Chapter 215

The drive through the mystical forest toward the portal to the Ethereal Palace was a short journey just as Liam had mentioned.

I was distracted by the lush greenery, towering trees, and the ambient sounds of nature created an otherworldly atmosphere. It looked like any other forest, but something about it felt different. The energy felt charged with something magical.

I gazed out the window, absorbing the breathtaking scenery as everyone else talked in the limousine.

"Does the palace get many visitors?" Kendrick asked, keen to get some insight.

"Oh, no frequently," Liam said. "Unless the palace is having a celebration, we don't often allow visitors. It's quite difficult to get onto palace grounds as is. The king likes to prevent such things. After his travels, he values his alone time."

"Sorry," Liam interrupted his thoughts, his tone taking on a curiosity. "I'm not sure if all of us have been properly acquainted. You're Kendrick, yes? And this man beside you is your son, Lucas?"

"Yes," Kendrick spoke. "My son is Shana's boyfriend. That's how the three of us share a connection."

The way Kendrick said connection made my hair stand up. I had no connection with Kendrick, but I wasn't about to out him in front of Liam.

"That's lovely," Liam said. "How long have the two of you been together?"

"I've known Shana for a long time," I heard Lucas say in a gentle voice. "But we only just started dating."

"Childhood sweethearts then?" Liam asked, and I could hear the smile in his voice.

"I suppose you could call us that," Lucas replied, and my ears felt warm at the mention.

Liam began to dive off into sharing fragments of the palace's history with Kendrick and Lucas.

"The Ethereal Palace has been a haven of magic and mystery for centuries," Liam explained, his voice carrying an air of nostalgia. "Its very existence is a testament to the enduring enchantment of this realm."

"So, the land is enchanted?" Lucas asked curiously.

"Oh yes. Very much so," Liam answered. "You might be able to feel some of the strangeness. Another reason we don't have many visitors to the palace is because the land might affect certain people. We've had reports of people feeling nauseous or dizzy."

"It affects their mood?" Lucas questioned.

"Yes," Liam continued. "It's very powerful. Not everyone can handle that type of magic."

The limousine continued down the road, but eventually, I noticed that we were approaching what seemed like an ordinary tree. As we got closer, the tree got much larger and my curiosity intensified.

I wondered where the portal was hidden within this forest. Liam said it was nearby, but I couldn't see anything that resembled a portal or entrance of any kind.

The limousine stopped beside the large tree and Liam clapped his hands together. "Here we are."

He instructed all of us to leave the vehicle, and I did so. Just as I exited, Kendrick's security was back around me, guarding me.

Liam, with an air of familiarity, stepped forward toward the tree.

I quickly locked eyes with Lucas, raising a curious brow. His expression mirrored mine, but knowing that he was close made me feel much more comforted by the strangeness of the situation.

Liam began whispering in a language unknown to me as he placed his hands on the tree.

To my astonishment, the tree appeared to breathe. The leaves rustled wildly and it started to glow a bright yellow color. A door materialized on the tree—looking exactly like a portal that led to the unseen wonders beyond.

"Behold, the gateway to the Ethereal Palace," Liam declared, his eyes sparkling with the magic surrounding us.

I stood in awe, sharing the stunned silence with Kendrick, Lucas, and the security team. The revelation of this magical entrance left me pondering the depths of enchantment that lay in this land.

It sent chills all over my body, and I couldn't help but wrap my arms around myself to soothe the unease. This was unlike anything I could have ever expected.

Liam had just spoken a few words and touched a tree and it turned into a portal. This was... insane.

Liam gestured for me to enter first, a gentle touch on my shoulder accompanying the instruction. "After you, Shana. Don't fret. We will all follow after you. You might feel a pinch of discomfort on the journey, but it should pass."

I nodded nervously, feeling my palm beginning to sweat. With Kendrick's security around me, I stuck a hesitating foot out into the portal.

When I felt nothing, it encouraged me to fit my entire body through. As I was fully submerged in the portal, a sharp pang coursed through my body. Blinding light struck me, replacing the pain with temporary blindness.

When I blinked to regain focus, an astonishing sight unfolded before me—a giant castle, a masterpiece of architecture and magic.

I turned to look back at the portal, only to find that Kendrick, Lucas, and Liam had already crossed through.

Confusion immediately clouded my thoughts. For a second, I couldn't remember where I was. I looked back at the castle, trying to think of how I got here, but...

I couldn't recall how I had arrived here.

I remember we took the jet and then Liam met us at the bottom of the jet near a limousine... but the rest of my memory was completely blank.

A sudden realization hit me—

Kendrick had mentioned that our memories would be erased.

A gasp escaped my lips as I blinked wildly, marveling at the sheer magnitude of the castle. My memory of the portal had been erased, and I wasn't even sure how Liam had done it.

"I know you all must feel confused," Liam spoke, his voice sounding distant in my ears. "But the portal's location must remain unknown."

Everyone remained silent, processing what had just happened to them.

Liam eventually broke the silence. "The Alpha King currently isn't on palace ground, but he will be joining all of you for dinner later in the evening. You can leave all of your belongings here and someone will guide you to your respective room."

Liam turned his attention to me, his demeanor gracious yet commanding. "Miss Shana, if you would be so kind, follow me into the castle. One of our maids will assist you in changing and freshening up for dinner."

"You won't need your security personnel anymore," Liam said, looking at the guards surrounding me. "I hope you understand, but you will be safe here. If they continue to follow you, it will only insult the king."

"That's fine," Kendrick said. "Guards, stand back."

I frowned, feeling slightly uncomfortable knowing that I would have to follow Liam into the castle on my own. I didn't think the guards would be leaving my side so soon.

"You ready, miss?" Liam's accent seemed even thicker than before.

I nodded, allowing Liam to lead the way into the grandeur of the Ethereal Palace. I craned my neck up as I examined the historical architecture.

My senses were still reeling from the magical journey we had just taken part of. It felt as if I was dreaming. My brain couldn't process that any of this was real.

"Welcome to the Ethereal Palace," Liam said as the front doors to the castle opened, revealing the most magnificent thing I had ever seen.