Her Unwanted Mate On The Throne

kind to be acting. Sir Anthony was kind to her in the cell and healed her wounds not knowing that one

day she would be in the north. Their kindness was too bright to be false. Wasn’t it? If she returned, there

was always a chance that she wouldn’t be granted her own freedom. William could speak against it and

keep her there, or the king could cancel it altogether and she would never get to feel the fresh air on her

skin again. She would never get to travel and see the world and live free. She would only be known as a

maid and treated like one. But what kind of monster would she be if she stayed? “Doris?” Doris turned

her head to see Enzo standing behind her. He was alone with his hands deep in his pockets and concern

on his face. “May I join you? Or

You’ve opened my eyes if you’d rather be alone, I can leave.” She lowered her feet to the ground again

and shook her head. “You can join me.” Enzo seated himself next to her and looked out at the frozen

lake in front of them. The air was still and quiet, though in the distance she heard a bit of laughter. “Have

you ever skated on ice before?” He asked without looking at her. “Oh! No, I would probably fall.” Doris

said, she pulled at the hem of her sleeve.” During the winter, the small lake at the palace freezes over.

No one goes near it except the children. Sometimes they like to skate around it if it’s thick enough.” “It’s

quite fun. I could show you to if you’d like.” Doris offered a weak smile but didn’t respond. He finally

looked over at her, but she wouldn’t meet his gaze. “Staying troubles you. Is it the prince you’re worried

about?” Enzo asked. “No-well, sort of. It’s more of my friend at the palace.” Doris said. “A lover?” Enzo

asked with raised brows. Doris laughed and shook her head. “Oh, no. I don’t have a lover.” Enzo tilted

his head a little. “My best friend, Beth. She was to be on the amnesty that’s

You’ve opened my eyes. being signed to free her. I was too, actually. We were going to leave together

and get as far as we could away from there but-” Doris paused. Enzo spoke lightly, “But what?” “But I

was sent on this journey with Prince William. If I don’t return, she’s not allowed to ever be free.” A mix of

understanding and a new confusion fell across his face. “Why would it depend on your return?” “They

wanted to make sure I wouldn’t have run off somewhere… exactly as I’m considering doing now. They

know we’re close and they know I would never leave her to that fate.” “I see.” Enzo let out a sigh and

crossed his leg over the other. “It’s not easy having people to care about. Our minds make us think of

them before ourselves and we’re forced to be unselfish.” “Exactly.” Doris said. “All I’ve dreamed about for

the past five years of my life is being free. I went to bed every night pretending I was somewhere far from

there where I wouldn’t be punished if I dropped a plate or yelled at to clean someone’s laundry. I would

be free to live how I wanted. So much of my time

You’ve opened my eyes has been stolen, but I don’t think I could allow Beth to grow old there because of

me. She deserves to be free, too.” Enzo hummed in agreement. He scratched his jaw in thought. “I could

kidnap her and bring her here. Then she could live free with you.” He tossed her a grin, Doris laughed a

little. “I don’t think the palace would appreciate you taking two of their servants. I wouldn’t want a war

started over this.” “If you return home and they allow you both free, would you choose to live somewhere

like here?” Enzo asked quietly. Doris thought for a moment. She looked around at all the snow and took

in the sounds of laughter. “I don’t know. I don’t think I would want to stay in one place so soon. I think I

would travel first and see more of the world before I decided where to stay. Who knows, perhaps this

would end up being my favorite place and I would come right back here.” There was also the darker side

of the rogues that concerned her. Sure, most of them seemed nice enough. But she experienced what

darkness was in this pack and she didn’t want to meet more

You’ve opened my eyes of them. She didn’t want to live in a place where she would be afraid to look over

her shoulder. The men at the tavern sent chills down her spine. Were they just as bad as the ones that

took her? “I think you’re brave for wanting to return to the palace for your friend. Many people would run

the first chance they got and never look back, no matter who it hurt. Your heart is too good for that. Your

friend is lucky to have you.” Enzo lightly bumped his shoulder against her own. Doris offered a small, sad

smile. “You’ve opened my eyes, Enzo. I feared the north for so long but now I know what it’s like.

Perhaps others like me would find their place here once they were free, too.” “We would welcome

anyone like you, Doris. Count on that.” Enzo stood and held out his hand to help her up. Doris stood and

smoothed out her sweater. “We’ve lost sighting on where your prince is, but I’m sure he will show up

sooner or later. He wasn’t very happy with my pack the last time he saw them.” Enzo said as they

walked. “If he hasn’t forgotten about me, that is.” “Oh, I don’t think he’s forgotten about you. As you

recall, he was pretty

You’ve opened my eyes. desperate in his search for your wellbeing.” Doris snorted and then blushed at

her own sound. That wasn’t very proper for her to do, but Enzo only laughed. William must have felt

guilty she was captured

since he was the one that made her come on this journey. At times, she felt they had some what of a

bond but other times she wasn’t sure. Enzo broke off from her to walk with Elena down another path.

Doris tried to remember the one that led back to her room and got a bit turned around when she found

herself lost in thought. “Ay, you!” A deep, gruff voice called from behind her. Doris hesitated before she

turned to see a tall man at the end of the road. “Get over here, I’m talking to you.”