Chapter 23 – Talia’s POV
I couldn’t sleep.
Every time I closed my eyes, my mind replayed the conversation with Vermont. Then Cassie. Then Vermont again. Over and over, until it felt like my head was going to split open.
“What makes you any different…” I scoffed under my breath, staring up at the ceiling.
“I am different,” I muttered, like saying it out loud would make it feel more true.
It didn’t.
I sat up abruptly, running a hand through my hair before pushing myself off the bed.
After we got back to the palace that night, Vermont had left me alone. He hadn’t come back. Not once.
I didn’t know why that bothered me.
But it did.
Was I a terrible person?
The thought came out of nowhere, sitting heavy in my chest before I could stop it. I frowned immediately, shaking my head like t
