The Rejected True Heiress (Liora) novel Chapter 100

Zane’s grin tugged at the corner of his mouth. “Enough to make you nervous.”

My nails dug into my palms where I hid, unseen.

“If you’re not going to tell me,” Callum said, his tone even lower, “then get lost. And stay away from her.”

It wasn’t a yell, but the weight behind it made even me tense where I stood.

“You can mess with anyone else you want, but not her.”

Zane leaned back again, unbothered, one brow arching. “Mess with her? Is that still what you think I’m doing?”

“That’s all you do,” Callum said, stepping in closer. “I’ve known you for years. And in all that time? You puppet people for your fun. You poke at serious problems just to watch the fallout, all of which I end up cleaning up after, covering for you. Dating Addison just to see her and Huck blow up. Starting a fire in the lab and pinning it on a quiet wolfless kid. Spreading rumors just to fuel that near-death fight between Hail and Summer. Hail nealy died over a lie you made up, and you sat back and laughed.”

“To be fair,” Zane shrugged, “those were entertaining.”

“Zane,” Callum said, and there was no humor in his voice now. “You’re my friend. A childhood friend, I have put up with more then enough of your behavior out the sake of our families bonds. But you are not a good person. And I won’t let you drag her into whatever mess you’re brewing.”

Zane finally leaned forward, elbows resting on his knees. His grin was still there, but it had thinned, sharpened into something edged.

“See, that’s the thing, Callum. There was a time I would’ve listened to you. I mean, she was your fated mate, after all.”

“Zane—”

“The bond’s broken, Callum,” he cut in, voice low and deliberate. “No strings now. You don’t get to act like she’s yours anymore. Not even pretend. You don’t get to dictate who she spends time with… or who she goes to when she needs help.”

Callum instantly bristled. His fists tightened at his sides until his knuckles went pale, every line of his body drawn taut. His jaw locked like he was holding back every word he wanted to throw.

“Touchy,” he murmured.

And then he picked up the book like nothing had happened, flicking the next page over with lazy fingers.

I stayed hidden, silent, forcing my breath to slow. My legs didn’t move right away.

If I’d been unsure before, I was more now. Zane had always been, well Zane. But whatever game he thought he was playing, I was caught in the middle of it.

I took a few steps back, pushing out of the leaves. Sixty minutes. They already thought I was back inside, in the library.

My boots took off, light over the garden path.

Even without Zane’s help, there had to be the real book there that could help me.