely reasonable.

I smiled.

It was a small thing. Barely a twitch. But Jessica caught it.

She spun on her heel, eyes narrowed. “What are you laughing at, you wolfless?!”

I met her gaze calmly. “Your voice carries.”

Bianca stepped in with a faux-gentle hand on Jessica’s arm. “It’s fine, Jessica. Don’t mind her. She’s probably just... jealous. Poor thing’s never even seen a castle this grand.”

The group giggled. Easy laughter. Pack behavior.

Jessica still looked like she wanted to claw at me.

I turned my head slightly and looked at her.

That was all.

VERIFYCAPTCHA_LABELVerify