Seren’s POV
The whispers had become knives.Everywhere I turned, I could feel them slicing into me, low murmurs that weren’t even trying to hide anymore. Normally, I’d pretend not to hear, pretend I could rise above it, but not today. Today was different. Something had happened.
Today, their voices were louder. Today, every smirk, every laugh felt sharpened to pierce my skin.
And the worst part? Last night had been good. Really good. For the first time in weeks, I’d fallen asleep with a full heart, with the memory of Kael’s quiet smile, the silver glint of the swan-shaped pendant resting against my collarbone, and the way he’d said I deserved to feel special.
But school didn’t care about special.
The second I walked through the doors, I felt it. The air was thicker than usual, like it
