Chapter 51

Chapter 51 You‘d really just let me go “You…you’re the leader of the rogues?” Doris painfully sat up and tried to move further away from him in the small carriage. He watched her with a curious expression, but made no move towards her. How fast was the carriage moving? Would she be able to jump out? “That’s right, I am.” He pushed a blanket towards her, Doris didn’t dare reach out to take it. “Please know I had nothing to do with your kidnapping.

The moment I heard about it, I came looking for you.” “If you’re the leader of them, why would they go against what you want?” Doris shivered and wrapped her arms around herself. Her mind was close to shutting down along with her body. It would be so easy to lay her head back and let the sweet feeling of darkness overcome her senses. Enzo cleared his throat and brushed back his dark hair. “With every pack, there are those who think they know better than the leader. What they did will not go unpunished, Doris. You have my word.” Doris shifted uncomfortably. How was she supposed to trust the leader of rogues? After all of the horrible things she’d heard over the years about the rogues and what they were capable of-she was now seated across from the leader of them all. Her eyes drooped a little, she forced them back open to watch him. “Where are you taking me?” She demanded in a much stronger voice than she felt. “Somewhere safe where you can rest. You’re not You’d really just let me go being taken as a prisoner, Doris. You’re free to get out and leave now if you wish. Although, I would strongly advise against that considering you look as if you’re about to pass out.” |

Doris glanced out the window and saw nothing but miles and miles of darkness and snow. Even if she wasn’t in agony, she wouldn’t be able to survive the night on her own. Her clothes were torn and bloody, her wounds hadn’t even begun to start healing and every inch of her felt frozen from the cold. Being alive was pure torture, every breath was worse than the last and her mind tried to convince her to close her eyes and rest even when she didn’t feel safe enough to “We still have a bit of a ride, you can close your eyes if you need to. You’re safe in here.” Enzo said gently. She probably looked like a scared, bloody rat to him. One of these days she wasn’t going to survive being beaten like that. It wouldn’t surprise her if she never was able to open her eyes again Doris watched him for a few minutes. He offered a small smile and leaned back against the seat to look out his window. Slowly, her eyes lowered despite her fight to keep them open.

Warmth dabbed at her wounds. Doris woke with a gasp, hands gripped her shoulders to keep her down against the bed. Bed? Where was she? “Lay still, it’s not closed yet.” A shooting pain forced her to focus.

She laid in sheets of cotton with a dressing gown that was too big to be her own. Her hair was unbound and wild, a woman she didn’t recognize was pressing a warm cloth to her shoulder “This one was pretty bad, but I think you’ll be okay.” The woman said with a slight smile. Her grey hair Si Yould really just let me go was tied in a knot on top of her head, she had smooth brown skin with not a hint of wrinkles in sight. “I had to sew it closed to get it to stop bleeding. You’ll have to eat something to get back a bit of your strength.” “Where am I?” Doris whispered, her voice was hoarse. She tried to clear her throat but it only felt as if blood would come out if she tried again. The woman helped her sit up and handed her a cup of cold water. It was pure pleasure feeling it against her sore throat. She gulped it dow greedily. “You’re at the main rogue camp, Lord Enzo brought you here.” “How long have I been out?”

“Not that long, he only just brought you here about an hour ago and I cleaned you up once he left. He came back to bring you a plate of food again but left to give you privacy.” The woman placed another pillow behind her back and set a plate of food on her lap. “You better eat every bit of that, you’ll be passing out again if you don’t.” Doris felt her face and ran her fingers across her cut lip and swollen eye.

She trailed her fingers down her neck where the animal of a man had bitten her. Doris briefly wondered how William would react if he saw another man had bitten her. Not that… it should matter to him. Melody was still his lady and still his mate. She was the one that he had meant to bite, not Doris “Thank you,”

Doris shakily gripped the plate. “What may I call you?” “You can call me Eliza.” She said with another smile that didn’t reach her eyes. Eliza seated herself on the edge of the bed as Doris started to pick at her food. “Those men you met… they do not speak for any of us. Our pack doesn’t torture innocent women You’d really just let me go for answers. I’m sorry for what you went through.” Doris paused half way through her sandwich and blinked. The voice in the back of her mind warned her to remain cautious.

They could only be trying to fool her into trusting them. Perhaps they would think she might tell them everything she knew about the palace if they were nice enough to her. Doris decided to play along into it for the time being, at least until she could get away from here and be safe again. “Thank you.” Doris lowered her gaze. The woman patted her knee gently. “You try to sleep once you’re finished. You lost a lot of blood and you won’t feel better until you do.” The bed shifted as Eliza stood and gathered the bloodied supplies, “If you need anything, don’t hesitate to ask. I live right across the way.” She headed for the door. Once it was closed behind her, Doris got up as quickly as she could manage without passing out again. The room was plain with a wooden dresser and rocking chair but not much else.

Obviously no one else lived here, it had to be for the wounded or even for people that they wanted to keep here for questioning, Doris looked through all the drawers for some sort of weapon but only found extra clothes and towels. She carefully changed out of the night gown and pulled on a thick sweater and pants before she stepped into the boots she came here with. The room started to spin a little, she gripped the dresser and closed her eyes until everything was set right again. It would be so easy to lay down and sleep for a few more hours, it would be smart of her to do it… but the longer she stayed here, the longer she left herself vulnerable to them. Doris gripped the door handle and threw it open She immediately bumped into a hard chest and had You’d really just let me go large hands reach out to steady her. “I think you forgot your coat, it’s quite cold out there.” Enzo looked almost amused to see her trying to escape. Doris quickly stepped out of his grip and backed away from him. He stepped inside and closed the door when a gust of wind blew in harshly.

“I brought you some cake, it’s still warm from the ovens.” He took a large slice out from his pocket, she could see the steam when he unwrapped it. The smell of sweet chocolate almost made her groan-it’s been a long time since she was able to enjoy something warm and fresh. “Are you sure you’ve gotten enough rest before you go? You’re free to stay as long as you need.” Enzo set the cake on her dresser and put his hands in his pockets. “I can have a bag prepared of food and supplies if you need.” Doris lowered to the bed and rubbed her eyes.” You’d really just let me go?” “Of course I would. I’m a man of my word, you’re free to go when you please.” Enzo seated himself on the chair across the room. He looked around the bare area and shrugged. “I thought you’d like to stay here for a while until you’re better.” Doris looked around as well. “Here? Alone?” “Of course alone. We have spare rooms for travelers that need them, this is one of the bigger ones though it’s still not much to look at. I would say you can decorate it with whatever you wish but I don’t think you’d stay around long enough for it to matter.” “Why are you being so kind? I thought the rogues were…” Doris let her words trail off, but she could tell he knew what she meant. “Allow me to tell you a bit of our story, if you’re You’d really just let me go willing to listen.”