Doris hurried out the front doors and headed straight to the forest. Her feet crunched against the dry grass and she almost wished it would rain just to cure it. Perhaps it would awake something in her too.
She ignored the guards that tried to ask if they should follow-they were smart enough to stay behind. She did not need anyone lingering in the shadows as she tried to be free-she was through with that part of her life.
The taste of the fresh air was exactly what she needed. It cooled down her hot skin and made her desperate to feel it surround her as she raced through the forest as her wolf. How did she ever survive without the freedom her wolf gave her?
Doris stopped at the clearing she always did and set down her cloak.
"Is there going to be another... taste of power? Different than the one from before?" Doris asked her wolf.
"Yes. I think you might be ready to handle a bit more than what I gave you before. It might be a little overwhelming at first, but nothing you can't handle" Cordelia said. "I will warn you though, if I feel you lose control-I'm taking it back before I can't and it might hurt you."
"Okay-" Doris froze when she heard a branch snap behind her. She turned quickly but nothing was there. "Hello?"
A bit of shuffling through the trees put her on high alert. Sometimes the forest could be dangerous if she wasn't careful-she never knew who was hiding in the shadows but she was ready to defend herself if she had to. She was no longer a weak maid that needed to be saved.
"Show yourself!" Doris demanded. A moment later, Daemon popped out of the bushes and grinned at her. Her heart almost exploded in her chest and she hadn't realized how afraid she was until she saw it was someone she recognized.
"Sorry to alarm you, I was just passing by." He said. He shoved his hands deep in his pockets and glanced up at the darkening sky.
"What are you doing out here? Did you follow me?" Doris asked. She grabbed her cloak and put it on-there was no way she would shift in front of him and she knew Cordelia felt the same.
"Following-no! No, of course not. I always go out for a stroll when the sun starts to set. I always feel as if the air is at its best." He looked Doris up and down slowly in a way that gave her shivers. "What are you doing out here?"
Doris hesitated. She glanced back towards the palace. "I was going for a run with my wolf."
"Don't let me stop you." Daemon held up his hands and took a stop back. "Sorry if I interrupted."
Doris narrowed her eyes. "How come you aren't with your rulers? I thought you said that you're doing most of the jobs for them."
Daemon dropped his hands but his grin remained. "I am, they just gave me the day off to do whatever I pleased. They wanted to rest up in their room and do god knows what else." He shivered.
Doris stomped across the clearing and neared him. He stayed where he was and looked down at her as if she was an interesting creature that was no threat to him at all. He was deadly wrong about that.
"What do you know about your rulers and their interest in this kingdom? I know there is something more that you aren't telling me." Doris poked his chest hard.
The side of his mouth lifted in amusement. "I know they think this kingdom is beautiful and they quite like William. Why?"
"Is it their plan all along to try and take this kingdom from William?" Doris poked him again but harder.
Daemon winced and grabbed her hand, pulling her closer to him with a simple yank. She gasped when their bodies touched and tried to move away, but he held still as he gazed down at her.
"I have no idea what you're talking about." He whispered. His breath caressed her skin and she had to tilt her head back just to look up at him and meet his eyes. "What makes you think they would even tell me their true plans? Especially if it was something like that. I'm a messenger boy, all I do is tell people their business and intentions and they pay me to do it."
Doris wasn't sure if she had imagined it, but she swore he had inched closer to her as he spoke. His eyes flashed in the light and his lips curled up in a sinister way that made her want to get far away from him.
"I find it hard to believe you, sir. I heard them talking freely in front of their guards, I don't see why they wouldn't do the same for you."
"Their guards swore their life to protect them and keep their secrets. I didn't." Daemon's eyes flickered to her lips. Doris pulled away from him and took a few steps back.
"I don't trust your rulers, and I certainly don't trust you."
"Smart and beautiful." Daemon whistled. "That king is truly a lucky one."
Doris scoffed. "What are you doing?" She crossed her arms over her chest when he stepped closer. "Do you think it's wise to flirt with a taken woman? Surely you must not have heard of William's reputation if you can't seem to stop."
"Oh, i've heard his reputation. Everyone in this kingdom and beyond has heard about William and his ruthless ways when he doesn't get what he wants or is threatened."
Daemon closed some more space between them but Doris refused to back down. "It's a shame you haven't heard my reputation. Otherwise I doubt you would be shocked at my actions."
"Your reputation?" Doris furrowed her brow. "What reputation does a messenger have?"
Daemon laughed. It was deep and traveled all the way up and down her body with one sound.
"I'm quite famous in my land for liking challenges. Especially deadly ones, those are my favorite." Daemon said as he reached out to move her hair behind her ear. Doris swatted his hand away but he only looked more delighted.
"Consider this a challenge lost. I'm spoken for and none of your flattery or good looks will sway me differently."
Daemon's face brightened. "I knew you found me attractive. I could tell by the way your breath catches the closer I get."
Doris rolled her eyes to the sky. "I'm only trying to keep myself from smacking you every time you got closer to me." Doris pushed past him and headed back to the path that led to the palace. "Leave me be, Daemon." She called over her shoulder.
"Not likely, princess. I've never seen a girl as pretty as you as well as feisty. That's my favorite mix." He called to her. She winced at the sound of his voice and hurried her steps.
Why did she always attract the crazy ones?