A Dove's Tale

Chapter 70

The princes had barely settled on the sofas when the library door burst open, and there was Prince Clavis, red-faced, out of breath, violet hair in disarray, bolting across the room toward me.

"Clavis, shouldn't you be hiding somewhere?" Prince Leon asked, laughing all over again.

"He's faster than I thought," Prince Clavis gasped, grabbing my shoulders and pushing me in front of him as Prince Luke's massive frame filled the doorway.

"Clavis!" he shouted, his leaf-green eyes narrowed and angry. Leaves and twigs stuck out of his red hair at odd angles, and he, too, was red-faced and out of breath. I was having a hard time keeping a straight face, especially since everybody was laughing again.

"You wouldn't hit my lovely accomplice, would you?" Prince Clavis asked, holding me in front of him like a shield.

"Accomplice?" I asked incredulously, craning my neck to look over my shoulder at him.

"Oh, good, I'm not missing anything," Prince Silvio said, walking into the library with a satisfied smirk as Prince Luke stomped toward Prince Clavis and me.

"Yes, accomplice. You helped me pick my target, after all," Prince Clavis said patiently, as if he were explaining himself to a child. As if he were the mature one in this situation.

Sometimes, he was infuriating.

"I did not."

"Nobody believes that, Clavis," Prince Luke growled.

"In Keith's room, remember?" Prince Clavis asked, grinning maniacally.

"What were you two doing in my room?" Prince Keith asked, his golden eyes wide with surprise.

"I was cleaning, and he was looking for trouble," I replied. "And I did not help you choose a target, Prince Clavis. I asked you not to prank Prince Keith, and I said if you had to prank somebody, prank your brothers. You're welcome, by the way, Prince Keith."

"Thank you, but-"

"But you didn't say no when I decided on Luke," Prince Clavis continued, talking over Prince Keith. "You just said not to tell you what I was going to do."

"That's basically giving him permission, Ivetta," Prince Leon chimed in from the amused onlookers.

"So, this is your plan?" Prince Luke asked, towering over us. "Hiding behind Ivetta? Ya realize I can just pick her up an' move her outta the way?"

"Not if I do this," Prince Clavis said, snaking an arm around my waist.

"Prince Clavis!"

"Hold your breath," he whispered in my ear.

"Prince Clavis, don't-"

A small glass vial hit the floor next to us. I squeezed my eyes shut and clapped my hands over my nose and mouth as a blinding cloud of smoke enveloped me and an explosion shook the room. Prince Clavis threw me over his shoulder and bolted, leaving the coughing and swearing princes behind. I waited a moment to make sure we were clear of the smoke before I opened my eyes and pounded on his back.

"Prince Clavis, put me down!"

"Here, take this," he said, throwing me at someone else without stopping. I stared up at Prince Chevalier in confusion as Prince Clavis tore down the hall away from us. Another set of footsteps came pounding toward us, and I looked back to see Prince Luke racing around the corner.

"Which way?" he asked breathlessly.

I pointed in the direction Prince Clavis had taken, and Prince Luke ran past us. The other princes tumbled out of the library, still coughing. Laughter rang out further down the hall, and I looked past a handful of servants plastered wide-eyed against the walls at Prince Jin, strolling toward the chaos with a wide grin on his face. It was then that I realized I was still in Prince Chevalier's arms, and I looked up at him nervously, blushing to the tips of my ears. His crystal blue eyes showed definite amusement.