Doris woke when she heard a knock, but it wasn't at her door. She got up to see Alec was resting in her bed beside her-when did William bring him back? Had she been sleeping that deeply?
The knock sounded again and she almost thought she had imagined it-but no. It was coming from her balcony. Doris quickly got off the bed and went to grab a letter opener on the nightstand before she approached the window.
She was a white wolf... no one could hurt her now. No one had that power over her to intimidate or make her feel weak. That girl inside her was long dead.
"Doris?" The muffled voice said. Her brows furrowed when she opened the curtain to see Daemon on her balcony. What the hell was he doing out there? How did he even get out there? This balcony was made so that no one could crawl up... unless you had a power to.
The wind blew through his curls and made him squint, he scratched the back of his head in an innocent manner that made Doris narrow her eyes. "I came to check on you! I haven't seen you in a few days!"
He yelled it much louder than she would have liked. Part of her wondered if he was doing that on purpose to get the attention of those nearby. Doris bet that he would love to center himself in a bit of gossip.
She opened the door just a little to poke her head out of. She ignored his bright face and kind smile that used to fool her into thinking he was a decent man. "What the hell are you doing on my balcony? Get away from this door!"
Daemon held up his hands and took a few steps back to act as if he was harmless. "I thought it would be bad to go to your main door, and I knew you wouldn't want me to send notes like we're lovers."
Doris cringed at his words and pointed the letter opener at him. "Only the insane would think we are lovers. Get off my balcony. I will not warn you again, I will call in the guards and they will remove you from this palace. Along with your parents." Doris hissed.
This time, he winced at her words. "I wanted to tell you-"
"Don't bother lying. I know you didn't tell me because you had hoped I might say something you could tell your parents about. I know you thought you had some sort of advantage because I never attended the meetings to hear you be announced." Doris narrowed her eyes. "I'm sure you told them all about my powers, too."
"I wouldn't do that!" Daemon took a step closer and he moved back again when she wiggled the letter opener to point it right at his chest. "I didn't think you would talk with me if you knew who I really was-"
"What gave you the impression that I want to talk to you? I told you to leave me alone! Don't bother trying to come look for me when I shift anymore either. You're not welcome near me."
Doris wasn't normally used to being so blunt and rude, but she knew he would never understand unless she said it. She didn't trust him or his parents and it bothered her more and more each day that they remained here.
Daemon looked hurt by the words. "Are you not going to be training anymore?"
"If I am, that's my business. It's not for you to watch like a show. I don't want anyone around me when I practice-I don't want to hurt anyone again." Doris tried to keep her voice even, but then she remembered that the guard was dead... because of her. Not even his blood could have saved him. Perhaps she shouldn't be practicing any more...
Doris hoped that Beth would get her letter soon, she needed a friend more than ever and only someone who knew her well would be able to help.
"You can't give up on yourself, Doris. I saw you out there and I know what happened was a mistake... but you shouldn't hold yourself back. Your power is magnificent. You took a little more... and you see how you almost took down the forest? Imagine what you could do if you took more than that?"
His words sounded... strange. It sounded as if she was being sung to and lured in by a wave that was far from her own. It was like she was being pulled by a string and she wanted to listen to him.
"Just think... if you took more of your power, you could be the most powerful wolf in this land." Daemon said, his voice like silk as he stepped closer. Doris wanted to fall into him but her mind was screaming at her to close the door. "You've already proven yourself as more powerful than most wolves I've ever met-"
Doris pulled herself from her daze and shoved him away from her. "What the hell are you doing?!" Doris took a step back. "I-I don't know what that was but you need to leave. Now."
Daemon's surprise quickly vanished from his face. He offered a light smile. "Of course, my lady. Sorry to have bothered you."
Doris closed the door and locked it. Just as she did, William came in the room and eyed her frantic state.
"What happened?" He crossed the room in just a few steps and took the letter opener from her shaky hand. He opened the curtain behind her, but there was nothing there. "Was there something on the balcony?"
William grabbed her face and searched her every inch of her. Doris finally found her voice and shook her head slowly. "Daemon was out there." She breathed.
Those words shifted his expression entirely. He unlocked the door and moved her behind him before he threw it open to see he was gone. He inhaled deeply, Doris felt shivers across her skin.
"He's gone." William turned back to her and locked the door. He took Doris's face again. "Tell me everything he said to you."
"He... it was strange... he spoke to me and it felt like his words pulled me in a weird daze that I almost couldn't get out of." Doris whispered and rubbed her head. "He... he wanted to apologize and then he started trying to convince me that I shouldn't give up and I should take more power."
Doris knew what this would ignite inside William. It was why she didn't tell him about Daemon's flirting that she thought was innocent. She wasn't afraid of William at all, she knew he wouldn't take his rage out on her... she just didn't want him to rip apart a man that might have been innocent.
But now she wasn't so sure if he was anymore.
His eyes darkened into a storm that could blow someone over with one glance. "I want you to stay here and don't open the door for anyone but me. Do you understand?"
Doris nodded and William left without another word.