A Dove's Tale

Chapter 157

I was in a deep sleep when I felt a gentle touch at the outer corner of my eye. It traced down my cheek, and then soft lips pressed into my forehead, followed by a softer apology. Chevalier. He hugged me closer, nuzzling into my hair, and I smelled the roses. I felt the comfort and warmth of his arms around me, the heat of his breath on my skin, and I wanted to stay asleep. I didn't want to remember the nightmare that was the previous night.

Except a splitting headache from crying myself to sleep wouldn't let me forget. I remembered all too vividly the panic that made me a sobbing mess, the panic that had been so severe, I'd nearly passed out.

And I was still wearing a corset. And a full dress, of course, but the corset was the most uncomfortable part of my ensemble, and it did nothing to lift my mood.

"You're still in trouble," I mumbled, rolling away from him.

He followed me, keeping his arms around my waist and hugging my back to his chest when I tried to put distance between us.

"I didn't realize how much that would upset you," he murmured, kissing my neck.

I rolled my shoulder up to my ear, like I was trying to shoo a pesky bug away. "That won't work," I muttered.

"Ivetta—"

"You knew what Clavis was up to, and you didn't stop him," I interrupted. "You didn't tell me, because you knew I wouldn't like it."

"If I'd thought I was in any danger—"

"He was trying to kill you, Chevalier," I said, my voice getting harder and sharper with every word. "When someone is trying to kill you, then you are in danger, no matter how much smarter or stronger you may be. What if you tripped? What if you were feeling under the weather? You can't know everything or account for everything, Chevalier, and I..."

The lump in my throat wouldn't let me continue. I squeezed my eyes shut, and his lips pressed into my neck again.

"I'm sorry, Ivetta."

I swallowed the lump down and choked out, "You should be. When I thought something might happen to you..."

He turned me gently toward him again, kissing the tears from my cheeks. "I'm okay, Ivetta," he murmured between kisses. "I'm not leaving you. I'm okay."

The hurt was still fresh, but the kisses helped, even though I didn't want them to. I wanted to stay mad at him longer, resist his reassuring words and make him feel a little of the pain I'd felt last night. But as angry as I was, I was relieved, too. So relieved he was okay, and Clavis was okay, and—

Was Clavis okay?

I'd assumed he was last night when Chevalier came for me, but I didn't really know.

The question stuck and grew in the back of my mind until I couldn't enjoy Chevalier's attention anymore, and I had to pull away, wiping my eyes to see him clearly.

"Chevalier?" I asked in a small voice, half afraid to ask. "Is Clavis..."

Shreds of daylight snuck around the curtains, allowing me to see his crystal blue eyes studying me in the dimly lit room. He nodded, and I closed my eyes, letting out a sigh of relief. Clavis was a pain, but that didn't mean I wanted anything to happen to him.

"You're angry at me and worried about him?"

My eyes snapped open again at the amusement laced through Chevalier's voice. There was a teasing glint in his eyes and a finger sliding under my chin, tilting it up, and suddenly, my cheeks were burning, and my heart was pounding. I wriggled away from his hand and buried my face in his chest.