A Beast's Tale

Chapter 64

Clavis wasn't in my office when I arrived the next day, which was fine with me. I had decided on a course of action, but it would require me to wait until dinnertime that night. Without Clavis, or anybody else, I worked undisturbed for several hours - until Clavis arrived later in the afternoon. At that point, I left for the library. I wasn't ready to deal with him yet.

Ivetta was in my library, seated in her chair with the journal, documents, and book of poetry stacked on her lap. She looked up at me when I entered the room, flashing me a bright smile before she looked back down at her study materials.

"Have you learned the language yet?" I asked, taking my seat next to her and picking up my own book.

"Not yet, but I'm making progress. I know there's nothing particularly personal or emotional in any of this, but I'd still like to read my father's words for myself." She sighed and looked back up at me. "I suppose you weren't close to your father?"

"No."

"Was he afraid of you, like your mother?"

"Yes."

It didn't bother me. That was just my reality, and I'd never known any different. But it bothered her. The green eyes that met mine clearly expressed the pain I didn't feel.

"I'm really sorry, Chevalier."

I put my book down so I could give her my full attention. There was no point in trying to read, anyway. Not with her so near.

"Why should you be sorry?" I asked, echoing my words the last time we had a similar conversation. Unlike that time, I had no desire to threaten or intimidate her.

"You never got to be a child, did you?"

"Neither did you," I pointed out.

"At least I grew up loved. Did you ever feel loved at all, before us?"

"No."

There was something more to her questions, beyond her attempt to understand my past. She was leading up to something. The way she was carefully wording her thoughts, drawing short responses from me even as she piqued my interest, put me in mind of the conversations we had in this room when she was my maid.

"How...how long have you had feelings for me?" she asked hesitantly.

So, that was it. I rested my elbow on the arm of my chair, setting my chin in my hand as I smirked at her. "How long do you think?"

She tilted her head to the side, studying me thoughtfully. "I was trying very hard not to notice, so I really can't say."

The echoes of our first days and weeks together resounded loudly in my head. I took the books from her lap and set them on the table with mine, removing my gloves and adding them to the pile. She watched me curiously.

"What are you doing?"

Back then, she would have been nervous, not curious, and I would have been justifying my actions with meaningless excuses that all denied the truth of what was actually going on. This time, I knew exactly what I was doing. I stood up and pulled her to her feet, pushing her back against a bookcase, hands on her shoulders, face inches from hers.

"Chevalier-" she protested weakly as I slid one hand up to her neck. A shiver ran through her. Not nervous, excited.

I wasn't expecting that.

"Do you want me to answer your question?" I asked quietly.

She nodded wordlessly, her cheeks already turning bright red.