I couldn't remember the last time I'd felt this way—completely present in a moment of pure happiness. The masquerade ball swirled around me in a dazzling kaleidoscope of color and sound, yet somehow I felt anchored, secure. Safe.
Kaelen's hand rested at the small of my back as we returned from the balcony, his touch both protective and possessive. The warmth of his palm seeped through the thin fabric of my gown, sending tiny shivers up my spine that had nothing to do with fear.
"Are you cold?" he murmured, misreading my reaction.
I shook my head, unable to explain that it was his proximity—not the temperature—making me tremble. "I'm perfect."
His eyes, visible through the slits of his mask, darkened with an intensity that made my breath catch. "Yes, you are."
