Surrogate for the Alpha Prince in a Coma novel Chapter 94

Chapter 94

+15 Bohus

Grayson and I were merely allies, and his encouragement of me interacting and befriending other women of the court had to be self-serving. He needed me to maintain a strong influence with the noble circle. If I was on the outs, I could provide no benefit to him.

Even so, I was grateful for this freedom, even if it wasn’t given in any kind of genuine hope for my benefit. Thank you,” I said.

He nodded. “I will leave you to your event. If you will excuse me.”

The nearby ladies bowed respectfully. I stayed fully upright, watching as he turned and left.

Without the Queen and Ophelia, and with Grayson’s permission, the rest of the event was a success, with the ladies continuing to enjoy themselves. After, several even approached me to ask if I could arrange another and soon. I promised I would, and even suggested that this could be something regular if they wished. They did!

For a fleeting moment, I was happy, bringing joy to others. It didn’t last before the crushing weight of responsibility came over me again. As everyone parted, saying their goodbyes, I realized that not all who had been invited had attended this event.

The Gamma family matron and eldest daughter weren’t here.

That night, as I crawled into bed, I could feel Grayson’s eyes on me. He was already in the bed, sitting up, with his back against the headboard. He’d been reading, but he’d apparently stopped.

I turned to return his look, to catch him in the act, expecting his gaze to dart away, but instead, it lingered. Just like in the training grounds, there was more to his gaze than his simply looking. Now, in private, it seemed even clearer, and he was slow in any move to hide it.

Appreciation swirled in his blue eyes. He’d never really looked at me like that before.

“You are staring,” I said.

“I am,” he replied.

I blinked, not having expected him to admit it so easily. “Why are you staring at me?”

“I am merely admiring a beautiful, talented woman,” he said.

My lips parted. My breath caught. Did he just say…?

Grayson blinked, then frowned a little. He looked down at his hands in some surprise of his own. Maybe he hadn’t meant to say that aloud. Maybe he regretted it,

Without another word, he turned the other way and ignored me again.

I pushed myself down under the covers and turned my back to him, as his back was how to me.

Just like how he had only given me permission to use the training grounds because he didn’t want me to lose favor with the women of court, he had to have some secret reason for this compliment. Some hidden, self-serving motivation.

Maybe he was just trying to keep me loyal after pushing me away so far.

It couldn’t be that the words he usually filtered had simply escaped his lips this time.

Yet, even knowing that, my cheeks burned, heat rising in my whole body.

1/2

Chapter 24

+15 Bonus

It shouldn’t matter if he thought I was beautiful and talented. It didn’t.

It couldn’t.

Grayson didn’t feel anything for me. Despite his honeyed words, despite his long glances, I needed to remember that.

I couldn’t risk my own heart. Grayson couldn’t be trusted with it.

Someday, I would find my perfect mate and they would treat me with only kindness and love. I wouldn’t have to worry if they actually cared for me. I wouldn’t have to fear losing their trust and their favor.

I tried to picture some semblance of what that man could look like in my mind, but as I drifted off to sleep, I only thought of Grayson.

2/2