Lucas and I were only able to dance to one more song before Kendrick rushed over toward us."It's time to leave," he said with a stern expression. "The jet is ready for us."I exchanged a glance with Lucas, a hint of disappointment flashing in his eyes before he nodded in understanding. As much as I wanted to stay in Lucas's arms and live in this little bubble between the two of us, I knew I didn't belong here.
The gentle hum of the private jet's engines provided a soothing backdrop as we soared through the night sky, heading back home after the eventful evening at the palace.Kendrick had excused himself to his room, leaving Lucas and me to share the cabin in relative quiet.After we had passed through the portal, I had felt incredibly dizzy, but once I sat down on the jet, the feeling slowly dissipated.Yet, even as the physical discomfort waned, my mind was still reeling.It was hard to describe how I felt. I wasn't even sure if I really felt like myself anymore.There had been so many changes and surprises in the past few weeks. From discovering my true identity as the White Wolf to navigating the complexities of losing my father, managing relationships and politics in the supernatural world, I found myself constantly on edge, never quite sure what to expect next.I didn't have any other choice but to accept everything that was thrown at me, and I was scrambling to learn how to adapt to
We arrived back at our familiar neighborhood late into the following night. Kendrick's abrupt departure had left an uneasy silence lingering in the air, but Lucas and I were too preoccupied with our own thoughts to dwell on it.Once we got off the private jet, Kendrick had taken off to deal with some business issues.Lucas and I's ride back was quiet, the hum of the engine and the occasional flicker of passing streetlights providing a relaxing backdrop to our contemplations.It felt surreal to be back in the familiar surroundings of our hometown after the whirlwind of events at the Ethereal Palace.As the car rolled through the streets, I found myself gazing out the window, watching the familiar landmarks pass by in a blur of shadows and streetlights.The sight of the quaint houses and bustling streets that I had known my entire life should have brought me comfort, but instead, it only served to deepen the sense of displacement that had taken root within me.It was a strange realizati
Grandma Jo had made some extra muffins this morning, and I thought that they would be the perfect way to distract James, seeing as he was always hungry."You think you can just wave desserts in my face and I'll be happy?" James asked as his eyes studied the bag of muffins. I could see his mouth beginning to water."Is it working?" I asked as Lucas chuckled. James looked as if he was being hypnotized.James seemed to snap out of his trance, his resolve weakening as the aroma of freshly baked muffins wafted toward him. With a defeated sigh, he reached out to grab one."I guess it's better than nothing," he conceded, stealing the bag from my hands."Told you that would work," I whispered in Lucas's ear before I sat down across the two of them.Lucas chuckled softly, shaking his head in amusement at my successful bribery tactic."You know him too well," he murmured back, a playful glint in his eyes. "I thought he was supposed to be my best friend."I smiled, feeling a sense of relief that
"Yeah, sorry we didn't tell you anything sooner," I said, shooting a glare at Lucas before James could notice."Hey, don't worry about it," James said in between muffin chews. "I get it. I know what it's like to be in your little love bubble.""Speaking of love," Lucas leaned forward on his elbows, giving James a curious glance. "What's up with you?""What do you mean?" James asked back, feigning ignorance. Either that, or he actually had no idea what Lucas was referring to."How are things going with you and Victoria?" I asked, hoping that this was keeping the conversation light.James's expression shifted, his demeanor becoming more serious as he glanced around the cafeteria, as if making sure nobody was eavesdropping."It's... complicated," he finally admitted, his tone cautious. "Her parents... they're not exactly thrilled about us being together."Lucas raised an eyebrow, clearly intrigued. "Why not? Is it because of the whole status thing?"James hesitated, his gaze flickering b
A few hours after lunch, school was finally over and I was making my way toward the parking lot where Lucas was already waiting for me. I hadn't been able to stop thinking about the conversation Lucas and I had with James over lunch.I felt so guilty having to lie to him. It felt wrong to keep this from him.I hadn't spoken to Lucas about it yet, but I was frustrated that he had put me in that scenario.As I approached our car, I saw that Lucas was seated in the driver's side. I opened the car and hopped into the passenger seat, slamming the door closed behind me."Hey," Lucas said with a smile, leaning over to try and kiss me.I leaned away from him, dodging the kiss and trying to avoid eye contact.I could see Lucas tense up beside me out of the corner of my eye."What's wrong?" he asked, his voice laced with concern. "Why did you just reject my kiss?"There was no doubt an underlying tension between us as I tried ignoring him. I tried to form the words to explain myself, but I coul
As panic threatened to overwhelm me, Lucas stepped forward, his expression determined. "What are you thinking?""I didn't think they'd want me back at the palace so soon... I mean I just got back. How am I going to be able to keep up with everything?""Shana, you'll be just fine. Traveling through the portal will save you a lot of time, and if you need anything I'm here," he assured me. His support grounded me, reminding me that I wasn't alone in this"But what about school?" I fretted, the weight of my responsibilities pressing down on me.Lucas squeezed my hand reassuringly. "You'll be fine, your training will probably only last an hour or two. And I doubt it'll be during school hours." Seeing the uncertainty on my face, Lucas continued, "School's almost over anyway, and then you won't have to worry about it anymore."I nodded, grateful for Lucas's level-headedness in the midst of my turmoil.With a deep breath, I tried to focus on the task at hand. "You're right. I'm freaking out o
Lucas glanced around the room before answering, his expression thoughtful. "It's in my bag. I didn't want to leave it unattended, especially after hearing what Professor Black had to say."I nodded, understanding his cautious approach. "We'll have to be extra careful with it until we can return it to the palace."Lucas reached for his bag, unzipping it carefully and retrieving the book from within. Its weight felt heavy in my hands as he passed it to me, and I couldn't help but feel a sense of foreboding as I held it."We should keep it somewhere safe until tomorrow," Lucas suggested, his eyes scanning the room for a suitable hiding spot.I followed his gaze, my mind racing with possibilities. "What about the attic? It's not a place anyone would think to look."Lucas nodded in agreement, his expression determined. "Good idea. Let's go."Together, we made our way up the creaky stairs to the attic, the air heavy with dust and memories. We found a secluded corner and carefully placed the