Surrogate for the Alpha Prince in a Coma novel Chapter 109

Chapter 109

My own anger stirred. I was not my family’s punching bag any longer. For now, at least, until Grayson decided he was done with me, I was Luna Princess.

I was done letting myself be treated like a criminal, worthy of manipulative and apathetic punishment from the people who were supposed to love me the most.

I went to my suitcase, to the hidden compartment inside, and withdrew the envelope of images that Ivory had given me to confront Calvin with.

My things inside had been gone through and carelessly returned, but they hadn’t found the secret compartment, to my relief. The guards must have been looking for a weapon of some kind, or who knew what else. But they lacked imagination. In my toiletries, they had left my thin, metal nail file.

I didn’t need a weapon. What I needed was a means of escape.

Grabbing the file, I went to the door. First, I pressed my ear to it, listening for anyone moving past or standing guard.

My father and Calvin had underestimated me in the past, many times over. I had escaped Calvin’s clutches before because he didn’t think enough of my ability. Would he make the same mistake a second time?

I listened, but heard no one outside my door. My room was in the residential wing, but far from the other family’s rooms. I was much nearer the servants’ quarters, and those should have been empty this time of day, with everyone getting ready for the ceremony.

I slipped my nail file into the crack between the door and the door jam, carefully I pressed down and out, until finally, I hit the lock. I pushed, and the lock clicked. The door popped open.

Pocketing the nail file, I peeked out into the hallway, looking one way and the other. The hallway was blessedly empty.

I wanted to escape, but my main priority was to find the antidote. That would likely be down in my father’s office, but already I could see guards stationed at the foot of the stairs, keeping any guests from entering the residential wing. I wouldn’t be able to sneak past them.

Maybe instead, I could check my father’s bedroom? Perhaps he wanted to store the antidote in a place even more secure than his office. If not, surely his window wasn’t barred like mine was. I could try to escape out the window, like I had the last time I’d been imprisoned. At the very least, I could cause some kind of scene.

Slowly, cautiously, I inched my way down the hallway toward my father’s bedroom door which was at the very end. I knew this house well, so I knew which creaky boards to avoid on the floor.

As I reached the end of the hallway, I saw my father’s door was opened a crack. Inside, I could hear voices,

I stilled, ready to turn around and hide, but my father’s voice/stopped me.

“It’s all right here. All the evidence we cooked up. And it’s only a matter of time until everyone in attendance will see it.”

“Can’t we show them now?” Calvin whined. “I’m tired of waiting. I want to crush Grayson as soon as possible.”

“Not everyone is here yet,” my father said. “Some of the Elder Council have assured me they are coming today. They are the ones who need to see this the most.”

“But it will be today?”

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“Yes, my boy. Patience. When the Elders see this evidence, they will turn their backs on Grayson for good. You will be their new champion, Calvin. By the end of the day, you will be the one they want as heir.”

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