"You must like it up there." Joseph said with a bit of amusement in his tone. Doris carefully stepped off the dresser and smoothed out her clothes with as much dignity as she could muster under his gaze.
"It's quite a view." Doris cleared her throat. "Did you forget something?"
"Oh-" Joseph held out a stack of clothes. "Sorry this took so long for them to be brought to you. I thought you'd like to change out of the ruined ones you came in with."
Doris accepted the stack and brushed her fingers over the soft fabric. "Thank you, that's very kind."
"Did I hear you talking to someone-or have I gone a bit mad?" Joseph asked as he peered around the room. His light eyes caught on the window for a moment before they moved on to the rest of the small area to see nothing but old furniture.
"Oh-I was trying to reach my wolf. I still haven't heard anything from her." Doris said without missing a beat. How had she gotten so good at lying? William's frown caught in her mind before she pushed it away.
Joseph nodded in understanding. "I heard she might be gone for quite a few days."
"Do you know what they gave me? Will she be okay?" Doris asked as her hands tightened on the clothes in her grasp.
"I don't know the name of it but it's one of their experimental drugs. They've tested it on a lot of the rogues here so I have no doubt it worked on you. She should be perfectly fine when it all wears off."
"Do you exactly know how long-"
"It lasts? No, unfortunately not exactly. A few days or more, it depends on how much they gave you." Joseph said and stepped a little closer to her. Enzo's taunt circled the back of her mind and now her eyes watched each of his movements he made around her.
"Is there anything else I can get you?" He asked.
"A set of keys and a horse?" Doris said with a smile that might have blinded him. He laughed and stepped away.
"I'll get right on it." He winked. Doris watched as he headed for the door again and a small idea sparked inside her like a fire waiting to burn down everything around her.
"Wait!" Doris called. He froze with his hand stretched out for the door. "I-It's been quite lonely in here. I was wondering if you would join me later when one of the meals come? If you're able to do something like that, of course."
His lips tugged at the corners and she knew she had him right where she wanted him. She smiled and brushed her hair behind her ears as if she was shy.
"Yeah. I think I can do that. I'll be by later."
The smile stayed on her face until he closed the door and locked it behind him-then it fell as if it was never there. It was time for Doris to save herself.
Doris swore she was losing her mind with how much she paced her room while alone with her thoughts. William's words haunted her more than anything else could ever dare. Usually people said things in anger that they either meant or thought would hurt you the most. People were cruel when they didn't know how to handle their own feelings so they threw it back in the faces of the ones they loved.
But she didn't know what William truly felt. He came back for her after swearing she was nothing to him. It was like he wanted to make sure his words hit their intended mark and then tried to make up for them with his actions. Her heart was going through a deep dive of emotions that kept pulling her back up for another push. Why hadn't she listened to herself when she swore she would never like a man like him? Even Beth tried to set her up with a kinder prince but her heart stupidly wrapped itself around William as if he wasn't the cruelest person she had ever met.
Now he paced Enzo's camp like she paced this room but she imagined he had a bit of fire in his steps. She could see him in her mind's eye-snapping at anyone that neared him or tried to come up with a solution to his problems. No, he wanted to stir in his rage and wait for the right moment to let it pour out of him in his wrath. Why did her heart ache for him when her head knew better?
She at least was glad she wasn't there for when Enzo told William he couldn't join him in his claim of the crown-if he even planned on telling William, that is. William hadn't mentioned it again to her since she told him she wasn't interested in his politics but now she knew he was still determined to wrap his hands around what he believed to be his. All the time they had been at the camp, he was still pursuing his plans behind her back. Did he sneak his way to Sir Antony too just to convince him that he was meant to be king rather than his own brother?
"You'll wear the rug down if you continue." Said a voice from the door. Startled, Doris turned to see Joseph with a tray of food that was obviously meant for two people. Better yet, it actually looked more appetizing than the last few plates he'd brought her. "Sorry for the delay, the kitchens were running late tonight." He said as he kicked the door closed behind him. Doris straightened her shoulders and smiled widely.
"That's quite alright, I'm glad you came."
Doris was curious to know if there were any other guards outside the door. Did they know he was in here alone with her? Did they just not care what any of the guards did as long as she didn't escape?
Not that she was intimidated by Joseph, not in the slightest. He was much too kind for her to think he was capable of anything except a few dry jokes and open flirts. Though, every monster had their masks and she only hoped there wasn't a beast hidden underneath his crooked smile.
"It smells lovely." Doris said as she seated herself on the edge of the bed. There were no tables or extra chairs besides the one he claimed for himself as he sat the tray on his lap.
"I bet it's a hell of a lot better than that grub they've been sending you since you came." Jospeh said with a crooked grin as he handed her a steaming plate.
"Do you always treat prisoners so kindly?" Doris asked with raised brows and a light smile. His cheeks reddened a little when his eyes flickered to her mouth.
"To be honest, you're the first prisoner I've seen since I started working here. We weren't really trained on what to do with-"
"Hostages?" Doris tilted her head and blew on her spoonful of soup.
"Eh-yeah. Right." Jospeh cleared his throat and tore off a thick piece of bread with his teeth. His curls almost covered his eyes, she bet he was overdue for a trim.
"How long have you been a guard?" Doris asked casually and crossed her legs like a lady.
"I've been training for about four years, since I was seventeen. I wasn't put out until about a year ago but you're the most exciting thing that has happened here."
"Well, I'm glad you were assigned as my guard." Doris smiled a little and brushed her hair behind her shoulder. His eyes followed even her slightest movements. "I think I might have gone mad if I didn't have kind company."
"You won't have to worry about that, they set me as your main guard." Joseph said as he puffed out his chest a little. She would have laughed under difference circumstances. There was something about him that was so... pure that it made her hate all of her wicked thoughts. He reminded her of herself when she was a maid and nothing else. How she wished she could have protected that part of herself.
"Truly? They have you watching me all by yourself?"
"Not entirely by myself, there's a few guards down the hall but I wouldn't worry about them." Joseph set down his plate and ran his fingers through his hair. He was quite handsome, she bet it wasn't hard for him to turn a girl's head. For some reason, he was here instead.
"I appreciate it either way." Doris said as she reached across to squeeze his hand. A small blush bloomed on his tan cheeks. The poor boy's eyes filled with a flicker of hope she was dying to crush under her foot.