I stepped through the shimmering portal that Liam created and a wave of familiarity washed over me.I had grown used to the feeling of traveling through a portal. Thankfully, it only felt like a pinch now.The portal led to the entrance of the Ethereal Palace. The grandness of it never failed to impress me, but today, there was an underlying sense of apprehension gnawing at the edges of my excitement.It had been a while since I'd been back to the palace. With graduation, I had been too busy to attend my usual training sessions.Lucas couldn't accompany me this time. He was swamped with responsibilities, and I couldn't blame him. The weight of his newfound role at Busch Enterprises was immense, and I knew he needed to focus on that.He also needed to remain at home in case his father woke up. There were other things that required his attention, so I couldn't blame him for doing what was best.Still, I couldn't shake the feeling of unease at being separated from him.We had been throug
After I received my shot, Liam instructed me to follow him to the training room.My mind was clouded with a strange fog, a feeling of disorientation that I couldn't shake.The injection Dr. Mills had administered left me feeling off-kilter, like I was moving through molasses.I couldn't help but feel like something was incredibly wrong. Whatever Dr. Mills had injected me with had started to weaken my entire body.Fear ran through me as I thought about what it could mean.Had I been foolish to allow the King to inject me with something? I knew I shouldn't trust him after he had already poisoned me once... but surely he wouldn't do something like that again.I didn't understand what the King gained to achieve by harming me.Liam led me into the room and I was shocked to see Prince Alex there waiting for us. Where was the King? I thought I was supposed to be training with him today since Prince Alex was busy.Just as the thought came into my head, it disappeared due to a wave of dizzines
I blinked away the remnants of sleep.My eyes fluttered open, the warmth of sunlight filtering through the lace curtains greeted me.I found myself lying on the familiar couch in Grandma Jo's living room, the scent of lavender and cinnamon lingering in the air.Confusion clouded my mind as I tried to recall the events that led me here, my memory shrouded in a dense fog.Blinking against the brightness, I attempted to sit up, but a sharp pang shot through my head, causing me to wince. Lucas appeared at my side, his concerned gaze fixed on me."Shana, you're awake!" Lucas's voice cut through the fog of my thoughts, and I turned to see him kneeling beside the couch, his expression etched with concern."Lucas?" I croaked, my voice hoarse and raspy. "What... what happened?"I tried to push myself up, but a dull ache pulsed through my head, grounding me back onto the plush cushions of the couch. Prince Alex stepped closer, his expression a blend of concern and urgency.I frowned, shocked to
As I began to recount the events, my clarity seemed to come back to me. Their expressions shifted from concern to alarm. Lucas's grip on my hand tightened, his jaw clenched with worry."Dr. Mills gave you an injection?" he repeated, his voice low and incredulous.I nodded, recalling the sterile gleam of the syringe and the icy sting of the liquid as it coursed through my veins. "Yes, the King said it was just routine tests, but...""Tests? What kind of tests?" Prince Alex interjected, his brows furrowed in confusion."I don't know," I admitted, a chill creeping down my spine. "There weren't any tests. He just... injected me with something."Lucas's expression darkened, his gaze intense. "We need to find out what he gave you.""I can't believe my father did that," Prince Alex rubbed his jaw in thought. "That explains why it took you so long to get to training that day.""He told me you were busy for the day and that you wouldn't be able to train with me," I recalled.Lucas exchanged a
"Is there anything that you might know?" I asked Alex, hoping that he would have some insight into all of this.We stood in Grandma Jo's living room, and the weight of our collective worry hung heavy in the air.Prince Alexander's gaze flickered with guilt and determination. "I may have overheard some conversations between my father and Dr. Mills, but I didn't think it had anything to do with you."My heart sank at his words, the implications of his revelation chilling me to the core. "What were these conversations?""They spoke of experiments, of harnessing the power of those without magic to create an unstoppable force," Alex continued.I swallowed, realizing what this meant. The King's ambitions were far darker and more insidious than I had ever imagined."What kind of experiments?" Lucas pressed, his voice edged with urgency."I didn't hear all the details, but it seemed that my father was seeking to enhance the abilities of those without magic, to turn them into weapons," Prince
Surprisingly, it didn't take long for Professor Black to find the antidote for the injection.The news made Lucas and I grateful because we knew for a fact that without Professor Black's expertise, we wouldn't have been able to do it on our own.As he explained its mechanism to me, I listened carefully."The toxin introduced into your system operates through a series of molecular triggers, essentially hijacking your neurotransmitter receptors," Professor Black said, his tone a mix of professional detachment and palpable relief.Honestly, he was speaking in such large scientific terms that it was difficult for me to understand."Can you explain that more simply?" Lucas questioned, speaking my exact thoughts.Professor Black nodded. "Sorry, I got ahead of myself. What I've formulated here is an antidote that effectively blocks all the bad triggers I mentioned, neutralizing the effects of the toxin.""So, this will fight whatever is inside of me?" I asked.Professor Black smiled. "Precis
PRINCE ALEXANDER POV The weight of the recording device nestled against my chest felt like a tangible reminder of the difficult task that lay ahead.I knew that Shana, Lucas, and Professor Black could hear everything, making me even more nervous."Alex? All good?" Shana's voice spoke into my ear thanks to the secret device I had planted in there.It was hidden deep in my ear canal, which had hurt at first once Professor Black inserted it, but he assured me that it would help keep the device concealed."Yes, Shana, everything's fine," I replied quietly, my voice barely audible over the rush of blood pounding in my ears. "Just a bit nervous.""Don't be, you've got this. Just be yourself.""That's the hard part," I muttered under my breath. "Kind of difficult to act normal when you've got a recording device strapped to you."Shana chuckled softly through the earpiece. "Just remember, you're doing this for a good cause. And we're all here supporting you, every step of the way. We'll be l
The atmosphere crackled with tension as Prince Alexander returned to Grandma Jo's house.We all gathered in her living room, the tension so thick you could cut it with a butter knife.Prince Alex strutted in, looking like he just walked out of a superhero movie, with this secret recording device strapped to his chest."We should play it back to make sure we've got everything we need," Professor Black said. "We need to make sure it's audible.""I agree," Lucas nodded.With that, Alex played back the recording.You could hear the King's voice crystal clear, confessing to all his dirty deeds. It was like something out of a crime thriller, except it was happening right in front of us."Wow," I muttered under my breath. I had heard the King's confession earlier, but hearing it again, knowing it was true... shocked me yet again."I can't believe we actually got him," Lucas muttered, his eyes wide with disbelief. "He's admitted to everything.""I can't believe it was so easy for him to confe