Chapter 118: WHISPERS IN THE SILENCE

LUNA LEENA POV

The palace felt different now. We had been back for three days, but everything still felt heavy. The children were safe in their rooms, sleeping after long baths and warm meals. I should have been happy. I should have been resting with them, holding them close and never letting go. But I couldn’t.

I stood by the window in our bedroom, staring at the dark forest outside. The glowing scar on my left wrist burned hotter than before. It had been pulsing since we returned. Sometimes it felt like something was moving under my skin. Sometimes I heard a voice, soft, whispering things I couldn’t understand. I rubbed the scar gently, but the heat only grew stronger. I didn’t know where the voice was coming from. It scared me.

Damian walked up behind me and wrapped his arms around my waist. He rested his chin on my shoulder. His warmth was comforting, but even that couldn’t calm the storm inside me.

“You haven’t slept,” he said softly. “You need rest, Leena. You have barely closed your eyes since we came back.”

“I can’t,” I whispered. “Every time I close my eyes, I see Samara holding Elara. I see the knife. I saw their faces when they were in that cage. I failed them, Damian. I should have protected them better. I should have known Kael was lying. I should have been there.”

“You didn’t fail them,” he replied, turning me around to face him. His hands were gentle on my shoulders. “You fought for them. We brought them home. They are safe now. They are sleeping peacefully because of you.”

I wanted to believe him. I really did. But the scar on my wrist throbbed again, sending a sharp pain up my arm. I winced. The voice came back, faint and unclear, like someone whispering from far away. I didn’t know what it was saying. I didn’t know where it was coming from. It made me feel like I was losing my mind.

Damian noticed immediately. He took my wrist carefully and looked at the glowing mark. “It’s getting worse. We need to find out what this is. We can ask the healer again tomorrow. I will not let anything hurt you.”

I pulled my hand away. Something inside me felt angry. Not at Damian, but at everything. At the forest for marking me. At Samara for taking my children. At myself for not being strong enough.

“I don’t want to talk about it right now,” I said, my voice sharper than I meant it to be. “I just want to be with the children.”

I walked out of the room before he could say anything else. My steps were fast. The palace halls felt too long. When I reached the children’s room, I pushed the door open quietly. They were all asleep in one big bed, curled up together like they were still afraid to be apart. Elara had her head on Ryker’s shoulder. Thorne held her hand even in his sleep.

I sat on the edge of the bed and watched them. Tears filled my eyes. They looked so small. I'm so tired. The bruises on Elara’s arms were fading, but I could still see them clearly in my mind. I reached out and gently touched her hair. The moment my fingers brushed her head, the scar on my wrist burned hotter. The voice came back, louder this time, but still unclear. It sounded like it was calling my name. Or maybe it was calling Elara’s name. I didn’t know. I pulled my hand back quickly, my heart racing. What was happening to me? Why was I hearing things? I didn’t understand.

Ryker stirred and opened his eyes. He saw me and smiled sleepily. “Mummy… you’re here.”

“I’m here,” I whispered, forcing a smile. “Go back to sleep, my love.”

He closed his eyes again, but I stayed there, watching over them. The scar kept pulsing. The whispers kept coming, faint but persistent. I felt angry. Restless. Like something inside me wanted to break free and run. I didn’t know what it was. I didn’t know why it was happening. It scared me more than anything.

Damian came in quietly a while later. He sat beside me and took my hand. “Leena… talk to me.”

“I feel like I’m losing control,” I admitted. “The mark… it’s changing me. I feel angry all the time. I feel like I want to fight everyone. Even you. And sometimes I hear a voice. I don’t know where it’s coming from. I don’t know what it wants.”

He pulled me into his arms. “We will figure this out. Together. I won’t let anything take you from me. I won’t let anything take any of us.”

I nodded, but deep down I was scared. The voice was getting stronger. And I didn’t know how much longer I could fight it.

“I think for now, you need a perfect rest, everything is going to be alright” He said simply and bent down and lifted me into his arms like I weighed nothing. I wrapped my arms around his neck as he carried me out of the room and down the quiet hall toward our bedroom. His steps were steady and sure. I rested my head against his chest, listening to his heartbeat. It was strong and calm, the only thing grounding me right now.

When we reached our room, he closed the door softly behind us and carried me to the bed. He laid me down gently, but he didn’t let go. Instead, he climbed in beside me and pulled me close. His hand cupped my face, his thumb brushing away a tear that had escaped.

“You will be okay, Leena,” he whispered, his voice low and full of love. “I am here. We are together. Whatever this mark is, we will face it. I will not lose you. Not after everything we have been through.”

Before I could reply, he leaned in and kissed me. The kiss started slow and tender, but it quickly became passionate. His lips moved against mine with hunger and need, like he was pouring all his fear and love into me. I kissed him back just as fiercely, my hands sliding into his hair and pulling him closer. For those few moments, the burning in my wrist faded. The whispers grew quieter. All I could feel was him, his warmth, his strength, his love.

When we finally pulled apart, both of us breathing hard, he hugged me tightly against his chest. His arms wrapped around me like a shield. I buried my face in his neck, breathing in his scent. The scar still glowed faintly, but the pain had eased. It no longer felt like fire under my skin.

“I love you,” I whispered against his skin.

“I love you more,” he replied softly, kissing the top of my head. “Sleep now, my Luna. I will be right here when you wake up.”

I closed my eyes, safe in his arms. The whispers had gone quiet. The burning had become a gentle warmth. Exhaustion finally pulled me under, and I fell into a deep, peaceful sleep for the first time since we returned home.

……..

The next morning, the children ran into our room excitedly. They wanted to play outside. I tried to smile and play with them, but the scar started burning again when Elara hugged me. For a second, I felt the urge to push her away. I hated myself for it. The voice whispered again, soft and unclear. I shook my head, trying to push it away.

“Mummy, are you okay?” Elara asked, looking up at me with big eyes.

“I’m fine, baby,” I lied, kissing her forehead. “Mummy is just tired.”

Damian watched me from across the garden. His eyes were worried. I knew he could feel everything through the bond. I was slipping. Something was happening to me, and I didn’t know what it was.

Later that evening, during dinner, one of the maids brought the wrong cup. It was a small mistake, but something inside me snapped.

“Why is this?” I asked angrily. The head maid quickly came forward and bowed.

“I am sorry Luna, she is new and didn't know the cup” she said.

“I am sorry” the maid also apologized.

“Why can’t you all do anything right?” I shouted. My voice was louder than I meant it to be. The maids looked scared and bowed quickly.

“We are…..”

“Don't say it” I snapped at them and they kept quiet. I could see the look of surprise on their faces. Including Damian.

Damian stood up. “Leena…”

I stormed out of the room before he could finish. I walked to the training ground and picked up a sword. I started swinging it wildly, trying to release the anger.

I dropped the sword and fell to my knees. Tears fell from my eyes. I was losing myself. I was becoming something I didn’t understand. And the worst part was that I didn’t know how to stop it.

Damian found me there. He knelt beside me and pulled me into his arms without saying anything. I cried against his chest, holding him tight.

“I’m scared,” I whispered. “I don’t know what’s happening to me. I hear voices. I feel angry all the time. I don’t want to hurt the children. I don’t want to hurt you.”

“You won’t,” he said firmly. “We will figure this out. We will find out what this mark is. I will not lose you, Leena. Not after everything we have been through.” I nodded gently while hugging him back.