Queen Elise
The moment Caleb left my chamber, silence settled around me like an unwelcome guest.
I remained still for several seconds, staring at the closed door, unsure if what I had just felt was real or if my mind, weary from my travels and years of being sick, was beginning to play tricks on me.
I slowly lowered my hand, the same one that had brushed against Caleb's when I extended it for a handshake. The warmth of that contact lingered stubbornly, seeping into my skin as though his touch had branded me.
It was absurd. Utterly absurd.
I had greeted countless men with handshakes before. I had welcomed warriors, councilmen, allies from other packs but never had a simple touch left me trembling like this.
My breath still came unevenly, and my heart… my heart, which had lain cold a
