Whispers in the Dark

Chapter 4: Whispers in the Dark

The next morning, my formal duties as the Luna Princess began.

I was informed by Matron Vanya that although Prince James’s wolf had claimed me, his physical body remained locked in the dark sleep curse. The healers explained that my presence was stabilizing his mind, but to help him awaken fully, I was required to spend three hours every evening alone in his chamber, sitting beside his bed and pouring my spirit energy into his.

During the day, however, the palace was a battleground of fake smiles and hidden daggers.

I walked down the long grand dining hall for breakfast, my emerald dress sweeping smoothly across the floor. Sitting around the long mahogany table were several high-ranking noble women and court advisors. The moment I entered the room, the lively conversations instantly died down into cold, suffocating silence.

"Ah, the street princess arrives," Lady Cecilia sneered softly. She was the daughter of Duke Vance, the most powerful lord in the western territory. She had been the front-runner to marry James before his curse. She stared at me with pure, unadulterated hatred, clutching her crystal wine glass so tightly her knuckles turned white.

I took my seat at the far end of the table, keeping my posture straight. "Good morning, Lady Cecilia."

"Do not address me as if we are equals, commoner," Cecilia spat, dropping her silver fork onto her plate with a loud clatter. "You may have tricked the prince's wild wolf with some cheap village magic, but you do not belong here. You are a dirty omega. You smell of cheap ale and kitchen grease."

"The King himself placed this crown on my head, Lady Cecilia," I replied calmly, looking her straight in the eye. "If you have a complaint about my presence, I suggest you take it up with Lord Marcus directly."

Cecilia’s face flushed bright red with anger, but she bit her lip and remained silent. The other nobles exchanged quiet, dark looks. I knew right then that I couldn't trust a single person in this court. They viewed me as an insect that needed to be crushed.

That afternoon, I found a way to slip away from my assigned guards by claiming I wanted to read quietly in the royal library. The library was a massive, three-story hall filled with thousands of leather-bound books and dark wooden alcoves.

I walked down a quiet, dusty aisle near the back of the room, looking for a window that faced the outer courtyard. I looked out through the glass. Riley was there, disguised as a common palace stable hand, shoveling snow near the outer gates.

I carefully pushed open a small side window and tossed a small rolled-up piece of paper down into the snow near his boots. Riley subtly stepped on the paper, scooped it up, and slipped it into his leather coat without missing a beat.

On that paper, I had written a simple message: *Noah's medicine. Has it been delivered?*

Ten minutes later, a young palace page walked into the library and handed me a sealed envelope, claiming a stable hand had found it near the entrance. I tore it open frantically.

*Noah is safe for now,* Riley’s messy handwriting read. *I paid the apothecary for two weeks of potion supply. Now do your part, Isabella. Find out where the King keeps the grand defensive seals. The rebels need those seals to lower the palace barriers. Do not fail us, or Noah's supply will run dry.*

A sickening feeling settled in the pit of my stomach. My hands shook as I crumpled the letter and threw it into the roaring library fireplace, watching the flames consume the dark ink. Riley wasn't just asking for help anymore; he was openly blackmailing me using my little brother’s life.

When evening fell, I made my way up to the high tower to fulfill my duty to Prince James.

The two guards outside his room bowed low as I approached, pulling open the heavy oak doors. I stepped inside the dark, warm chamber. The fire was crackling softly in the stone hearth, casting long, dancing shadows across the velvet canopy bed.

I walked over to the bed and sat down on the soft plush chair beside him. James lay completely still, his handsome face peaceful in the dim firelight.

I took a deep breath and gently wrapped my fingers around his large, warm hand. The moment our skin touched, the glowing mark on my collarbone throbbed with a comfortable, soothing heat. A wave of deep tranquility washed over my mind.

"I don't know if you can hear me, James," I whispered softly, looking down at our joined hands. "Everyone in this palace hates me. They think I'm a nameless nobody who stole a crown. And the boy I thought loved me is using my brother to force me into treason."

I squeezed his fingers slightly, tears stinging my eyes. "I feel so completely alone. If you can hear my voice... please wake up. I don't know how much longer I can fight them by myself."

Silence filled the room, broken only by the crackle of the burning wood.

I sighed softly and leaned my head against the side of his mattress, closing my eyes. I was so exhausted from the constant fear and stress that I slowly drifted off to sleep, my hand still tightly clutching his.

I didn't notice the subtle shift in the room.

I didn't notice as the heavy dark eyebrows of the sleeping prince twitched slightly in the firelight. And I certainly didn't notice when his broad, warm fingers gently, carefully curled back around mine, squeezing my hand in return.