Chapter 208 Into The Lion’s Den II
Liam and Lana walked up to the towering wrought-iron gates of the palace, the flickering lights reflecting off the polished surface like fireflies trapped in glass. Two guards in long, dark military-style coats stepped forward immediately, their eyes cold, assessing. Liam didn’t say a word. He simply reached into his pocket and pulled out the invitation. The guards looked at it, then at them. One of them gave a curt nod and waved them through.
The moment Liam’s shoe crossed the threshold of the gate, something passed through him.
It wasn’t wind. It wasn’t pressure. It was... ancient.
A weight older than time seemed to drape itself over his shoulders, sliding like smoke along his spine. He didn’t flinch, but every inch of him went on alert. Goosebumps rose across his skin, a strange, ghostly chill brushing his nerves. Whatever this place was, it wasn’t normal.
Lana, walking beside him, noticed his brief pause.
"You feel that?" she whispered, barely moving her lips.
Liam gave the slightest nod. "Yeah. Something old."
But he didn’t slow. Neither of them did. Whatever presence lingered in the air—be it supernatural or not—they would face it head-on. Together.
The palace loomed ahead like something out of a myth. The tall stone structure with spired towers was lit up in soft golden lights that bathed the stone walls, casting shadows that danced like spirits on every surface. The wide steps leading up to the entrance were lined with guards in ceremonial black, and the massive front doors looked like they weighed a ton each. When they stepped inside, the grandeur was even more blinding.
Liam slowed down for the first time. "Damn..."
It wasn’t just luxury—it was old money. Every chandelier above them was hand-crafted crystal, probably older than the United States itself. The paintings on the walls weren’t replicas—they were originals, each with small golden plaques beneath them with names Liam didn’t recognize, but the system gave him dates. Some were from the 1500s. The furniture, the rugs, the décor—it wasn’t rich, it was regal.