Surrogate for the Alpha Prince in a Coma novel Chapter 143

Chapter 143

Chapter 143

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Lillian’s POV

“Back off, Ophelia,” Clara said from my side and slightly behind me. “She has already proven herself to the King and to all of us. She doesn’t need to prove anything to you.”

“I have the royal family’s ear, you know,” Ophelia said. “If I tell them you are doing a bad job, they will believe me.”

“Back off,” Clara said.

Ophelia’s gaze slid to Clara. “Who are you, again? You fell from grace with my group and now no one knows you. If you weren’t always in the Luna Princess’s shadow, then you would never be invited to anything at all.”

Clara wilted again, her shoulders curling, her head lowering.

I would have attempted to de-escalate this, but seeing Ophelia insult and mock one of my best friends sent a spark of protective fury up inside of me. Who did Ophelia think she was, putting everyone else down? She was just a member of this court, on the same level as Clara. No one was above anyone else here, but it seemed like Ophelia still needed to be taken down a peg or two.

“We are all equals here,” I said.

“Is that what you think?” Ophelia said.

Irked, I gestured toward the archery range. “Perhaps you’d like to show me your talents with the bow.”

She scoffed. “A weapon that hits from that distance has no honor. I’d rather have a bout with a sword. Though you already know what will happen, don’t you? I’m still better in the ring than you.”

“You can say what you want about me,” Clara said. “But you have a lot of nerve speaking to the Luna Princess like that.”

“Don’t worry about my well-being, Clara. Lillian might be the Luna Princess right now, but with my sister back, it’s only a matter of time before that changes.”

“You don’t know what you’re talking about,” I snapped, hating how the words hit a nerve inside of me.

Her smirk became a full-on grin, as she seemingly realized the same. “They have a history together, you know. We all grew up together, but the two of them are special. She saved his life once when we were kids, making the entire royal family forever grateful to mine. Grayson might have moved on when he thought Odette was dead, but now that she’s back, it won’t be long until he wants to stop rooting around in the trash.”

“Lily isn’t trash,” Clara snapped.

Ophelia huffed a harsh laugh. “If I were you, Lillian, I would start thinking of a back-up plan for when he kicks you right to the curb. It won’t be long now.”

My feelings were tangled, my hurt and fear twisted around my jealousy, Grayson hadn’t returned to the room last night. He was still with Odette now. I didn’t know what they were doing. I didn’t know what they had done.

Grayson and I were bonded, but that bond had never been built on love.

Ophelia was playing on all of my insecurities, pulling at the fraying edges of my heart just to watch the whole thing unravel. I was done giving her the satisfaction.

“We can bout with swords,” I said. “I’m up for it.”

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Chapter 143

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“Good,” Ophelia said, her grin unwavering. “Should we use real blades or those toy swords your instructor is handing out?”

“If you cut Lillian, Grayson won’t forgive you,” Clara said.

“He’ll get over it if my sister bats her eyelashes enough,” Ophelia said.

I pushed past Ophelia, walking toward the weapons rack. Teacher was already there, holding two blunt swords. He handed them out, one for each of us.

“A coward’s teacher,” Ophelia mocked, taking the sword.

“I am also protecting you,” Teacher said. “No blood will be spilled on this ground today.”

Ophelia scoffed. “Once again, you make a mockery of real training,” she spit in my direction. “If I was the assistant, I would stop this from happening and -”

“You aren’t the assistant,” I snapped, finally having enough. “You might have skill at fighting, but rather than using it for good, you position yourself above others to push them down. I am the Luna Princess, whether you like it or not, whether you approve or not. You do not get to decide that, and I am done allowing you to push anyone down, including me.”

Ophelia’s smug smile finally slipped as rage filled her face. “You are such a low-borne, untalented, weak, little bitch that I -”

“Ophelia,” gasped a soft feminine voice.

We all turned toward the entrance of the training grounds, where Odette stood, her arm looped through one of Grayson’s. Reginald was on her other side, looking around the grounds with a cool indifference. The Queen was behind them, with some of her attendants.

“Please don’t fight,” Odette said. She was pale and frail, leaning heavily on Grayson, who looked at me with an unreadable expression.

Ophelia frowned slightly, even as she handed the sword back to Teacher and lowered her head. “I apologize for my outburst. I don’t know what came over me. I’m just competitive I guess?” She looked back to Grayson, walking slowly toward him. “You know how I can be, Grayson. Sometimes my emotions get the better of me.”

As Grayson’s expression shifted to Ophelia, it chilled. “You should not bully others,” he said. “Especially not my mate.”

“I’m sure she didn’t mean any harm,” Odette said lightly. “But don’t do it again, Ophelia, okay? We only want friends in court. We are a family of peacemakers, who fight only when we have to. You cannot forget our true purpose.”

Ophelia lowered her head into nearly a bow. “I’m sorry, sister,”

“What is the meaning of all this, anyway?” Reginald asked. “These men are too old or too young to be warriors, and there are women training here? This is nothing more than child’s play, an idle waste of time.”

Ophelia’s face turned red, her eyes flaring.

Reginald’s words weren’t just an insult to me, and to all the women here, but to her as well. She had been training since before I had even arrived. But with Odette and Grayson here, and the Queen, I knew she wouldn’t say a word.

I would though. I wasn’t afraid of tarnishing my reputation if it meant defending what was right. I had stood up on this same topic to the Queen. Did anyone think I would cower to a prince?

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Chapter 143

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“This training harms no one,” I said. “It only brings benefits to the people and to the pack.”

I spoke with passion, but Reginald didn’t even look at me, rudely ignoring me.

Suddenly, I started to feel well and truly alone. Looking around, others were averting their gazes.

Teacher, who had been there only a moment ago was no longer anywhere to be found.

“These people should be doing something more productive,” Reginald said. “Something more in line with their. actual talents. Like, needlepoint or the like. Women and the weak are not meant for swordplay.”

“I disagree,” I said at once.

Reginald turned toward the Queen. “Does your kingdom truly allow this?”

The Queen opened her mouth, but it was Grayson who answered. “It does. And Lillian isn’t just a participant but one of the main trainers. You should listen when she speaks to you.”

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