"Your Majesty."
Kaliantha's eyes opened.
Ulrich was awake.
His dark red eyes watched her from the bed.
For one suspended moment, neither of them moved.
His fingers were still interlaced with hers.
Their joined hands rested against her chest.
Ulrich's gaze shifted downward.
Then returned to her face.
"Count Rubenhart," Kaliantha called back and let go of his hand as if nothing had happened to begin with.
Ulrich lowered his hand.
His face remained equally composed.
Internally, however, he could not understand what the hell had just happened.
The Queen had entered his chamber alone. She had sat beside his bed. She had taken his hand. Then, while he had still been half asleep, she had brought it against her chest.
And now she had released him as though he had imagined the entire thing.
Ulrich chose not to think about it.
