Surrogate for the Alpha Prince in a Coma novel Chapter 134

Chapter 134

Lillian’s POV

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I woke up at dawn, with the sun cresting just over the distant tree line. The gentle light shone in on me through the floor to ceiling windows on the walls opposite the bed. The sun warmed me, but at the same moment, I realized I should have already been warm. I had been when I fell asleep the night before, wrapped up in Grayson’s

arms.

Turning on the mattress, I reached for his side of the bed, only to find it empty and cold. How long had he been gone?

I was loathe to get out of this comfortable bed, but my heart lurched at Grayson’s absence. This wasn’t unusual really. Many times I would wake to find him busy or gone. Yet, after what had happened the night before, the way my heart had opened, I felt myself yearning for his closeness when I awakened.

Annoyance flared inside of me. What a foolish notion. I didn’t need him. He wasn’t my true lover, regardless of what my foolish heart wanted.

I rolled onto my back in a huff and stared up at the ceiling. When had I become so hopeless?

Well, no longer. I cared for Grayson, but I didn’t need him.

One thing was certain though, I wasn’t going to find anymore sleep. My irritation with myself had fully awakened

Grumbling, I threw back the covers and rolled out of bed. I walked from the bed to find my nightgown. Weirdly, it wasn’t on the floor where Grayson had left it the night before. I circled, looking around, and surprised when I saw it draped over the back of a nearby chair.

Had Grayson done that? To get the wrinkles out?

More warmth flooded through me, even as I tried to ignore it.

As comfortable as the nightgown was, however, I wasn’t fully convinced I should be walking around this place in thin silk. Though what choice did I have?

Glancing over, I saw the door to the walk-in closet was open, a dim light on inside. A flash of color caught my eye. Walking closer, I grabbed the handle of the closet door and slid it open further. Grayson’s suits and other clothes took up exactly one-half of the enormous closet. The other half had a few dresses, but room for more.

“No, heart,” I commanded my most foolish organ. “This doesn’t mean anything.” It certainly didn’t mean that Grayson intended for me to be here, for us to make this place a home together.

I quickly changed into a dress, surprised when even the shoes on the ground were the right size. Everything fit me perfectly, like it had been planned just for me.

None of this made any sense, but I was done overthinking it now. Dressed, I could finally leave this room, and without Grayson’s supervision, I very much intended to snoop.

What was this place? What had Grayson been up to here?

I fully intended to find out.

Stepping outside of the room, I immediately spotted two servants coming near. I stood still, half expecting to be reprimanded for leaving my room. Instead, the servants smiled at me as they passed.

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Chapter 134

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aghus

“Good morning, Lady Laila.’

“Uh… good morning,” I told them.

They continued walking. I waited until they had rounded the corner before I went the other way, the way they had come from, ready to snoop. I opened doors and peered inside.

Bedroom. Bedroom. Bathroom.

I paused at a small reading room, with wall to wall bookcases. The books were well-read, well-cared for, and the room was small and cozy, with two comfortable-looking tall-back chairs set facing a fireplace. At once, I wanted to spend more time here, curling up with a good book.

For now, I closed the door and backed out of the room

At the end of the hallway was a stairwell down. As I started to descend, I heard Prime Beta’s voice.

“Unfortunately the stench of the corpse drew attention,” Prime Beta said. “Your escape has been discovered. The King’s guard is desperately searching for you. I’ve even been questioned.”

“I apologize for the trouble,” Grayson said.

“They learned nothing from me,” Prime Beta said.

“I trust you,” Grayson said. “As I trust those that know where I am. No one will find me here.”

Worry crept up my throat. I inched closer to the room in which they spoke. As I neared, peeking in through the open door, I saw an office with a large mahogany desk in front of a set of wide windows. Beyond the windows was a garden.

Grayson immediately glanced at me.

“There’s more,” Prime Beta continued, undeterred. “There is rumor that the Elders are planning on announcing a new successor at your father’s upcoming birthday banquet.”

“Calvin, no doubt,” Grayson said.

“I believe that to be the most likely possibility,” Prime Beta said.

Grayson hummed. “Return at once to not draw suspicion. Continue to speak of my innocence, but do not get yourself in trouble. And please, keep an eye on Josie for me.”

Prime Beta nodded his head. “Of course, your Highness. If you will excuse me.” With that he turned and walked right by me at the door. He glanced at me and nodded, but didn’t seem at all surprised to find me standing there eavesdropping.

Soon, he had disappeared down the hallway and Grayson called me, “Lily. You don’t have to be a shadow in my door. Not here.”

“Right. Sorry. Okay,” I mumbled and stepped into the office.

Grayson stood up from the desk and walked around it to approach me. The soft look he gave me made my heart stir. Not trusting that, I looked away at once.

“What should I do?” I asked him. “Should I go back to the palace?”

“No,” he said. “If they know I’m gone, they will know you are gone too. They will have connected the two. You are not going anywhere near that palace without me.”

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I glanced back at him. “You are going back?”

“I am,” he said. “But not until the right moment for a grand return.”

“But the evidence Calvin has against you -”

“I’m handling all that,” Grayson said. “But… there is something you could help me with.”

“What is it?” I was ready and willing to help, eager to do anything other than just stand here feeling/useless.

“For too long the Elder Council and the court has been stacked against me. It’s past time I have my own allies in the palace. And there’s none stronger than the First Warrior.”

“You want me to contact my Teacher,” I said and lightly shook my head. “He’s with the rogues now. He won’t come here willingly. Plus he’s been exiled.”

“I don’t think that will stop him,” Grayson said. “He feels an obligation to protect the people he sees as his. Whether that’s the rogues, whether it’s the members of the pack, I can’t say. But all are in danger right now. If we offer him a chance to find out the truth of what’s going on, I’m sure he will take it.”

I nodded, seeing the sense there. “I will contact him.”

“That’s all I can ask,” he said but seemed determined. “I am done standing on the back foot. It’s time to turn things around.”

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