A Dove's Tale

Chapter 123

"Do not do that again."

I spun to face Chevalier, clenching my fists tightly to my sides as he slammed his bedroom door shut behind us. His icy blue eyes were narrowed and flashing. I didn't care.

"How can you even think of postponing the ceremony?" I asked angrily. "You were the one who pushed Sariel to arrange it as soon as possible!"

"You aren't listening," he ground out through clenched teeth.

"It's hard to listen when nobody will tell me anything!" I retorted.

He groaned in frustration and grabbed my upper arms, bringing his face so close to mine that all I could see were his intense blue eyes. "How many times have you told me you trust me? How many times have you said you don't have to know if I think it's better that you don't?"

I pursed my lips, irritated that he was right. The raging storm of emotions in my chest brought a lump to my throat. He was always right.

"I know you," he continued, his voice softening slightly. "I know your limits, and this is beyond your capacity right now. You need to trust me about this. I will handle everything, and I will do so without further interference from you. Do you understand?"

"Don't talk to me like I'm a child," I muttered, tears pricking at my eyes.

He sighed and relaxed his grip on my arms. "I have never seen you as a child, Ivetta. You're stubborn, you're frustrating, and you're mouthy, but you are not a child." His fingers caught my chin when I tried to look away, forcing me to hold his steady gaze. "I love you. I nearly lost you once, and I can't go through that again."

The look in his eyes and the pleading note in his voice struck a chord with my aching heart, breaking down my resistance and evaporating my anger. I stepped toward him, resting my forehead on his chest as the tears broke free. "I'm sorry," I mumbled. "That wasn't fair of me. I just - I heard you say to postpone our engagement ceremony, and I..."

He wrapped his arms around me and pulled me close. "I'm not stopping the ceremony. You were correct in saying it is too late to advise those traveling long distances of a change in schedule. I was only postponing it for a few days if we can't resolve matters within the expected timeframe."

I took a deep, shaky breath and let it out slowly. His kiss on top of my head helped the air flow more easily. "Is there...is there anything I can do to help?" I asked, looking up at him. "Anything at all? When I don't - when I don't have something to do, I just - think, and - my thoughts aren't always so...helpful," I admitted.

He removed one hand from my back to brush the tears from my cheeks, and the hint of a smile turned up the corners of his lips.

"There is one thing."

"What is it?"

He tilted my chin up and kissed me. The kiss was soft, and earnest, and just what I needed when my world felt like it was crashing down around me.

"You can change into something better suited for maintaining a low profile," he murmured, his smirking lips brushing against mine. I smiled and wrapped my arms around his neck.

"Don't you like it?"

"Too much." He kissed me again, his hands sliding up my back to toy with the end of my braid as the kiss deepened. His heated kiss turned into two, and then three, and I barely noticed him untying the ribbon holding my braid until his fingers were combing through my loose hair.

"What was wrong with my hair?" I gasped, pulling back to catch my breath and looking down at the rose on the floor next to our feet. "The dress I can understand, but-"