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

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

"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

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 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