A Dove's Tale

Chapter 59

The relief hit as soon as Prince Gilbert's door closed behind us. All the strength drained out of me, leaving my knees too weak to hold me upright. Prince Licht caught me as I fell and scooped me into his arms without a word. He was warm. So warm. I closed my eyes and rested my cheek against his chest, shivering as his warmth chased away the cold. He was walking, carrying me somewhere, and I didn't care where he was taking me, as long as it was away from Prince Gilbert.

That was terrifying. I really hadn't known what I was getting into.

"Hey, what happened? Is she okay?" Prince Nokto asked, his strained voice emerging from the dull, distant sounds of the hallway.

"Haven't you done enough?" Prince Licht snapped, his voice a low rumble in his chest next to my ear.

It was like I was dreaming. I heard voices, I registered words, but I was afraid to move or even open my eyes, afraid Prince Licht's warmth would disappear, and I would be back in Prince Gilbert's room, surrounded by cold and fear. Someone was giggling - a woman - whispering something I couldn't make out, and Prince Nokto replied, his voice too low for me to understand. A door opened and closed, and the giggling was gone. Another door opened, closer to me, followed by a thud - a hand stopping the door?

"Go away," Prince Licht said tersely. He sat down, cradling me on his lap. The door closed.

"What happened?" Prince Nokto repeated. "It's too dark in here to see anything," he muttered. A soft hiss and whoosh told me he'd lit a flame.

"Gilbert had her," Prince Licht replied. "Shouldn't you get back to your entertainment for the night?" he added bitingly.

"You were supposed to be watching her," Prince Nokto said accusingly.

"I got caught in one of Clavis' stupid traps," Prince Licht grumbled. "I don't think she's hurt, but she passed out after I got her out of there."

"No, I didn't," I said softly.

I opened my eyes to see two sets of crimson eyes looking down at me, flickering in the light from the candle Prince Nokto held in his hand. The flames danced across the lines of worry in their faces and made their silver hair shimmer.

"I'm okay. Just...just a little shaken up."

I sat up, still trembling, and looked around at the long shadows cast by the single candle. We were in Prince Licht's room. A glint of metal on the table marked where the dagger was. My stomach twisted as I realized Prince Licht would probably use it on himself later.

"What happened with Gilbert?" Prince Licht asked.

I shook my head and stood up. Prince Nokto's free hand was immediately on my arm, steadying me.

"I need to see Prince Chevalier," I said quietly.

"No, you need to go home. Sit down and tell Licht everything. I'll get a carriage ready."

"No, I-I need to tell Prince Chevalier. Myself."

Because I just realized what Prince Gilbert meant when he said he arranged a distraction for Prince Licht. Prince Clavis' trap was the distraction. Maybe Prince Gilbert arranged for Prince Clavis to start that incident on the balcony, too, to test Prince Chevalier. Or...was that Prince Clavis' doing? Was he just trying to get me to drink that champagne, maybe drugged with another sleeping potion, to keep me away from what he knew Prince Gilbert had planned for me later? But then Prince Nokto and Prince Jin interrupted before Prince Clavis could coax me into drinking it...

Prince Chevalier probably worked the balcony part out already. But he hadn't come to Prince Gilbert's room, which told me he didn't know I was there.

What did Prince Gilbert have over Prince Clavis to make him do his bidding like that?