The Selective Mute Princess (Published Sample)

Three

I woke up with an arm around me. I frowned, slightly confused. Looking to my right, I saw Ethan was next to me. "Do you feel better?"

I nodded. I was surprised he had stayed here with me. I rubbed my head and leant up and looked at him. Placing my hand to my mouth and down to my breasts, I signed, 'Thank you.'

"You know sign?" he asked in surprise.

I bit my lip and nodded.

"You don't use it, why?"

I shrugged. I just felt like it was another way of talking.

"Okay, well, I told your parents you weren't feeling very well. You have the rest of the day in bed."

I grinned. Bed days were the best, though they didn't come often. My parents always tried to get me out of bed to do lessons, so no lie-ins because of that. I snuggled closer into my quilt and smiled. After Ethan put me to bed, I slept so much better with no nightmares. It was strange how one person could make it all go away. Reaching over for a pen and paper, I wrote, 'Sister?' then showed it to Ethan.

"Erm, she's..." He sighed. "I don't even know where to begin," he said. "She took drugs... a date rape drug."

I stared at him in surprise.

"I don't even know what possessed her to take drugs. I am livid. I want to lock her up, just protect her, turn her back to a baby. Baby Katie was easier than teenage Katie."

I couldn't help but smile.

"I wish I could have kept her that small. I suppose all parents think that." He blew out a breath. "I'm not even a parent, and I feel like I should be in my seventies."

I shook my head, smiling.

"I bet your parents wish that."

My smile dropped at the mention of my parents. I didn't know them anymore; they were strangers.

"Wish they could have kept you and," he paused, "Ava as babies, when you were both safe."

I shook my head. I didn't want to talk about them. I got out of bed and looked towards the window. Rain beat against the window. Times like this, I missed the fact I didn't go outside—the rain was calming. It hadn't changed the ten years I had been locked in the palace. Nothing felt like home anymore, but it never did without her.

"I brought back bad memories, didn't I?" I felt a hand on my shoulder and turned to see Ethan standing behind me. "I didn't mean to do that to you, Mia." He sighed. "I'll leave you alone for a bit."

I placed my hand on his shoulder before he could even open the door. Shaking my head, I opened my mouth, ready to say something, but no words came out.

He nodded in understanding. He knew what I was trying to say. He pulled me into a tight hug and kissed my forehead. "I know it must hurt, but one day it's all going to explode, and you may not know how to deal with the fallout. Feelings are powerful and if blocked out, they can explode."

I didn't really know what he expected me to say. I didn't talk.

"You should eat. Let's take you to the kitchen."

He let go of me and opened the door, and a moment later, I followed. We were very careful about staff seeing him in my bedroom, because at the end of the day, they all reported everything back to my parents. Him being caught in my room would be bad. It could cost him his job, and although I didn't want guards, I wanted him. He helped. He didn't make me feel strange or weird; he made me feel normal.