It wasn’t a conscious decision at first. I skipped meals, stopped responding to Bella’s passive-aggressive remarks, and even ignored Dylan’s attempts to talk to me on the phone. The King’s concerned glances burned into my back, but I refused to meet his gaze. I avoided Xander entirely If I was dangerous—if something inside me was wrong—I couldn’t risk hurting them.
So I did what I had to do. I withdrew and confined myself to the east wing, where few dared to go. I locked myself away in my chamber, pulling the heavy curtains shut and sinking into the suffocating silence. But the silence wasn’t peaceful. It was loud. Too loud. Because in that silence, the whispers were still there.
At first, I thought they were just nightmares. But then they started coming when I was awake.
‘Princess…’ I
