Her Unwanted Mate On The Throne

Chapter 46 What was that

It took Doris only a second to register his words. She shot up from the bed and hastily threw on her

cloak. “How far are they?” She asked as she gathered the pile of clothes in her arms so they wouldn’t

leave a trace of him behind. She didn’t have time to act proper in the moment, she didn’t care how

crazed she looked. “A few miles down. I don’t think they scented us yet bur we need to get moving

before they do.” William surprisingly helped her stuff the rest of the items in a bag before he grabbed her

arm and hurried out of the tent. Guards were ready to collapse the tent the second they stepped out of it

and packed it up with the rest of their items. Doris made sure her bag was still on her shoulder before

she felt inside as he led her towards the waiting carriage. “Wait!” Doris halted her steps, he turned with

frustration written all over his face but also a hint of concern. “What is it?” “My book-I can’t find it. I must

have dropped it somewhere!” Doris looked around on the ground in hopes it was near by. His grip

tightened on her arm, she winced and looked up at him. “Why would you care about that stupid book

now?” His voice was tainted with a sort of rage that erupted from no where. It made her shrink back

away from his towering form. “I-it was a gift from-” “From Martin. Yes, I know.” He hissed. “We don’t have

time to search for a meaningless gift your 21:43

lover gave you. Would you rather us all die looking for it?” “Of of course not.” Doris said as he pulled her

into the carriage and shut the door. She glanced out the window once more to see if she could see it

before he shut the curtain. “I wouldn’t hold your hope for him too long, I’m sure he’s already forgotten you

the moment we left. After all, you’re only a maid and there’s plenty of pretty ones still there to distract

him.” His unkind words made her slowly turn towards him. He sat back lazily against the leathered seats

as the carriage pulled away from their resting area. His eyes looked her up and down with a sort of

distaste that was hard to miss. It made her skin crawl and shame wash over her for no reason. “I have

never harbored any feelings for him, nor has he ever touched me.” Doris said lowly, she turned her head

to hide her blush. How could he ever think that of her? “It was just a gift.” Prince William snorted as if he

didn’t believe a word she said. Doris scooted closer to the door and as far from him as she could get.

One minute he was calm and almost caring, the next he was cruel. It didn’t make any sense to her and

she couldn’t figure out what his true personality was. Perhaps she would never truly know. Doris picked

at her nails to distract herself from the silent carriage ride. So far she had seen nothing but snow and

trees that went on for miles and miles. She was curious if there were any small towns in the north or if it

was all like this. Obviously the rogues must have their own areas they favored, she wondered if it was

villages or if they set it up almost like a camp so it would be quick to move if they needed. Beth had once

told her that they liked to hide in bushes and set carriages on fire if they

didn’t know the people inside-Doris quickly tried to shake that thought away before she started to worry

about someone setting the carriage on fire while they rode. Snow was always lovely to watch out a

window in the palace during the colder months, but here it seemed more like a death sentence. Every

inch of her felt like claws of ice down her skin. Sometimes she forgot how cold she was, and then she

would move and it came back to her in one horrible breath. It was a wonder how the rogues survived in

this weather, but she supposed being a wolf helped in some way. Doris let out a quiet breath and

glanced up at the prince to see him staring out the small slit in the curtain. He had his hand holding up

his chin and he looked exhausted still. She wished she could pick apart his mind and ask him what

bothers him so much all the time. Was it her? Or was he just this way because of the rotten childhood he

had? It was getting harder to tell. “Is there something you need?” He asked without taking his eyes from

the window. The heat crept up her face again and threatened to expose her thoughts. “No-” “Then why

do you keep staring at me?” He turned his blue gaze on her, it was almost startling. “I was just making

sure you were okay, is all.” She shifted under his searching gaze and wished she hadn’t said anything at

all. “It would be best for you not to concern yourself with my feelings.” He said blandly. “Otherwise you’d

never sleep.” Doris furrowed her brows and looked down at her hands. It was terrifying to be alone with

him for so

long, but somewhere along the journey she felt that fear slip away. Even with his unpredictable moods,

she felt fine being near him. Almost used to it by now. “I just wonder how long it will take to get there.”

Doris said without lifting her gaze. “It depends on how many detours we have to take. As long as we’re

not digging through the snow for a useless book or getting mauled by the rouges, we should get there

any day now.” Doris blushed furiously. She felt silly for ever wanting to delay their trip to look for the book

but he was just as rude about it. “Have you ever traveled the north?” She asked. His fingers played at the

hem of the curtains as he gazed out into the snow. “No. I’ve only ever heard stories. My father would

have never allowed it when I was younger, even when he didn’t care what I did.” “I heard a few

messengers were—“ “Wait.” He sat up quickly, Doris closed her lips and watched him. “Do you hear

that?” Doris strained to listen, but she heard nothing but the sound of the wheels traveling through the

snow and the rattle of the carriage. “No—” He gestured for her to be silent again. His head titled to the

side and his brows furrowed in concentration, but she couldn’t hear a single thing. Their carriage shook,

William moved to sit next to her and put his arm across her as if he was shielding her from a rough

break. When it stopped, he stepped out without a word and looked around. “What happened?” He

demanded. A guard slid off his horse and pointed to the wheels. “We ran something over, we couldn’t

see what it was in this darkness.”

William went to see for himself. Doris carefully stepped out of the carriage and immediately felt the cold

chill sting against her cheeks William snapped his head back to look at her. “What are you doing outside

of the–” He froze and cocked his head to the side as if he was listening for something. “Get over here,

Doris.” Doris hesitantly moved closer to him, he pulled her behind his back as he searched through the

area with alert eyes. “William?” Doris whispered. He held up his hand to silence her. It was obvious

everyone around her seemed to hear something as well. “We should” An arrow pierced the air and struck

one of the guards through the shoulder. They all watched him fall before someone shouted. “Get down!”