Melrose POV:
I sat in Soren's secret place, the silence pressing down on me like a weight for what felt like an eternity. I wasn't sure what to do after he left, so I simply stayed in the bed where I had woken up, waiting for him to return and give me instructions on my new 'job.' But the clock ticked by, and soon minutes turned into hours, and he still didn't show; he was probably caught up in the rogue situation or getting another ear full from Queen Luna, Stefani, nevertheless; waiting was becoming unbearable. My heart raced faster every minute, the loneliness gnawing at me like a ravenous beast.
Locked away like Cinderella, I felt powerless—waiting for Soren or Ezra to swoop in and rescue me. But this was no fairy tale; the reality was crushing. I couldn’t let my thoughts spiral i
