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

"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

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

Instantly, as I moved through the portal, a searing pain tore through my body as if every nerve was set ablaze.I cried out, my vision blurring as waves of dizziness washed over me.It felt like an eternity before the agony began to subside, leaving me weak and disoriented.My head throbbed and I held a hand to my temples, willing the pain to go away.As the world slowly came back into focus, I found myself standing in a familiar looking room. It was the Ethereal Palace's training room.How had I ended up here?Liam appeared behind me, going through the portal with ease. His face showed zero signs of discomfort from the travel."How..." I began to question."You get used to it after a while," Liam noted, giving me a tight nod."No," I said, glancing around the room. Shock went through my body as I saw someone else in the room with us.Prince Alexander stood before me, his expression grave yet compassionate."Hello, Shana." The Prince smiled at me, quirking his head to the side. "Are y

Every second felt like an eternity as I navigated the halls, my senses on high alert for any sign of approaching footsteps.As I reached the entrance to the training room, I paused, pressing my ear against the door to listen for any sounds from within. Silence greeted me, a reassuring sign that Prince Alexander had yet to return with Liam.Taking a deep breath to steady my nerves, I quietly pushed open the door and slipped back into the training room, my heart racing with anticipation. The room was deserted, the echoes of our earlier training session the only sound filling the space.Relief flooded through me as I made my way to the center of the room, my eyes scanning the empty space for any sign of movement. With each passing moment, the tension in my muscles began to ease, replaced by a sense of quiet calm.I had managed to return the book without incident, and for now, it seemed that my actions had gone unnoticed. But as I waited for Prince Alexander's return, a nagging sense of u