Surrogate for the Alpha Prince in a Coma novel Chapter 33

Chapter 33

Grayson’s POV

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Lillian was avoiding me. Not that I cared, but it was annoying to have to divert my sparse resources to keep an eye on her. She otily returned to my room late at night, curling into a ball on the far side of the bed and saying nothing to me. I said nothing either, allowing this game to play out. For now.

In her sleep, Lillian was a grabby, cuddly monster, yet not once did she turn into my side or seek out my warmth: That meant she likely didn’t actually sleep. Out of guilt? Maybe her conscious was bothering her. Surely soon, she would admit that I was correct and would reveal her lingering feelings for Calvin.

At the thought, a growl escaped the back of my throat, unbidden. Immediately, I tampered down on it, at the same time, pushing down all the negative feelings such a thought had wrought. Foolish emotion was useless, as well as made no sense.

This woman meant nothing to me. I only needed my suspicions confirmed so that she could be dealt with properly. For now, I didn’t sleep either. Staring at the ceiling, I waited for her to turn, to reach for me, or to confess.

thing. Instead, she stayed on the edge of the bed like a statue, not once moving, not even to make herself comfortable.

the morning, she stood and quietly left the room.

Confusingly, I just let her go. Shouldn’t I have confronted her?

Why were my thoughts so tangled where she was concerned? I allowed her to get away with far more than I would have ever allowed with anyone else.

Resting at the edge of the bed, my projected wolf lifted his head and repositioned so he was closer to the spot that Lillian had been. I pretended not to notice.

I awaited my breakfast, my stomach rumbling. When Lillian brought it, I would confront her about her behavior. Yet, instead, Prime Beta entered the room carrying my morning tray of food.

“What is this?” I asked

“Your sum

to deliver your food,” Prime Beta said, his jaw set with annoyance.

I snapped. “She is supposed to serve me. If she refuses, it makes this entire situation look Anger flared inside of me, red hot. She said she didn’t want to betray me, but here she was putting n danger.

od because she wanted to avoid me. Like a child. Like I had done anything to deserve that treatment. Not that I cared.

Prime Beta came toward me and lowered the chair on the bedside table.

“This is ridiculous,” I said. “I am not playing these kinds of games to her. Find her and bring her to me. Now.”

Prime Beta grit his teeth. “Yes, Alpha.”

“Are you questioning me, too, now, Beta?” I snapped, some of my irritation spilling out. I was already suffering enough insubordination from Lillian. My Beta was supposed to be my right hand man, my arm where I could not reach. Never once had he acted so disrespectful to me before.

“No, Alpha.”

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Chapter 33

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“Then explain yourself.”

A muscle ticked in the Prime Beta’s jaw.

“Answer me, Beta. If you have a problem with me or my orders, I would hear it.”

“I am committed to all of my duties, Alpha.”

“But?” I prompted.

“But nothing,” he said quickly.

I frowned at him, knowing he was holding back, but realizing that maybe I didn’t need him to explain anymore Perhaps the truth of it was rather obvious.

He was Prime Beta, my right hand. And here I was, relegating him to the job of a babysitter, finding and retrieving my wayward surrogate. That had to be somewhat demeaning, I could understand his irritation, but it was still a direct command.

“She could be a threat,” I said, offering some explanation.

Prime Beta nodded. “I will retrieve her.” He turned and walked out.

In his absence, I became even more annoyed with Lillian. This was just one more annoyance she was responsible

for.

Infuriating woman.

Lillian’s POV

In avoiding Grayson, I spent a lot of time outside, away from most of the other people in the palace, including the servants. At first, I spent most of my time in the gardens, admiring the flowers, bushes, and the trees. But venturing out from there, I found an archery range.

Some bows and arrows were just lying there, with the range mostly abandoned, except for a soldier practicing at the far end.

The minute I touched a bow, it was like a sense of calm washed over me. I had not had a chance to practice archery in some time, though I had been rigorously trained in my youth – in secret, without my family’s knowledge.

Taking stance at a distance from the target, I took my stance, raised the bow, and notched an arrow. Breathing shallowly, in and out, I held my breath and focused on the target.

Right here, in this moment, nothing else in the whole of the world existed except for me, my bow, and this target. For the first time in months, my mind was carefully blank, and a sense of peace washed over me..

I released the bowstring.

The arrow flew.

It landed dead-center of the target. Bullseye.

I exhaled, a small smile finding my lips.

Then someone behind me started clapping.

At once, my smile fell, my body tensing. I rushed to put the bow back where I found it.

“No need to rush, my Lady. I only wanted to celebrate your excellent shot.”

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Chapter 33

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I followed the sound of the voice to an approaching man. He was in his early-to-mid thirties, with dusty brown hair and a mischievous smile.

“You handled that bow so naturally. And that stance! It reminded me of the legendary First Warrior,” he said. Thinking back, I remembered the mysterious man who had trained me, who had been so diligent and kind, seeing something in me that even my own family could not. He had taught me to fire a bow and then disappeared like he had never been there at all. If not for the learned skill, I might have doubted he had ever existed at all.

But, I still vaguely remembered his face. He had been far too young to be the same age as a warrior of legend. More likely, he had just been a wayward traveler.

Since I had met him, I’d kept his existence and appearance in my life a secret. I saw no reason to change that now and divulge his training to a stranger.

Instead, I stood taller, prouder, and examined the man who was approaching me. His clothes were the utmost finery, and he had a carefree way about him, in his easy smile. Even in the way he walked.

“You are a woman of mystery,” he said, and winked. “That’s my favorite kind.”

“I don’t know who you are,” I said.

“I can tell, and it’s delightful. That doesn’t happen much these days. I’d like to keep it going if I could.”

“I’d prefer you state your name clearly, as well as your intentions.”

He lifted a brow. “You first.”

We stared at each other a moment, during which my nerves prickled and his grin widened. He was enjoying this. Perhaps even enjoying my unease.

“Uncle!” Josephine called from nearby. “Uncle Benedict, where are you?”

She stumbled out of the clearing and into view. She looked at me first, and then at my mysterious new companion.

Huffing, she placed a hand on her hips. “Uncle Benedict, there you are! You are in big trouble.”

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