Accidental Surrogate

Ella

Hugo, Sinclair and I are all staring at the television with wide eyes and slack jaws,

unable to process the images flitting across the screen. It seems like every time we

manage to take a few steps forward, Lydia and the Prince find a way to send us

reeling back – and this is no exception.

“This doesn’t make any sense.” Hugo expresses, obviously overwhelmed. “Why would

he risk losing the pack’s sympathy by parading around another Woman so soon after

his wife’s death?”

“Trust me, Hugo – Damon isn’t the one calling the shots here. This is all Lydia.”

Sinclair states gruffly. “She’s going to force her way onto the throne one way or

another. Right now she’s playing the doting friend, but mark my words, by the time the

election ends she’ll be in his bed.”

“How bad is this?’ I ask, looking up at Sinclair’s handsome face, “Does she have

information that could hurt you?”

Sinclair Squeezes my shoulders, “She knows some secrets.” He relates, “but luckily

nothing I could imagine as a smoking gun. In fact most of what she knows would be

more harmful to the Prince things like my father’s attack, Things the public believes

were accidents but our private investigators proved malicious.” His mouth flattens into

a hard line. “The real danger is that she knows how we think, how we operate. Not to

mention that the Prince doesn’t have more than two brain cells to rub together, but

Lydia has plenty.”

“So what do we do?” I ask anxiously, my head replaying the news reel over and over

again. “My bed rest isn’t common knowledge, and they’re making it sound like my

absence from the public eye is suspicious. Do we tell everyone about my condition?

Or do we make an appearance?”

“I’m afraid making an appearance might play right into their hands. This could be

some sort of attempt to lure us out of hiding.” Hugo advises, looking very grim indeed.

In the distance I hear the front door open and close – a fact which comes as quite a

surprise, since my hearing has never been so sharp before.

Wheels roll over the door jam, and then Henry’s voice floats up toward us, “Good

Morning!”

“Henry!” I exclaim, both taken aback yet unsurprised we stayed in bed so long.

Sinclair’s father has been coming over almost every day since we agreed to be

invalids together, and he’s been an invaluable help, since I learned my true identity.

grab some loungewear and disappear into the restroom

deeply ingrained to allow me to strut around nude

Sinclair does – and I’m definitely not

Sinclair is also dressed,

go downstairs together, Sinclair carrying me despite

more every day, but it isn’t enough to free me of

yet. We all gather around the breakfast table, the men analyzing

serious voices, and

understand. It’s not that they

of my depth.

think, Ella?” Sinclair asks,

going around in circles for more than half

respond to this

my lower lip thoughtfully, trying

Releasing my swollen lip, I sigh, “Do we

what happened with Lydia’s husband?I mean the Princess is dead,

I clarify. When the

if he doesn’t want her anymore, it must make

be gallivanting around another

a good point.” Henry praises,

not giving out false compliments. “Maybe we’ve

the wrong

their motivations,

and respond without playing into their

sort of countermove to challenge

to spin ourselves out of the hot seat

onto them –

busy and distract the pack by rustling up her

Hugo nods approvingly. “Good

support, but when I look

still don’t like it. I think

this entire situation

course not.” Hugo scoffs, “You don’t need to

this is all fucked six ways to

I feel like

me and I just can’t put my

on it.”

saying from the beginning that

a political scheme.” I

the Prince is too unimaginative to

almost imperceptibly, and then he clenches them

hand into a fist and swearing up a storm.

too unimaginative?”

faces.

Prince Damon might have seen

trophy, he’s not the type

have any reservations about

of the way.”

you are?” I gape, both

to believe my

other explanation do we have?” Sinclair

and pacing back and forth behind the dining

I wouldn’t question it. And if there was some sort

you could make the case for

by Damon. But poison? That’s

and if it was a political scheme

the details in a way that benefitted

Damon looking sympathetic.”

agrees. “Instead it just

was planned, then why haven’t they jumped on