Surrogate for the Alpha Prince in a Coma novel Chapter 156

Chapter 156

I knew, in his own way, Teacher was just trying to cheer me up.

“Well, let me know if that changes,” he said. “I’m always happy to bring villains to justice.”

“He’s not a villain just because he lost interest in me,” I said.

“He is, because he’s hurting you every day you are apart,” Teacher said.

My heart warmed, chasing away the chill of Grayson’s absence for a time. I was lucky to have so many people care about me. Not all that long ago, before I came here, I had only the memories of Teacher and my mother and the illusions Calvin had cast for me.

Now, I had my teacher back, and friends in Josie, Benedict, and Clara, as well as among the servants. Ronan was here, still being tended to, but as safe as I could make him. These things were what mattered, what kept me/going day after day.

“Do you think we’ll have more trainees today?” I asked.

“I don’t…” Teacher immediately stiffened. “There’s one. Though he’s likely coming only to bother us.”

“There you are, Lillian,” Reginald said, approaching from behind. I watched Teacher stiffen and lower his head, not saying a word as he so often refused to in Reginald’s presence, which was becoming increasingly common since our sparring match.

“Show me that move again,” he demanded. “I have yet to perfect it.”

“I’ve shown you,” I said.

“I will perfect the move you used to beat me,” he said. “You will not have an advantage next time.”

As demanding and arrogant as Reginald was, I couldn’t lie. I didn’t hate when he came to visit, if only because he insisted on my full focus for his training. When he was here, I had no chance to miss Grayson or wallow in my misery. I only had to focus on the moment, the moves, the thrill of the battle.

For the next hour, I showed Reginald the move I had used against him. His movements were very precise, very technical, but almost too stiff to learn such a fluid deflection. He tried again and again, growing increasingly more frustrated each time.

“This is some form of magic trickery,” he growled after his last attempt had him tripping over his own feel and landing face-first in the dirt. He pushed himself and dusted himself off, his impatience stilting the movements.” I will return tomorrow and you will teach me better,”

“Don’t be so stiff next time,” I told him. “If you want to learn, you have to actually listen to the things I tell you,”

He huffed, then turned and walked away without thanking me or saying goodbye,

Typical.

I rolled my eyes and walked back to Teacher. He was still glaring at the way Reginald had gone.

Several times I had tried to ask Teacher what Reginald meant to him, why he always seemed so angry and quiet when the man was nearby, but Teacher never told me much.

Today, I tried, but in a different way. “He’s insufferable, but he’s not so bad,” I said. “He says women can’t be on the battlefield but he still comes to me for training. If he’d stop being such an ass for five minutes, he might even be tolerable.”

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Chapter 156)

+15 Bgnus

I’d been aiming for a jovial tone. Something light.

Teacher’s face hardened even further. “Stay away from him, Lily.” That sounded like a dire warning coming from him, but with no context.

“Why?” I asked.

He fixed me with an icy stare. “Keep your distance from that prince.” He offered no further explanation.

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