Surrogate for the Alpha Prince in a Coma novel Chapter 358

Chapter 358

Chapter 358

Lillian’s POV

+15 Bonus

The kids didn’t want to leave us, but for their safety, we went with them all the way to the border, and then sent them back home with the nannies and most of the guards. When they were on their way home, Grayson, Josephine, me, and a couple of the guards started back to the Lycan capital.

We had a plan. It wasn’t a good plan, but it was a plan. Hopefully, it would be enough to get us through the door.

First, though, we had to find safe harbor outside of the palace to be able to rest. After careful consideration, and some scouting by the guards, we rented a few rooms at a small motel near the main road. The limited number of rooms overall meant we bought out most of the place, and the closeness to the road gave us a good escape route if we needed a quick exit.

We decided to stay there for the night and try the palace again in the morning. Leaving the room I shared with Grayson, I went to the lobby to buy a drink from the vending machine there. When I walked in, Josephine was talking to the woman at the front desk.

The employee was animated, moving wildly as she smiled so widely her cheeks must have hurt. “The King’s engagement is the best thing that ever happened for the kingdom. Our future Queen is so beautiful and kind, he couldn’t have picked a better partner.”

Josie visibly wilted. “You seem so sure of that…”

“Of course,” the woman replied. “Lady Odette has been sent to us from the Moon Goddess herself. She’ll help lead us down a perfect path to a bright future.”

“Right,” Josie said. “Thank you for your time.”

I purchased my drink, and Josie and I left the small lobby.

“Don’t listen to her,” I said. “She’s just one person, and it’s unlikely she has all the facts.”

“She isn’t the only one I’ve talked to,” Josephine said. “Everyone else has said the same thing.”

“They don’t know –”

“No, Lily. I mean the same thing. Sent from the Moon Goddess. Leading us down a path to a bright future. They all use the same words.”

I stopped, blinked, considered her words. “It can’t be what you are thinking. The scope would be far too big. I agree Reginald is under some kind of control, but the whole of the kingdom? Maybe they just all received the same news report with those words.”

Even as I said it, I wasn’t sure. I had personally seen the power of magic. But, if such powerful magic existed that could brainwash an entire kingdom, how did Odette get her hands on it? And even if she did, how did she manage to wield it?

It was all troubling, but there were levels of concern.

I said goodnight to Josie and returned to Grayson. I told him all that transpired and what Josephine said. He went very quiet.

1/4

Chapter 358

+15 Bonus

I worried slightly. “If such magic exists,” I said. “And Odette has it. What’s to keep her from using it on one of us? On you? She’s always wanted you.”

He reached out to me, cupped my cheek with his hand, and led me in for a kiss. “She would never be able to make me forget my love for you.”

He kissed me, and my heart soared.

The next morning, we arrived at the palace in time for one of many engagement events. Today’s involved a garden party with tents, tables, and desserts out among the flowers. The mood was less severe than our original meeting had been, with people laughing and chatting when we arrived.

Though when we were spotted, a chill seemed to coat the entire garden.

With Grayson at out lead, Josie and I moving slightly behind him, we all approached Odette and Reginald’s tent. Reginald stood, his body tensing. Odette stayed seating, smirking.

“We are not here to cause trouble,” Grayson said. “My beloved simply wishes to spend time with her cousin, and wish him well for his marriage.”

“You will approve my match?” Reginald asked.

“If that is what you wish,” I replied. Swallowing down the rising bile in my throat, I told him, “I would never stand in the way of your… happiness.”

Odette’s sharp gaze slid to Josephine. “And you?”

“I want to support my friend,” she said.

Odette hummed. Reginald made no movements or expressions. He was always stoic, but this took it to extremes. He was so unlike himself, it made my chest ache.

Then, suddenly, Odette shrugged and waved a hand. “Very well.”

As if the whole of the world had been waiting on her permission to continue turning, the party continued. The band that had paused started playing again. The chatter continued. Servants carried trays of champagne and

desserts.

Watching Odette like a hawk, I waited for a moment when I could speak to her alone. She kept Reginald beside her like a bodyguard, there was no getting around that. But after a time, many of her admirers filtered out of her tent, and I saw the best opportunity I was ever going to have.

I walked right up to her. “I know what you are doing, and you won’t get away with it.”

Odette looked at me seriously for only a second before bursting out laughing. “You won’t be able to stop me. It’s by pure coincidence alone that my influence can’t reach your kingdom as well, be grateful for that. But the people here. They’d do anything for me. They’d kill for me. They’d die for me. Whatever I want.”

“Reginald is not a toy,” I said. “You can’t treat him as one.”

“He’s whatever I want him to be. You don’t know anything, do you? Everyone is under my thrall. If I wanted them to turn on you, all I would have to do is snap my fingers.” She snapped her fingers, and suddenly the whole party stopped again. The band, the talking – everything. Everyone’s head was on a swivel, turning right for me.

2/4

Chapter 358

+15 Bonus

Grayson came nearer to me at once, with Josie following along.

“I’m sure if I had these people attack you, Grayson would defend you,” Odette said.

“To death,” Grayson said.

VERIFYCAPTCHA_LABELVerify