Chapter 282

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 through so much together, and the thought of facing whatever awaited me in the palace without him by my side was daunting.

Liam finally passed through the portal himself and brushed himself off before glancing at me. "Ready?"

I nodded, trying to quell the nervous energy coursing through me. "As ready as I'll ever be."

Liam offered me a small, encouraging smile before leading the way through the palace corridors. Despite his calm demeanor, I could sense a tension in the air, a palpable anticipation of what awaited us.

Something about this visit felt different than other times as Liam accompanied me through the palace halls.

His presence was reassuring, but it couldn't quite get rid of the nervous flutter in my chest.

As we approached the throne room, I expected to see Prince Alex waiting for me, ready to resume our training sessions. But to my surprise, it was the King himself who greeted me, his expression unreadable.

"Your Majesty," I greeted him with a respectful bow, my heart pounding in my chest.

Every time I had ever come to the palace, the King was never present. I hadn't seen him since my first visit here.

He was often too busy to say hello or join me in my training sessions with his son.

"Shana," the King acknowledged with a nod. "Thank you for coming."

"Of course, Your Majesty." I couldn't help but notice the absence of Prince Alex by his father's side. "Where's Prince Alex? Is he not joining us today?"

The King's expression remained neutral. "He's occupied with other matters. Today, you'll be training with me."

I blinked in surprise, my mind reeling with the implications of his words.

Training with the King himself? It was an honor, but also slightly terrifying.

I didn't know what the King was capable of or what his training looked like. I imagined it couldn't be that much different from what Prince Alex has already taught me, but still.

Suppressing my nerves, I nodded respectfully. "Understood, Your Majesty. I'm ready to begin whenever you are."

Before before we could start, the King continued. "Excellent. But first, Dr. Mills would like to run a few tests on you. It won't take long."

I hesitated, a flicker of unease stirring within me. Dr. Mills suddenly appeared from the shadows, coming to stand beside the King.

The idea of undergoing tests made me apprehensive.

I glanced at Dr. Mills, his presence casting a shadow of uncertainty over me. Despite my apprehension, I knew better than to defy the King's orders.

"Of course, Your Majesty," I replied, forcing myself to maintain a composed facade.

With a nod from the King, Dr. Mills gestured for me to follow him, leading me down a corridor lined with towering marble columns.

"You're not joining us?" I asked the King, feeling hesitant.

He shook his head. "No, I'll be here after you finish."

I tried to remain calm, but panic spiked me. With a nod, I followed Liam and Dr. Mills to a nearby chamber, my nerves coiling tighter with each step.

The air felt heavy with anticipation as Dr. Mills and I entered a sterile examination room, the white walls seeming to close in around me.

The room was stark and sterile, illuminated by harsh fluorescent lights that cast long shadows across the pristine surfaces. Dr. Mills motioned for me to take a seat, his demeanor was hard to read.

As Dr. Mills began his examination, I tried to remain calm, but the prickling sensation of discomfort lingered at the back of my mind.

There was something unnerving about the way he scrutinized me, his gaze lingering a fraction too long on certain areas.

Besides the doctor's eyes, I couldn't shake the feeling of being watched. Glancing around the room, my eyes landed on a glass window, beyond which I knew the King was observing our every move.

"What exactly are these tests for?" I asked, unable to suppress my curiosity any longer.

Dr. Mills offered a tight-lipped smile, his demeanor unnervingly clinical. "Just routine procedures to ensure your continued well-being and preparedness for training, Shana. Nothing to worry about."

It felt strange to hear his voice after all of these weeks of wondering who he was. Something about him felt eerie to me, and I couldn't figure out why that was.

Dr. Mills's presence had always been a mystery, lurking in the background of my training sessions with Prince Alex.

His clinical demeanor and the way he seemed to move with calculated precision had always set me on edge, like there was something he wasn't telling me.

But now, as he stood before me, his features inscrutable behind his mask, I couldn't shake the feeling of unease that washed over me.

"Are you ready?" he asked, his voice devoid of any warmth or concern.

His earlier reassurance did little to ease my apprehension, but I knew better than to question the authority of the King's doctor.

I nodded hesitantly, though every fiber of my being screamed to run, to demand answers, to refuse whatever he had planned for me.

"As long as it's routine," I replied, forcing a smile that felt more like a grimace.

As he approached with the vial of liquid, I steeled myself, forcing my muscles to remain still despite the urge to flee.

"Please hold still," he instructed, his tone devoid of warmth.

With a sinking feeling in the pit of my stomach, I complied, bracing myself for whatever was to come.

The injection was quick, a sharp prick followed by a cold sensation spreading through my arm. I bit back a gasp, fighting to keep my composure as the world seemed to tilt on its axis.

Dr. Mills's voice seemed to echo from a distance as he spoke, his words barely registering over the pounding of my heart.

"You may feel some slight side effects, but nothing to be concerned about. Now, if you'll excuse me, I have other duties to attend to."

That's it? I wondered. Just one shot? That's not really a test... is it?

With that, he left, leaving me alone in the room, the taste of fear lingering on my tongue.