A Dove's Tale

Chapter 36

I knew all the princes were coming.

The library was loud. It was never loud, except for the day when Prince Chevalier and Prince Leon had their argument. But that was quiet compared to this. The noise hit me as soon as I opened the door, carefully balancing the full tray on one hand until I could release the doorknob and let my hip push the door the rest of the way open. Laughter and talking filled the room, and then a generalized cheer rose to greet me. Prince Luke leaped up from his seat on the floor and came to meet me before I reached the princes lounging around a coffee table. The rest of Prince Leon's faction had joined the party, even Prince Licht, but Prince Luke was still the only representative from Prince Chevalier's faction.

"I got it," Prince Luke said, taking the tray from me before I could protest. "How were ya carrying this? It weighs more than ya!"

"It does not, Prince Luke. Would anybody like some tea?"

Prince Leon laughed. "Just sit down, Ivetta. It's bad enough they sent you to get this stuff for your own party."

"My what?" I asked, startled.

"There's room over here, dollface," Prince Jin called, patting his lap with his free hand. He already had a glass of some sort of alcohol in his other hand.

"Back off, you old pervert," Prince Yves warned him, waving a chocolate-covered knife in Prince Jin's face. He expertly flipped it around and turned back to cutting the cake. "And we didn't send her to get it. She just volunteered too quickly to stop her."

"I can believe that," Prince Leon said, his amber eyes warm as he smiled at me.

He and Prince Licht occupied the two lounge chairs across the coffee table from the sofa. Prince Licht's dark crimson eyes met mine briefly and darted quickly away to the tea set. He scooted forward to pour a cup of tea, and I reluctantly perched on the edge of the sofa between Prince Jin and Prince Yves, the only empty seat other than the floor, which was occupied by Prince Luke again.

"Maybe I should do that, your highness," I said to Prince Yves, watching with trepidation as the knife danced dangerously close to his fingers.

"Believe it or not, I'm safe with sharp implements," he said, flashing me a bright smile. "You get the first slice."

He placed a generous helping of the multi-layer, heavily frosted chocolate cake on a plate and handed it to me. I took it hesitantly, glancing around at the five pairs of smiling eyes watching me. Well, four pairs, anyway. Prince Licht was pouring a second cup of tea, and he wasn't smiling.

"Thank you, your highness, but may I ask what this is about?"

"This is a thank you," Prince Yves explained. "Chevalier and I had a little talk last night, and I understand you're to blame for that. Of course, I didn't invite them," he added, using the knife to gesture at his brothers.

My deal with Prince Chevalier had completely slipped my mind. He was supposed to tell Prince Yves that he trusted him, and I...I let him feed me that beignet. The memory brought heat to my cheeks, and I focused on cutting off a piece of chocolate cake with my fork rather than daring to look at any of the princes.

Prince Jin chuckled beside me. "Aw, you're so cute when you're embarrassed."

Yes. All this attention was embarrassing me, and nothing else. We could go with that.

"How do you like your tea?"

I looked up in surprise at Prince Licht's question. He was actually looking at me, his face as impassive as always.

"Um, a little sugar and cream, thank you, your highness."

"Well?" Prince Yves prompted me, pausing from passing slices of cake around to fix his deep blue eyes on me.