Chapter 260

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 unease lingered in the back of my mind, a reminder of the dangers that still lurked in the shadows.

But for now, all I could do was wait, hoping that my secret mission had been successful.

The sound of approaching footsteps caught my attention. With bated breath, I turned towards the door, watching as it swung open to reveal Prince Alexander and Liam.

"Ah, there you are, Shana," Prince Alexander greeted me with a warm smile. "I hope you haven't been causing too much trouble in my absence."

I returned his smile, relieved to see him back safely. "Of course not, Your Highness," I teased, hoping my nerves weren't visible. "I see you found Liam."

"Indeed." Prince Alexander looked at Liam with a smug expression. "Sorry it took me so long. It appears Liam was predisposed with nature calling."

Liam's cheeks reddened at Alex's comment.

"I assure you, Shana, I was not using the restroom. I was helping the King with something." Liam shot daggers at the Prince.

Prince Alexander chuckled. "You don't have to be so modest in front of Shana."

Liam rolled his eyes, clearly not wanting to argue with him any longer. I held back my laughter.

"How was your training?" Liam asked, changing the subject.

"It went well," I replied, trying to sound confident despite my previous anxiety. "I think I'm making progress."

"She most definitely is," Prince Alexander said, his eyes gleaming with pride. "You're showing great promise, Shana. Keep up the good work."

"Thank you, Alex," I said, feeling a swell of gratitude at his words. "Most of it was thanks to your help."

Prince Alexander waved off the compliment with a modest smile. "Nonsense. You have a natural talent, Shana. All I did was provide some guidance."

Liam nodded in agreement. "It's true. Not many can keep up with the Prince's training regimen, but you handled it exceptionally well."

I couldn't help but feel a sense of validation at their praise, grateful for their encouragement and support.

"Speaking of training, when will I get to meet with the King?" I asked, curious about what lay ahead in my journey.

Prince Alexander exchanged a glance with Liam before Liam said, "Actually, Shana, your training will primarily be with the Prince. The King has other matters to attend to, but he has full confidence in my abilities to train you."

I nodded, a hint of confusion flickering within me. I had thought that the King would be in attendance, or that I would at least see him, but I understood the demands of his position. He was probably busy doing other important things.

"I see," I replied, trying to hide my true feelings. "Thank you for letting me know."

Prince Alexander turned to Liam, his expression turning serious. "Thank you for accompanying Shana today, Liam. I trust everything went smoothly as she passed through the portal?"

Liam nodded, his gaze meeting mine briefly before returning to Prince Alexander. "Yes, Your Highness. Shana was able to handle the significant distance. Did you feel okay, Shana?"

I nodded. "I was bit dizzy and my head felt like it was going to explode, but it only lasted for a few seconds."

Prince Alex laughed, unable to help himself. "Sorry, I just pictured your head exploding."

"You would find that funny, wouldn't you?" I teased, rolling my eyes.

Prince Alexander grinned. "I must admit, I find humor in the most peculiar situations."

"Especially when it involves harm to me."

"No, I don't wish that," the Prince suddenly appeared serious again.

"If my head ever does explode, I expect you to clean up the mess."

Liam stifled a chuckle as Prince Alexander's eyes widened in mock horror. "Shana, that's not funny! Do you have any idea how hard it is to get bloodstains out of palace carpets?"

I grinned, feeling a rush of adrenaline at successfully teasing the Prince. "Consider it a new challenge for your kingly duties, Your Highness!"

"You have a dark sense of humor," Alex said, shaking his head.

"Well, life can be quite dull without a bit of dark humor," I replied with a playful grin. "Besides, if I can't make light of my own potential demise, what can I make light of?"

Prince Alexander chuckled, his eyes sparkling with amusement. "Fair point, Shana. Just promise me you'll try to keep your head intact, okay?"

"I'll do my best," I assured him with a wink before turning my attention back to Liam. "Shall we?"

"Yes, very well," Prince Alexander said, clapping his hands together. "I'll leave you two to it then. Shana, I'll see you tomorrow for another training session. Liam will take you back in the meantime."

With a nod and a smile, I bid farewell to Prince Alexander. "See you tomorrow, Your Highness."

As the Prince exited the training room, Liam turned to me, a faint smile playing on his lips. "Shall we get going, Shana? I'll take you back through the portal."

"That, my dear Shana, is a trade secret. Let's just say it comes with years of experience and a keen eye for magical energies."

I raised an eyebrow, intrigued by his cryptic response, but decided not to press further. After all, I had enough mysteries to ponder for one day.

"Alright then," I said, stepping closer to the portal. "Let's get this over with."

With a nod, Liam gestured for me to enter the portal first.

Taking a deep breath, I stepped into the swirling vortex of light, feeling a rush of dizziness as the world around me dissolved into a kaleidoscope of colors.

As I emerged on the other side, I found myself back in the familiar surroundings of the Grandma Jo's backyard, a sense of relief washing over me.

Liam followed after me, and I turned toward him too quickly, my vision spinning.

"Careful, Shana," Liam reached out to steady me before I face planted. "You need to adjust to your surroundings."

"How did we travel here? Did you open a portal in Grandma Jo's backyard?"

"Yes," Liam nodded. "This was the safest place I could think of... and for some reason the energy in this backyard is intense."

I wondered why that was. I thought back to the day I shifted.

All of that happened in this back yard. In fact, both of the times I had shifted had been in this backyard.

Was that why Liam could feel some kind of magnetic energy?