Chapter 259

Alex and I continued my training and I was covered in sweat once we had decided to take a break.

I drank nearly an entire gallon of water, my body feeling weak and unprepared.

"Tired already?" The Prince teased, his hands resting gracefully on his hips.

I chuckled weakly, wiping the sweat from my brow with the back of my hand. "You have no idea," I replied, my voice breathless.

Prince Alexander's smile softened, a glint of admiration shining in his eyes. "All jokes aside... you're doing well, Shana. Training can be physically demanding, but you're handling it with remarkable resilience."

I flashed him a grateful smile, the encouragement fueling my determination to push through the exhaustion. "Thanks, Alex. I'm just glad to have you here guiding me through this."

He nodded in understanding, his gaze thoughtful. "It's my pleasure, Shana. I promised to help you harness your abilities, and I intend to keep that promise."

As we resumed our training, I felt a renewed sense of determination coursing through my veins. I wanted to make Alex and myself proud.

If I was going to do this, if I was going to train at the palace, I was going to give it my all.

As Alex guided me into another set of workouts, a strange sense of unease gnawed at the edges of my consciousness.

Despite my efforts to focus solely on the exercises, I couldn't shake the feeling of being watched.

Out of the corner of my eye, I noticed a man lingering in the shadows, his gaze fixed on me with unwavering intensity. His presence made me uneasy, sending a shiver down my spine as I struggled to maintain my composure.

I glanced at Prince Alexander, silently pleading for an explanation.

"Who's that man?" I asked, my voice barely above a whisper, not wanting to draw attention to the mysterious figure.

The Prince followed my gaze, his expression momentarily faltering before he regained his composure.

"Oh, he's just here to ensure our safety during training," he replied casually, gesturing toward the man as if to dismiss my concerns. "My father insisted on him joining us. Try to ignore him if you can, and just focus on your exercises."

I nodded, trusting Alex's words, but it did little to stop my unease about the mysterious man.

I couldn't shake the feeling that there was more to this observer than met the eye, but I knew better than to press the matter further.

I continued to watch the man whenever Alex wasn't looking, trying to gauge what exactly he was doing.

He wore a white lab coat, which I found puzzling. Why would he need to wear that in the training room? Was he perhaps some kind of doctor?

Maybe Alexander's words rang true and this man really was here to look out for our safety.

However, I couldn't help but feel a sense of discomfort under his scrutiny, as if he could see right through me, penetrating the depths of my soul with his piercing stare.

"Shana, focus," Alex's voice broke through my thoughts, snapping me back to the present. "We're not finished yet."

I tore my gaze away from the man, forcing myself to concentrate on the task at hand. I pushed my thoughts of the man to the back of my mind, determined to give my full attention to my training.

"Excellent work today, Shana." Alex gave me a high five, our bodies both slick with sweat.

"Will it always be like this?" I asked, resting my hands on my hips.

Alex chuckled, wiping the sweat from his brow with the back of his hand. "Oh, you haven't seen anything yet, Shana. Training will only get more intense from here on out."

I raised an eyebrow, a smirk playing on my lips. "Is that supposed to be motivating?"

"Absolutely," he replied with a grin. "After all, what doesn't kill you makes you stronger, right?"

I rolled my eyes playfully. "You sound like one of those motivational posters."

"Well, someone's got to keep you on your toes," Alex teased, giving me a playful shove.

"Hey, watch it," I protested, laughing as I stumbled slightly. "I'm not responsible for any injuries you sustain during our training."

Alex chuckled, his eyes sparkling with amusement. "Don't worry, I'll be sure to file a complaint with HR."

"HR?" I echoed, feigning innocence. "Is that short for 'His Royalness'?"

Alex grinned, shaking his head. His accent was thick as he said, "You're incorrigible, Shana. But that's what I like about you."

"Flattery will get you nowhere," I teased, giving him a playful nudge. "But keep it up anyway. I kinda like it.

He smiled. "Well anyway, I should go get Liam so that he can take you back through the portal. I'm sure you need to get back to your own life."

"Oh yes," I replied sarcastically. "The world of the normal and sane."

"I'm sane," Alex said with fake mock.

"More like in-sane," I joked.

He shoved me again, beginning to walk towards the training room doors.

"That mouth of yours could get you in serious trouble, Shana." Alexander pointed a finger at me. "Stay here, I'll be right back with Liam."

"Where else would I go?" I asked before he left me in the training room alone.

I glanced at where the mystery man had been standing earlier, only to see that he was now gone. A chill ran down my spine.

This was it. This was the perfect time for me to return the locked book to Prince Alexander's secret room.

My heart pounded in my chest as I reached for my backpack, fingers trembling slightly as I fumbled with the zipper.

With a sense of urgency gnawing at my insides, I finally managed to extract the book, its weight heavier than I remembered.

Running my fingers over its surface, I marveled at the intricate design etched into the cover, each line and curve seeming to pulse with a faint energy.

Professor Black's warnings echoed in my mind as I held the book, its presence a tangible reminder of the secrets it contained.

I could feel the weight of its magic coursing through my fingertips, a potent force that seemed to thrum with ancient power.

I needed to get rid of it, and I needed to do it fast before Alex returned with Liam.

I wasn't sure how much time I had.

I knew I couldn't afford to waste any more time.

Hurriedly, I approached the empty hallway behind the training room where Alexander had shown me his secret room. I found the same painting and opened the doors, rushing inside before anyone could spot me.

Once inside the room, I located the bookshelf where the locked White Wolf book once lived. The spot was very noticeably empty, and I wondered if Alexander had even noticed it was gone.

Granted, it had only been a day... but that could've still been enough time for him to notice its disappearance.

I hoped for Lucas's and I's sake that the Prince hadn't noticed the book was missing.

With a sense of determination, I placed the book back where I had found it, ensuring it was safely concealed from prying eyes.

Quickly, I turned to exit the room, hoping that Prince Alexander hadn't made it back to the training room yet.