A Dove's Tale

Chapter 126

I don't remember Chevalier coming back to his room that night. I remember the clean nightgown Theresa left folded neatly on his bed for me, and I remember the sudden weariness that came over me as soon as I changed into it. All the energy I felt when Jin woke Chevalier and me up in the library vanished in an instant. It had been a trying, stressful day, and I just wanted to go back to sleep.

So, I crawled under the covers on my side of the bed, and that's what I did.

And when I woke up the next morning, I was in the middle of the bed, cuddled up with Chevalier.

That put an immediate smile on my face.

I propped myself up on my elbow, looking down at his sleeping form. The bright rays of morning sunshine streaming through the windows above his bookcases highlighted his pale blonde hair with gold and made his eyelashes glisten against his fair skin. I reached out to brush his fringe back from his face, but my hand froze in midair. He woke easily. I bit my lip, and then I moved my fingers closer, touching his hair lightly. He didn't stir. I combed his fringe back, hesitantly at first, gaining confidence as he remained sound asleep. Riding all night through a torrential rainstorm the night before last, only sleeping a few hours before he got up early in the morning to work all day without stopping, and then Jin waking us up in the library last night - he had to be exhausted.

He looked so innocent and peaceful like this. His relaxed, smooth face seemed almost angelic.

I ran my fingers through his hair again, wondering how long he stayed in the kitchen with his brothers, wondering if the peace and tranquility would vanish the moment he woke up. Would he have to become the Brutal Beast when he left this room? Would he have to stain his white cloak with blood?

I lay down again, cuddling up to him and pulling the blankets over us. He wasn't the Brutal Beast now. Now, he was just the man I loved, and worn out from protecting and caring for me. It wasn't much, but maybe my staying would help him sleep better. I didn't have anywhere to be, anyway.

Morning passed by as we slept, the warmth of summer increasing gradually until an uncomfortable stuffiness under the blankets woke me later. I pushed the covers back, considering if I wanted to get up now or stay a little longer, and Chevalier's fingers dug into my waist at my slight movement. When I looked over at him, his eyes were still closed. I smiled and settled in next to him again.

"Are you awake now?" I asked softly.

He sighed and rolled over to face me, hugging me to his chest and nuzzling into my hair.

"No."

He really was adorable when he first woke up.

"But you're talking," I pointed out, reaching up to comb my fingers through his hair again. He shifted his head on the pillow next to mine, moving closer to signal me to keep going.

"You talk in your sleep," he mumbled.

"Only when I'm having nightmares," I said. I rubbed the pad of my thumb across an imaginary line between his brows, then back up through his hair and down to the back of his neck. "Are you having a nightmare?"

He sighed again and opened his eyes. Warmth and drowsiness mixed to create the sweetest expression in that crystalline blue, and the soft smile on his lips only made it sweeter.

"No."

One day, my heart might actually explode when he gave me that look. It was the look that said I was the only person who mattered to him, the look that made me feel like I was the only person in the world. I leaned in to give him a light kiss, smiling against his lips.