A Dove's Tale

Chapter 119

I waited impatiently just inside the doorway, peering out into the driving rain for a glimpse of Julius or Nokto. Of course, the rain would choose now to pick up again. Julius wouldn't like it when he came back and I told him to change into dry clothes, but I didn't need him getting sick. Not with whatever was going on.

"I suppose you won't tell me, either?" I asked Mark, standing beside me and frowning alternately into the darkness outside and the dark hallway behind us.

"I have my orders," he said simply.

Sometimes, the chain of command really frustrated me. My guard detail answered to me unless there was a threat, in which case they told me what to do, because, as everybody had said since I was just Chevalier's maid, I didn't know what was good for me. Well, walking around in the rain wasn't good for Nokto. I was rehearsing the speech I would give him about that when he and Julius came into view.

He looked awful.

The slump in his shoulders and the heaviness in his steps was obvious from a distance, and as he got closer, I could see that his face was pale and drawn, with dark circles under his crimson eyes. I would have run to meet him if Mark hadn't stopped me with a hand on my arm.

"What are you doing up?" Nokto asked wearily as he stepped inside.

"I couldn't sleep because nobody will tell me what's going on," I said irritably, shaking free from Mark and pressing a hand to Nokto's forehead. "You have a fever! Why were you out there?"

He forced a smile and shrugged. A violent shiver ran through him, turning the smile to a grimace. Realization hit me like a punch to the gut.

"She poisoned the tea," I said in disbelief. "And you drank it. Why would you..." The lump in my throat stopped me from saying anything more. I threw my arms around his waist and hugged him tightly, squeezing my eyes shut and pressing my cheek to his chest. He stiffened immediately, his breath catching, but surprise didn't explain his erratic heartbeat.

"Thank you, and never do that again," I choked. I pulled back and glared up at him through my tears. "Never. Mark, go get the doctor. Julius, change into dry clothes. Nokto, come with me." I took his cold, clammy hand and pulled him after me, but his quiet voice stopped me mid-step.

"There's no point in calling the doctor. I've already taken the antidote."

I spun and stared at him. "You knew before you caught up to me."

"Princess-" Julius started.

"Do not tell me you won't leave me alone," I said to him vehemently. "I'm not alone, and I don't need you and Nokto sick. Go change into dry clothes. Mark can keep me safe between here and Nokto's room."

I spun on my heel and tugged Nokto after me, knowing there would be no further argument. Nokto's boots squelched with each step through the dark, empty hallways, and I felt every shiver travel down his arm and through his hand to mine. Anger, worry, and fear churned in my stomach, but I held my tongue until we were alone in his room with Mark standing guard outside the door.

"If you took the antidote, why are you still so sick?" I asked, leading him to the bed and pushing on his shoulder to make him sit down.

"It's a slow acting poison," he muttered. "I won't die. I'll just be miserable until morning. Unless you keep this up," he tried to quip as I stripped his wet coat and jacket off of him. The attempted tease fell as flat as the clothes I threw on the floor.

"If you're going to waste your breath with that kind of talk, then you can start explaining," I said, undoing his tie.

"Somebody changed your schedule."