A Beast's Tale

Chapter 47

"So this is where you two have been hiding."

"Prince Jin!"

Ivetta leaped to her feet while I stifled a sigh. I had no sundial or clock nearby for reference, but I knew we needed to leave this secluded location if she wanted to end her workday at five o'clock. Jin's interruption was timely, if not appreciated. I closed my book and stood.

"Where were you? Everybody was looking for you!" Ivetta chided him.

Jin laughed and tousled her hair. "I had something I needed to do. If I'd known I was worrying you and Belle so much, I would've come back sooner. Ah, nothing like being wanted by two beautiful women, right, Chevalier?"

Ivetta averted her eyes. The blush I knew was creeping into her cheeks was not quite visible in the shade. "Prince Jin..."

"We need to leave," I told her, annoyed by her familiarity with him. The kiss I'd seen her give Clavis, the kiss I'd told myself didn't matter, had weighed heavier on my mind the longer we'd read together in silence. I was ready to run through the next man she kissed, whether it be Jin, Clavis, or a total stranger.

"Nokto's out here looking for you," Jin told her. "If you just follow the path, you'll run into him. I need to talk to Chevalier for a moment."

She turned back to me. I hadn't stated Nokto would be a permanent replacement for Luke, and I had my reservations about him keeping such close quarters with her on a regular basis, but she'd made no complaints thus far. I nodded.

"Then I'll be going. Have a good night, Prince Chevalier, Prince Jin."

She dipped into a curtsy and left, her long black hair swishing across her swaying hips, and I almost reconsidered. Her trapped in a carriage with Nokto? Even if he behaved himself, I knew how he would look at her. It was the same way Jin was looking at her now, a way that made my hand creep toward my sword hilt. I retracted it and clenched it into a fist.

Jin sighed after she vanished from view. "Now that's a gorgeous sight. So," he turned back to me, his lips turning up into a teasing smirk, "you brought her all the way out here, huh?"

"What do you want?"

His brows drew together in sympathy. "I wanted to hear my little brother got some action, but I can already tell you didn't. Come on, Chevalier. All alone in an arbor built for secret trysts, surrounded by roses, where nobody could see or hear you, and you didn't even make a move on her? If you're gonna torture yourself by keeping her around you all the time, the least you can do is allow yourself a little kiss."

I brushed past him and left the arbor for the overgrown path. I knew the place's history and had indeed 'made a move on her,' but much as a small part of me wished I'd kissed her, a larger part was glad I hadn't. She was not my romantic partner. She was not mine at all. The irritation I felt with Jin and Nokto for looking at her was unfounded. The tension in my muscles at the thought of that innocent kiss she'd given Clavis was unnecessary. I needed to refocus my mind on something worthwhile.

She hadn't wanted me to kiss her anyway.

"Whoa, slow down," Jin said, though he was quick to catch up with me. "I get it, touchy subject. If you ever want any advice, you know I'm happy to share my wisdom with you, but that isn't actually the reason I came looking for you."

"Then Clavis has news about Jumbo."

Jin sighed. "I'll never know how you do that. Yeah, he does, and he's in your office, waiting for us. Belle and Sariel wanted to listen in, but Clavis said that was your decision."

"I'll reserve judgment until I hear it."

"That's what I figured. It sounds like it'll be big."

I only hoped it didn't necessitate executing Luke as a traitor. And that I wouldn't execute Clavis the moment I saw him. The thought was tempting.