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
The days that followed felt like months as the kingdom rioted over the shocking revelation of the King's treachery.The video had spread across the entire nation, dominating the headlines and igniting a frenzy of controversy that seemed to strike at every corner of the realm.In the wake of the scandal, the pressure on the King became unbearable. Protests erupted in the streets, demanding justice for those who had suffered under his evil rule.However, it was hard to directly get in contact with the King since he could only be accessed through a portal. There was only a handful of people in this world that had the power to reach him.One of those people happened to be on our side, Prince Alexander."We have to find a way to ensure justice is served," I murmured to Lucas, feeling the gravity of our situation pressing down on me.Lucas nodded grimly, his expression reflecting the seriousness of our predicament. "We need to bring the media to the Ethereal Palace, make sure they grill the
LUCAS POV My phone rang with an unfamiliar number, and my heart skipped a beat as I answered it, the anticipation clawing at the edges of my mind.I had gotten used to answering unknown callers over the past few weeks ever since I took over the business for my father. He got far more calls than I imagined, and many of them were scammers trying to steal information from him.I was already exhausted, ready to go home for the day. I didn't want to deal with any more problems today, and that included talking to a stranger on the phone that just wanted to play games with me."Hello?" I said, my voice tight with apprehension."L-Lucas?" came the hesitant voice on the other end of the line. The voice cleared. "Hello, is this Lucas Busch?""This is he," I replied, ready to give this person a piece of my mind. "Is there something I can help you with?""Yes, I'm your father's doctor and I have some news to share with you."I stilled, hearing the words, hoping that it wasn't a prank.My father