Surrogate for the Alpha Prince in a Coma novel Chapter 130

Chapter 130

Lillian’s POV

“I had to act faster than expected,” Grayson said. “Calvin’s interference moved up the timeline.”

Prime Beta lowered the mail and turned toward us. He gave me only a fleeting glance before refocusing on Grayson. “Calvin made a move against Lillian?”

“Not yet, but it was an increasingly likely possibility,” Grayson said. “I left a corpse in my cell.”

“I’ll do what I can to keep this quiet,” Prime Beta said. “If they haven’t already discovered that you have escaped. The King is not going to be pleased.”

“Continue with your plans, same as before,” Grayson said. “Leave my father’s upset to me.”

Prime Beta nodded. “Yes, your Highness.”

As Prime Beta walked off, I looked around, trying to understand. How could Prime Beta be here? What was the plan they were talking about?

-As I was looking at some of the gorgeous oil paintings on the wall, this one a still life of flowers in a vase, Grayson came up behind me. He placed his hands on my upper arms, gently rubbing from my elbows to my shoulders and back again.

I relaxed slightly under his ministrations, exhaling low and slowly. “I don’t understand how any of this is possible. How can we be here? How could Prime Beta already be here?”

“Because,” Grayson said simply, “I’m the owner of this place.”

Slowly, I turned to face him, my eyes going wide. “…You?”

This time, the small smile did touch his lips. “Does that surprise you?”

“Yes,” I said, but then exhaled in a burst. “But maybe it shouldn’t. When I first came to the palace, I thought you were in a coma. I should really start to expect the unexpected with you.’

“It’s your own fault for underestimating me,” he said. He glanced around, at the regal marble entryway of the manor. “I bought this estate years ago, back before I was even attacked. I knew early on that I would be facing adversaries in my journey toward the throne. So I set up this place.”

“A safe house?” I asked.

“In part,” he replied. “But also a place where I can organize my shadow division.”

Both of my brows went high. “Shadow division?”

“Yes,” he replied. “For years, I’ve been organizing a clandestine legion of warriors hidden among the common people in the capital. They are everywhere, and fiercely loyal to me.”

I had always been impressed by Grayson, but now as I looked at him, I saw him in an even more impressive light. While the world had thought he was in a coma, not only had he been planning to uncover his attackers, he’d been making use of an entire underground empire.

Was there anything he couldn’t do? That he wasn’t capable of?

Maybe not.

1/2

Chapter 130

+15 Bonus

“Are you frightened?” he asked me. “Does it scare you to know the power that I’ve been collecting?”

“No,” I replied. “I’m relieved. I’m glad that you have so many resources, and that you are protected. I started to lower my head. Though now I feel somewhat silly. I was so worried about you. When I overheard what Calvin was going to do, I panicked, and I had to get to you.”

I looked down at my servant’s clothes, realizing now that my actions had always been unnecessary.

He touched my cheek with his thumb, coaxing my gaze back up.

“I will not forget the danger you were willing to put yourself in to rescue me,” he said.

“Grayson,” I whispered, for fear that speaking too loudly would ruin this quiet moment. He looked at me, deep into my eyes like he could see straight down to my soul. I held my breath, wondering what he could see in me.

Too soon, he dropped his gaze away.

“Matilda,” he called.

An older woman stepped forward from one of the side rooms. She was a matronly-looking woman in a respectable outfit. Her expression was stern, no-nonsense, but her eyes were soft and motherly.

P

Comments