"Chevalier," I said, surprised. "Where are we going?"

He didn't respond, and his icy blue eyes betrayed nothing. I let him lead me back inside. As we walked, his hand slid down my arm to wrap around my hand. I looked down at our hands, startled, and looked back up at him. He gave me a sidelong glance and the corner of his lip twitched up into a small smile. My cheeks turned red and I looked away quickly as my stomach filled with butterflies. Suddenly, the silence seemed awkward, and I felt the need to say something.

"You weren't mean to the doctor, were you?"

"I merely explained that he was being unreasonable."

"He's really sweet, to be so concerned for me."

"You don't need him. And you don't need Black. You are mine now."

I looked up at him with wide eyes, the breath catching in my throat. "Chevalier..."

"There is a matter we need to discuss," he continued, seemingly oblivious to my surprise. "Do you remember?"

The butterflies flew up to my head and made it hard to think, but I did remember. It was the second time he came to visit me, after my rescue. "Yes."

"Have you repaired your opinion of yourself?"

"I'm not a maid anymore," I said uncertainly.

"That isn't what I asked." Suddenly he turned and pushed me back against a bookcase, and I realized we were in his private library. He took the champagne glass from my hand and set it on the shelf behind me, his blue eyes inches from mine and full of a warmth I'd never seen before. His fingers traced up and down my neck. "Perhaps you need a demonstration of what I think of you," he said with a smirk, and then he kissed me.

Our lips parted, and I looked up at him wonderingly. He hadn't kissed me since I first woke up after the rescue, and then it was really just a peck on the lips. "Chevalier-"

He cut me off with another kiss, longer and deeper. The fingers that had been at my neck now cradled the back of my head, while the hand at my shoulder wrapped around me and slid down my back, pulling me even closer to him. He stole my breath, and I found my own arms wrapping around his neck as he kissed me over and over again.

Finally he pulled back to catch his breath. My head was spinning as I looked into those deep blue eyes. "Chevalier, I think you've had too much champagne," I gasped.

"I've had none," he replied, a teasing smirk on his lips. "You refused to run away from the Brutal Beast, and now you must suffer the consequences." He leaned in to kiss my neck, tracing the pattern his fingers had taken.

"Stop." He pulled back, looking at me questioningly. The dull aching had increased significantly, and I couldn't ignore the pain anymore. "I need to sit down."

He sighed, a touch of frustration in his eyes. "Very well." He led me out to a sofa in the main library, sitting close beside me. "You're a bit pale," he said, tucking a stray strand of hair behind my ear.

"I just need a minute," I said, a little breathlessly. I probably needed to lie down, actually, but I didn't want to leave him.

"Did I hurt you?" he asked, concerned.

"No, I'm just a bit sore, that's all." I gave him a small smile to try to reassure him.

He studied my face. "I'll take you back to your room."

"Not yet," I pleaded, putting my hand on his arm.

That brought a smile to his face. "You're much less reserved than before."

"I was just a maid before. Now I'm a princess."

"You still don't understand." He leaned in and kissed me, much more gently than before. "Your social class means nothing to me. You're a brave little dove, but you're not as strong as you think. I've decided it's safer for you to be here with me."

"Even if I wasn't a princess?" I searched his face, seeing the truth in his eyes even before his lips moved.

"The decision was made a month ago, Ivetta."

It still sent a strange jolt through me, hearing him say my name.

He put his arm around me and pulled me closer to his side. I rested my head on his shoulder, trying to put order to my thoughts.

"So much has happened today," I said quietly. "I don't know what to think anymore."

"Sometimes, little dove, you don't need to be so clever." I felt his lips touch the top of my head. "And you don't need to take care of yourself anymore." He took my hand in his, and I closed my eyes. My heart felt like it would burst. This couldn't really be happening, could it?

"I'm not dreaming, am I?"

"Do you often dream about me?" he asked teasingly.

"Chevalier!" I felt my cheeks get hot again.

He chuckled, taking my chin in his hand and making me look up at him. "You're blushing," he said with a smirk. His finger glided gently down my cheek, his eyes smoldering, and I know I turned even redder. He kissed me again, softly.

"Maybe we should go out and join the others," I mumbled when he pulled away.

"Do you really want to?"

I shook my head. "Not really."

"How are you feeling?"

I wanted to say that I felt fine, but the unfortunate reality was that I was really hurting now. "I should probably go," I said reluctantly.

We walked back to my room in silence, still holding hands. He held the door open for me, and I hesitated.

"Chevalier?"

"Yes?"

"Could you take me to my mother's grave tomorrow?"

"Of course." He led me over to the bed. "Do you need any help?"

"I don't think so," I said, sitting down heavily. I would probably have to change later, after I rested a while.

"You would have liked the funeral."

I looked up at him in surprise. "You were there?"

He nodded. "I told you I'd have a carriage pick you up."

"I didn't think you were coming with it." I looked away from him, the pain an ever present reminder of what happened next. "I should have come back with you."

He bent down, picking up my legs and swinging them carefully onto the bed.

"Chevalier-"

"You told me not to blame myself," he said, ignoring my surprised protest and pulling the blankets up over me. "Now I'm telling you." He tucked me in, resting his hands on the blankets on either side of me, his face hovering above mine. "Do you need anything else?"

"No, thanks."

He smiled and kissed me again. "Get some rest, little dove."

*****

The above is excerpted from A Dove's Tale. This was submitted to the "Enemy Beloved" contest by @WattCliches. The above content may no longer reflect the most recent edits to the original story.