A Dove's Tale

Chapter 116

The ringing of a sword drawn from its sheath and the harsh clang of metal on metal snapped me awake. Chevalier's arm was tight around me, and I clutched at him, burying my face in his chest as my heart sped up and out of control. Daggers in my nightmares, a near sword fight between my guard and Yves last night, and now someone was attacking us while we slept? This had to be a nightmare. It couldn't be real. I kept my eyes squeezed shut, the horrible sound of steel screeching against steel echoing through my mind, and just when I thought I couldn't take anymore, it stopped.

Everything stopped.

"Good morning to you, too, Chev," Clavis said lightly. "I was just thinking it's been a while since you tried to kill me for waking you up."

A soft hiss and thunk signified Clavis sheathing his sword. Chevalier's was a weight on the bed next to me. I still couldn't breathe.

"Get out," Chevalier ordered. His voice was as hard and cold as his sword, but the hand that had held his weapon was under the blanket with me now, stroking my hair with a light, soothing touch. I was trembling.

"Okay, but I hope you haven't forgotten about meeting with Sil's parents before they leave," Clavis said. "The sooner we can get them out of here, the better."

"Out," Chevalier repeated.

"I'm going, I'm going," Clavis said. His footsteps retreated, but then they paused, and the door didn't open. "Chev, are you wearing a dressing gown now?" he asked slyly. "Or are you hiding Ivetta under all those blankets?"

It would be nice if my panic could subside so embarrassment could take over, but Chevalier's rhythmic strokes through my hair and down my back were all that kept me from falling to pieces in a sobbing mess.

"I know, I'm leaving," Clavis said, opening the door. "A word of advice. Don't give her that look. It's not very nice."

The door closed, and the room fell silent, save for my heart pounding in my ears. Chevalier's fingers left me just long enough to push the blankets back, and then they were threading through my hair again while I gulped in the cool air like a drowning person.

"You're safe, Ivetta," he murmured.

I don't know how long it took for the trembling to stop, but he just held me, and eventually, slowly, the fear faded. My heartbeat slowed, my body relaxed, and I took a deep, shuddering breath.

"Does that...happen...a lot?"

"No," he replied. "Only when someone wakes me unexpectedly."

If there were any tangles in my hair from sleeping, they were gone by now, but his hand was still moving, still giving me something to focus on and keep me calm, even with the unpleasant reminder of past attempts on his life. Because that was why he had that reaction to Clavis' intrusion. I knew that, and I knew that he'd probably killed at least one assassin in this room, maybe in this bed. The knowledge was unsettling.

"Are...have you...?" I struggled to ask, peeking up at him nervously. He brushed my hair back behind my ear and leaned in to kiss my forehead.

"No, I've had no further attempts on my life. But I don't take chances with you."

I exhaled deeply and closed my eyes, pillowing my cheek on his chest as his fingers shifted from my hair to trace the outline of my face. "Please don't kill Clavis."

He chuckled, the sound rumbling through my ear to the rest of my body, easing my tension a little more. "Even though that was intentional?"

"It was?" I asked, opening my eyes and looking up at him again. He nodded, stroking my cheek lightly with the back of his finger.