A Dove's Tale

Chapter 184

Rhodolite Foundation Day was finally here.

And oh, how I needed a break.

I wasn't alone. The past week had been nothing but one headache after another for the royal family. Everything about Leon had been called into question, and while I'd never seen his smile falter, I'd felt mine threaten to evacuate the premises on multiple occasions. It was hard to believe a mere week ago, Leon had been a national hero and icon, a governmental institution in his own right. Leader of the domestic affairs faction, beloved by commoners and aristocracy alike, often unofficially treated as second in command to Chevalier—disgraced. Disowned. Despised.

My morning Bible reading had been more important than ever. Even my patience had its limits.

I turned the thin page, my eyes immediately scanning the margins for Mother's handwritten notes. Most of the time, I read her words before returning to the small lines of printed text. Most of the time.

Sometimes, my heart hurt too much to think about her.

On this particular page, the word 'smile' stood out to me. She'd emphasized it with an exclamation mark and two underlines. It was right next to the passage about turning the other cheek when insulted.

My fake smile had received a lot of exercise over the past week. My ability to truly listen for the reason behind the anger had taken a beating. My skill at acknowledging the validity of another person's opinion while disagreeing kindly and, when possible, presenting my side in such a way as to win that person over had been severely tested.

I had learned it all from Mother.

I sighed and closed the Bible. That was all I could handle today.

And then I felt long fingers grazing the back of my neck and pulling my hair off to one side, soft lips pressing into my skin, and the smile came easily to my face.

"Good morning, Chevalier. Did I wake you?"

"No." He slid his hands from my shoulders down my arms, crossing them in front of me. "Finished already?"

"For this morning, yes." I leaned my cheek against his as he rested his chin on my shoulder. We'd spent very little time alone together over the past week, only stealing a quick kiss here or there, and this small gesture felt refreshingly cozy. "What are you doing up so early? I thought you'd sleep in."

"Do I need a reason?"

"You always have a reason."

He chuckled and kissed my cheek. "Maybe I just want to spend time with my wife before she leaves to spend time with my brother."

My eyes flew wide open. I turned my face toward him, and although his crystal blue eyes still held remnants of sleep, his smirk was wide awake. "How do you always—"

He cut me off with a kiss, and suddenly, the question didn't matter anymore. This mattered. The feel of his soft lips melding with mine was so familiar and yet so special. It woke the butterflies in my stomach with a flurry of feathery wing strokes, and I closed my eyes, savoring the feeling.

"I won't be with Clavis long," I breathed.

He pulled me to my feet and into his arms, and the butterflies moved up to circle my heart, wrapping it in warmth as I wrapped my arms around his neck. Our kisses lengthened and deepened, the simple morning greeting progressing to a complex evening invitation. When he scooped me up and carried me back to bed, I felt I should at least attempt a protest, however reluctant and mild it might be.

"Mm, Chevalier, Theresa will be here soon."

He pressed me into the blankets and climbed on top of me. "You didn't read as long as usual this morning." His voice was a seductive purr in my ear, his hands moving with clear intention across my curves. "We have plenty of time."