Chapter 238

Kendrick's phone starts to ring and he takes it out of his pocket to check the caller ID.

"I have to take this," he said, looking between the two of us. The weight of business seemed to follow him even in moments of supposed time away.

"I'll step out into the hall," he continued as he excused himself.

Left alone in the room, Lucas and I exchanged glances, the unspoken tension lingering between us.

"Lucas," I began, my voice soft, "we need to be careful. Kendrick said the world of royalty is treacherous, and we can't afford to let our guard down."

He nodded, his eyes expressing a mixture of concern and longing. "I know, Shana. But I can't help worrying about you."

Before I could respond, Lucas threw himself at me, his lips meeting mine in a kiss that carried a wave of emotions. I sighed against his touch, realizing how much I had missed him in the whirlwind of palace intrigue.

It had felt so long since the two of us were alone. A wave of shame hit me as I realized how much I truly missed Lucas. It had taken a kiss from him for me to come to my senses.

Lucas tried to deepen the kiss, his hands exploring, but I gently pushed him away. "Lucas… not here. Anyone could walk in any second… like your father."

"You're right, I'm sorry. I just missed you," Lucas admitted, his eyes reflecting genuine affection.

He kissed me again, and I found so much comfort in the warmth of his embrace. My fingers trailed through his hair and his mouth moved slowly over mine. It was everything that I could've needed in that moment and more.

It was a brief distraction from my rampant thoughts and a reminder of what we shared.

I was able to escape from the challenges that I had been dealing with, even if it was for a few seconds. In those seconds, I felt like air.

It felt like a heavy weight had been taken off of my shoulders and I could just truly be myself with Lucas.

"I've been worried sick about you since last night," Lucas confessed as he pulled away from our kiss. He rested his forehead against mine gently.

"I was worried about you too," I confessed. "But it's alright, we're together now. We'll figure this out together."

Lucas's expression turned serious. "Shana, I hate that there was nothing I could've done to stop what happened at breakfast."

I could see the anger behind his eyes and I knew that he was still upset about the whole ordeal. "I would've never forgiven anyone if anything would've happened to you."

His words carried a weight of protectiveness that warmed my heart. "Lucas, it wasn't your fault. I appreciate your concern, but we need to focus on moving forward and finding out more about the White Wolf legacy."

He nodded, the intensity in his gaze softening. "I know, Shana. It's just hard not to be angry when someone you care about is put in danger."

"I understand," I replied, reaching out to gently touch his hand. "But we're in this together. We'll navigate the challenges, uncover the truth, and ensure that nothing like that happens again. I'll be a hundred times more careful now."

Lucas offered a small, appreciative smile. "I'm glad you're okay, Shana."

"And I'm glad you're here with me," I said, feeling a sense of gratitude for the unwavering support he provided.

"Honestly, it was... scary once I found out," I admitted. "But I'm okay. The Foxglove didn't do anything to me."

"And Prince Alexander was trying to convince you to trust him?" He shook his head sternly. "I have to be honest with you, Shana, I don't like him. I don't trust the Prince at all."

"I don't really know how to feel about him," I said, biting my lip. "He's a bit confusing to understand."

"What's he really like? Is he always joking around like that with you too?"

I nodded. "I think that's just his personality. He reminds me a bit of James, but cheekier and more mischievous," I answered, recalling the prince's playful demeanor during the tour and all the other times we've talked.

Lucas sighed, a troubled look in his eyes. "I don't trust people who play games. We need to be careful around him, especially with what we're dealing with."

"I get it, Lucas. But for now, he's the only one who has shown me anything about the White Wolf legacy."

"What do you mean?" Lucas asked, furrowing his brows together.

Suddenly, I had come to the realization that Lucas had no idea about the secret room and what Prince Alexander had shared with me on my tour of the palace last night.

"Oh my God, I almost forgot to tell you! Last night, when Prince Alexander was giving me a tour of the palace, he took me to the training room. Beyond that there was a secluded hallway... there, he showed me a secret room," I revealed, watching Lucas's ears perk up with interest.

"A secret room?" Lucas exclaimed. "What do you mean? Like a hidden room?"

"Yes," I said, sharing the details of the hidden chamber and the mysterious locked book within. "But here's the catch—the book is locked. Prince Alexander doesn't know how to unlock it."

Lucas cursed under his breath. "Every time we're close to something, we aren't close enough."

"I know... but Lucas, I think this book is exactly what we've been looking for. It's all about the White Wolf. It has to hold all the answers."

"What are the odds that Prince Alexander would have that book in his possession?" Lucas questioned. "And it is a bit strange that he made you aware of the book before his father decided to almost poison you."

"I know," I said. "I thought that was strange too, but the Prince keeps telling me that he's trusted me since the moment I stepped foot in the palace. Why? I'm not entirely sure."

"Hmm," Lucas hummed softly. "I don't know. I still don't like him, but he's helped us a lot by telling you about the book."

I nodded in agreement, frustration mirrored in my eyes. "I don't really like him either, but you're right. This book means so much to me. The only problem is I won't be able to wander this palace alone. People will be watching me."

"What are you saying?"

"If you want to investigate further, I can tell you where the room is."

"Absolutely," Lucas replied quickly, determination in his gaze. "I'll go to the room and see what I can find. We might uncover something crucial. Plus, I wouldn't want you to be put in harm's way going there yourself."

"Well, I want you to be careful too, Lucas," I warned, my concern for him evident. "You need to promise me that."

He gave me a reassuring smile. "I promise, Shana. I'll tread carefully and come back with whatever information I can gather. We're in this together, just like you said."

I nodded, grateful that he was going to honor my wishes.

"So," his piercing blue eyes roamed over my face. "Tell me where this secret room is and how I can find the book."