Surrogate for the Alpha Prince in a Coma novel Chapter 174

Chapter 174

Grayson’s POV

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Odette opened the door almost timidly, with just her face showing. “Yes?” The minute she saw me, surprise and then relief flooded her features, and she opened the door much wider. “Grayson! Come in, please. Don’t just linger in the hallway.”

“It’s not proper to enter a woman’s bedroom at this time of night,” I said. “Perhaps you could meet me in the sitting room when you are dressed.”

She wore nothing but her nightclothes, which after noticing, I was pointedly looking away from, keeping my gaze on the ceiling.

“I’ll throw on a robe. Grayson, we are old friends, I know I can trust you.”

“I will stay here then,” I said, not willing to cross that line.

She rolled her eyes. “Give me a moment to throw on a dress.”

She stepped back into the room, closing the door. I turned and walked into the sitting room across the hall. A servant offered to make tea, but I refused. This would hopefully be a quick discussion. I didn’t want to keep Odette awake longer than necessary, and I was eager to return to Lily’s side.

After a few moments, Odette left her room and joined me. She gestured toward the couch.

“You can sit, but I’ll stand,” I said.

“If you stand, I’ll stand,” she said, and moved closer to me, only an arm’s reach away. Her eyes were worried as she looked up at me through her long eyelashes. Was she… wearing makeup? No. I had to be imaging things. She wouldn’t have put on makeup just to have this brief conversation with me. “What’s bothering you, Grayson?”

“I was hoping you would help me,” I said.

“With anything,” she said. “You know that.”

“You have influence in the court. These rumors… they’ve been hurting Lillian more than any of us had been prepared for, I think. Even her.”

Odette nodded. “She has been having a hard time with the other ladies. Many are afraid of her, I think. I’ve been hearing that she’s cursed.”

“She is not cursed,” I said harshly.

Her eyes went a little wider. “I’m only telling you what I heard, not what I believe.

“Right. Sorry.” I lowered my head, feeling a small amount of shame. “I’m so ready to defend her, I’m seeing enemies everywhere,”

Odette reached over and placed her hand on my arm. “I am always an ally to you.’”

“I know,” I admitted. “I wasn’t sure at first. Everyone wanted our political marriage. I thought… you might be on that side too. But when you warned me about the assassins hunting Lillian. Gods, Odette. If you hadn’t warned me in time.”

Her smile went a little tight. “Yes. We are all lucky that you moved so quickly to save her.”

“We are.”

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“Well, I’m glad I could help then, and I’m eager to help now. I only want the best for Lily. Tell me how you want me to help?”

“We need to get to the bottom of these rumors,” I said. “I want to find the source.”

Odette nodded. “Of course, Grayson. I’ll do my best. But how will I report to you? We should arrange to have regular meetings, perhaps in secret. We wouldn’t want Lillian to know what you are doing… For her sake.”

“Yes. That makes sense.”

She smiled warmly, and I felt at ease. We started making our plans.

Lillian’s POV

I wanted through the palace, feeling like something of an outcast. I was still getting invitations to events, but at them, everyone was keeping a wide berth from me. Except Clara, but I was avoiding her, not wanting her to be ostracized like I have been.

Now, I found myself wandering through the hallways, unsure where to go. Maybe I should just go back to the bedroom and read a book. I could go to the librarian but it would hurt if even the librarian looked at me like I was

cursed.

“Lily! There you are!” came a male voice from behind me.

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