Chapter 154


    Chapter 154 Friendse first


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    The snow outside was thin and not nearly as deep as the snow in the north was. So far the best thing


    about being ady was being able to go outside when she wanted and not being afraid that someone


    was going to scream at her for it. She used to sneak out for a bit of fresh air and have nightmares about


    being caught for it. The one time she was caught, she was marked by the man she now spends most of


    her nights with. Funny how she swore her life would never be what it has be. 1 Her blood was


    boiling. The chilly temperatures were nothing on her heated skin. Too many emotions tried toe


    forward but all she wanted to do was forget them all and try to imagine she had nothing to weigh down


    her shoulders. What would it be like to walk out of the pce and forget everyone behind her? Would


    they think she was selfish, or smart? Would they look for her and not rest until she was found, or would


    they let her go? “Ay! What are you doing out here?” à familiar voice called from behind her. She heard


    thick steps stomp across the snow and a momentter, a thick cloak fell across her shoulders to ward


    away any of the cold she didn’t feel.


    “Daniel? What’re you doing out here?” Doris tried to smile up at the boy who always held arge grin on


    his face when he saw her. A soft spot warmed her chest at the sight of him. It was better than running


    into any of the other prince’s at the moment. In fact, he was currently her favorite. “I came for some air


    but it seems I found myself a beautiful princess instead.” He grinned. Doris bumped her shoulder into


    him a little more harshly than she intended but he didn’t seem to mind-or notice. Daniel whistled as he


    looked her up and down respectively. “I knew I never stood a shot with you. Why didn’t you tell me my


    grumpy brother already had his im on you?” Doris felt her cheeks warm. “Don’t joke around like that!


    I’ve had enough of thattely. I don’t need another foolish prince around me.” Doris sighed. “I didn’t know


    I was going to be hisdy. Trust me, I would have told you if I did.” Danielughed. “So what? He


    surprised you with the title? I’m pretty sure thedy has to agree to. it.” Daniel eyed her long dress. “You


    look different, but just as stunning. I would even say that attire was made for you.” “Did youe out


    here just to flirt with me?” “Oh no. William would string me up by my guts if I did a thing like that. Promise


    not to tell him | gave you my heart.” Daniel winked. Doris rolled her eyes but she couldn’t hide her smile.


    When Daniel held out his arm for her to take, she didn’t ‘hesitate.


    “Tell me more about what I’ve missed while I’ve been away.” “Ah, well. I suppose you’ve missed a bit but


    I’m not sure where to start. I think the Luna Queen has doubled up on her guards. She no longer goes


    anywhere without at least five.” Doris raised her brows. “Truly? Why do you think?” “I’m not sure… I think


    she’s making the pce on edge with her ruling. My brother Martin must be too upset about our dad to


    notice but she’s been slowly changing things around here. First, I was told it started with shift changes,


    and then it went into bigger things like meetings and controlling some of the viges. Whenevere


    around, the servants look more and more as if they’re ready to burn the pce to the ground.” “Surely


    that can’t be true!” “Haven’t you noticed how unhappy they all are? Look around, they’re all meaner and


    rougher. about everything.” Daniel nced back at the pce as if he was afraid one of them might have


    heard him. “I have noticed. It’s like a dark cloud has fallen over the pce since we left.” Doris nced


    back at the pce as well and never had it looked so haunting. The gloomy clouds above it almost


    mirrored how it felt to be inside. Once it had stood tall in glory, now it looked like the sort of ce she


    would avoid in fairytales. “It’s been like that for weeks. I was d to get


    out of here when it started. You’ve brought a bit of the light back into the castle, but it’s still darker than it


    ever had been.” Daniel led them through the gardens and towards the bench where they had first met.


    He was just as charming as the day he fooled her. All of the flowers were gone and frozen, it was almost


    hard to witness. Doris did love winter, but it always took away the most beautiful parts of life snd froze it


    to the core. Still, it shined through with a new sort of beauty that flourished in it’s white coat. “Do you…”


    Doris hesitated. “Do you think Prince Martin will make a great king one day?” Doris asked quietly and


    watched for his reactiòn. Daniel’s wandering attention snapped to her all at once. She instantly regretted


    asking. “I’m not sure yet. I don’t think he’s been challenged enough to be a king, but he could learn


    | suppose.” Daniel seated himself next to her and watched as light bits of snow fell from the sky. “T hope


    he will make a great king, one day.. Hopefully not for years and years toe.” Daniel said sadly. 3 “I’m


    sure it won’t be for many years toe.” Doris didn’t want to ask what he thought of William being king.


    It might tip him off and Daniel had a tact for talking about things he wasn’t supposed to. If he was anyone


    but a prince, she might have just told him because he was her friend. “So… truly. Why didn’t you tell me


    about you and


    my brother?” Daniel bumped her arm. He watched her intently and all of his jokes had faded. “I… I


    suppose we haven’t had a chance to talk since I returned.”. “Is it true what I heard? That you’re his


    mate? Theds down in the yard told me that hisstdy was screaming about killing you for lying


    about being his mate.” Daniel chuckled, but Doris felt horrified at his words. 2 “She said that?” “Oh don’t


    worry about her. She would be executed if she ever tried to harm you. Especially if you are his mate. The


    king has stricterws about that after what happened to his own.” 1 “Well… Yes. I suppose I am his


    mate,” Doris admitted. “You suppose?” Daniel grinned. “When did you figure?” “I didn’t want to ept it


    for the longest time but … my wolf came free out in the north to protect him and it was forced upon me.”


    “William isn’t easy to love, I’ll admit that. I tried when I was younger but he grew an anger inside him that


    no one could tamper with unless they wanted it to explode on them.” Daniel rubbed his neck. “All the


    ladies fancied him and it wasn’t hard to guess why, but usually a lot of them ended up running from him


    rather than to him. I’m not sure if he will ever learn to control his temper.”


    “I think he’s starting to.” Doris admitted. “He has his moments, buttely he hasn’t been acting out like he


    used to.” “I assume that’s thanks to you.” Daniel raised his brows as if he was impressed. Doris rolled her


    eyes. “I think he only gets angry at metely.” Doris stood and let out a long sigh. “I ran from him after he


    marked me. I didn’t want him to find me, I wanted to run as far as I could and pretend it never happened.


    But he found me and now my fate is tied to his.” 1 “Do you not wish it to be? I thought all the girls in the


    pce would give up anything to have a chance with my dear grumpy brother.” Daniel stood and


    towered over her. She had to tilt her head back a little just to see his eyes. “I wanted freedom-or I did.


    Now i’m not sure what I want or what path is meant for me.” “I suppose that’s half the fun, isn’t it?” “What


    is?” Doris eyed him as they took the path back towards the pce. She quite missed the snow, even


    when she swore she would wake up with no toes on most of the nights. She missed the way it coated


    everything for miles and the strange peace it gave her. “Finding your own path no matter how many


    times it changes.”