Kaelira barely spoke during the ride home. The carriage wheels rolled steadily through the sleeping streets while lantern light flickered softly against the windows, but her attention remained far away from the conversation her parents were having across from her or rather…on someone. Her mother noticed first.
“You’ve been quiet since we left the estate,” Lady Vale said gently.
Kaelira blinked slightly, pulled from her thoughts. “I’m listening.”
“No, you’re pretending to listen,” her father muttered from beside the window, though there was no real irritation in his voice. Normally she would have smiled at that but tonight she only looked down at her hands resting in her lap because somehow they still felt warm from where Kael had held them during the dance. The memory returned too easil
