Surrogate for the Alpha Prince in a Coma novel Chapter 127

Chapter 127

Lillian’s POV

I backed away from the door, shock flooding through me. What had I just heard? What had I been about to do? Make pleas to a man who… wanted to kill Grayson?

When I was far enough away that I was sure I wouldn’t be heard, I turned and I ran – not back to my own room but to find Prime Beta. The hour was growing later, and I hadn’t seen Prime Beta in a while. I had no idea where he could be. In my panic, I went to the only place I could think of where I might find him.

I ran to the servants’ wing, straight to the servants’ quarters. I had been there before. When I had first arrived, had been given a room here, but that felt like a different life now. Everything had changed, and all because of Grayson.

But in my heart, I was the same person I had always been. I might be living like nobility now, I might have always been the daughter of the Gamma, but I had never been afraid of hard work, of going places that other nobles might fight unseemly or beneath them.

Servants were just people, trying to make the best out of the hand they’d been dealt. Just like anyone. They didn’t have the fancy dresses or attend the big balls, they had their own parties, their own friends and families, their

own loves.

I didn’t think them beneath me. And right now, I needed their help. I wasn’t above asking for it, even if they looked at me like I’d lost my mind.

“Please,” I said approaching the first servant in the hallway that I could find. “I need to find Prime Beta.”

The servant I accosted opened their mouth but no sound came out. Maybe she was afraid.

“Please, speak freely,” I said. “I mean you no harm.”

“It’s not you she’s scared of,” said Ivory, nearby. She leaned against the doorway of a small bedroom, her arms crossed over her chest. “Prince Grayson has lost a lot of prominence, and so have you.”

“I’m just trying to find Prime Beta,” I said, switching my attention to Ivory, happy to see a familiar face. “Please, it’s a matter of life or death.”

“No one’s going to help you,” Ivory said. “Turn back. Go back to your room and don’t bother us anymore.”

“I’m sorry,” I said. “I don’t mean to put anyone in a compromising position. I know my being here is unusual, and I am sorry for intruding on the space that is supposed to be free of people like me making their requests. But I wouldn’t ask if it wasn’t important.”

Ivory looked at me critically. “I heard what you did with my pictures.”

I braced myself for a verbal berating, feeling like I’d probably earned it.

Instead, Ivory shook her head. “You are bolder than I thought you were, I figured you’d blackmail Calvin or something. I didn’t think you’d try to throw everything into chaos.”

“Unfortunately it didn’t do much good,” I said. “Calvin’s lies persisted, and now Grayson is in prison and…” I swallowed down my rising panic, trying to keep my head, to be sensible when the fear was so very nearly overwhelming. “Calvin wants Grayson dead. I overheard him, just now, ordering someone to try to kill him.”

Ivory looked behind me and I saw some other servants in the hallway, listening.

1/3

Chapter 127

+15 Bohus

“Prince Grayson is in trouble?”

“I need to tell Prime Beta,” I said. “He’ll know what to do.”

“Prime Beta isn’t here,” Ivory said. “He left and isn’t expected back for a few days.”

“That’s too long,” I said. “There’s no time to waste. Calvin made it seem urgent, like the assassin could move at any moment.” I shook my head to clear it. “I’ll have to stop this on my own.”

“What can you do against an assassin?” Ivory asked.

“I don’t know, but…” I looked at Ivory with renewed urgency. “I can’t do anything about an assassin, but I can get Grayson out of here.”

“How in the world are you going to do that?” Ivory asked.

“The dungeons are well-guarded,” one of the servants said. “A noble would never be able to move freely in or out.”

“A noble wouldn’t,” I said. “But servants do. To feed the prisoners, to clean the cells. I’ve been down there, I know I’ve seen them.”

“You can’t be thinking…?” Ivory said.

I looked at her with urgency. “Ivory, please. I need to borrow some clothes.”

“If Calvin is involved, I want to help,” Ivory said. “After the lies he’s told me, I will do anything to undermine him.”

“We want to help too,” said one of the other servants. “Prince Grayson has always been good to us. We don’t want him to be killed.”

“Especially if Calvin is behind it,” Ivory added.

“Thank you,” I said, warmed by their assistance.

“Let’s get you out of that dress,” Ivory said. She grabbed me by the wrist and dragged me into her room.

Twenty minutes later, I was dressed in servant’s clothes, with a pair of men’s servant’s clothes hidden on my person. I sought out a knife as well, and hid that, too. If I couldn’t get Grayson out, I could at least help give him means to defend himself in case he was unable to shift for any reason.

“Keep your head down and stay silent,” Ivory said. “No one ever looks twice at us. You shouldn’t be recognized.”

“Okay,” I said, feeling nervous but determined. I wasn’t going to let my fear stop me, Grayson was in danger and that drove me forward. I would do whatever I could to protect him.

Ivory and I connected with the servants who usually brought the food to the prisoners and they agreed to help, sneaking us among them. To my relief, they were leaving soon to deliver dinner. I slipped into their ranks, falling into line with them as we stepped out of the servants’ quarters and headed to the kitchen.

Along the way, I held my breath, recognizing some court members, but, just as Ivory had said, I kept my head down and no one looked my way.

Near the end of the hallway Ophelia was standing with her entourage. I held my breath again. Other court members I could understand not noticing me, but Ophelia had it out for me from the start. If anyone would recognize me, she would.

2/3

hapter 127

+15 Bohus

It was extremely difficult to keep my gaze down, to not watch, to see if she would look at me and recognize me. My heart raced as adrenaline surged through me.

What would I do if she recognized me? Grayson needed me. I needed to get to him. I couldn’t be caught here.

But no. The others hadn’t recognized me. There was no reason to believe that Ophelia would be any different. She had been raised as a noble, she would never look twice at a servant.

I followed the others to the corner and very nearly turned the corner. I exhaled, so close to escape. Just around this corner was the kitchen. I’d look even more convincing as a servant if I was carrying a tray of food, and in the dim light of the dungeons, I wasn’t likely to be recognized.

But then, a voice called out.

Ophelia’s voice was firm. “You. Servant. Wait.”

BIG SALE: 3500 bonus free fou you

Comments

Support

Share