177Sophia’s POVThe grand ballroom of the vampire realm was breathtaking, every corner gleaming with the kind of elegance that only centuries of tradition could muster. Chandeliers hung from the vaulted ceiling, casting a soft, golden light over the room, while velvet drapes framed the windows, opening up to a view of the moonlit landscape outside. It was overwhelming. The entire place felt like something out of a storybook—ancient, timeless, and impossibly beautiful. And I was in the middle of it, wearing the most extravagant gown I’d ever seen in my life, about to marry the vampire king.I glanced at Ian beside me. He looked regal, standing tall in his tailored suit, his presence commanding the attention of everyone in the room. His hand was warm in mine, grounding me amidst the whirlwind of emotions swirling inside me. The council members sat in their designated places, their expressions neutral, though I could sense their keen observation. They were here in a formal capacity, but
178Sophia’s POVThe sound of shattering glass echoed through the grand ballroom, and for a moment, time seemed to slow. I stood frozen in my wedding dress, the sheer beauty of the day unraveling in front of me as chaos erupted. People screamed, chairs toppled, and the once-elegant atmosphere became a battleground.“Ian!” I shouted, my voice trembling with fear. I could barely think, let alone move. All I could see was the wave of rogue vampires crashing into the reception, their glowing eyes wild with bloodlust. Behind them, the hulking shapes of werewolves followed, their snarls cutting through the air like the promise of death.“Sophia I told you to run for fuck’s sake!” Ian growled as he looked back and saw that I was still standing there, Jenny behind me. I remained frozen om the spot, my eyes welling up.Ian was already moving before I could even process what was happening. His hand tightened around mine briefly before he let go, his face hard with resolve. “Stay close to me,” h
179Lyanna’s POVThe vision had already begun to darken long before the attack. I’d felt it coming, the steady pulse of malevolent energy that kept rippling through the threads of magic I’d woven to protect Ian, Sophia, and their growing child. But nothing could have prepared me for the moment when the shadows took form in the ballroom of their wedding reception.It all happened so fast, yet the magic that surged within me made each detail painfully clear—the strike of fangs, the gleam of claws, the betrayal of those who had once stood by our side.I saw Sophia standing in the chaos, her eyes wide with fear as the battle raged around her. Her hand instinctively moved to her stomach, cradling the life inside her as rogue vampires and werewolves tore through the room.“Sophia!” I yelled, rushing toward her as the air thickened with the smell of blood and the crackling of broken glass. “Stay still. I’m coming!”A rogue vampire lunged at her, but I was faster. My hand shot out, a rush of
180Ian’s POV.The room was silent, but it wasn’t the kind of quiet that brought peace. It was the suffocating, heavy silence that followed a storm, the kind that reminded you of the destruction left in its wake. I stood in the center of it all, bloodied, bruised, but alive. That was the only victory I could claim for now. Sophia, too, was alive. Our child was safe. But everything else… everything else felt like it was hanging by a thread.The scent of blood still lingered in the air. The bodies of the traitorous council members had been removed, but the stain of their betrayal remained, staining the very walls of the council chambers. Gregor and Helena had both been captured, though I knew that was only a small consolation. This wasn’t over. Far from it.“Are you sure you’re all right?” Mike’s voice broke the silence as he stepped closer, his eyes scanning me for injuries. His loyalty had been unwavering through the fight, though something in his expression now felt different, harder
181Sophia’s POVI sat in the corner of the room, my hand unconsciously resting on my belly, which was now undeniably round. My thoughts swirled in a storm of fear, and confusion. It had been days since the attack at the wedding, and the shock of everything that had happened still clung to me like a second skin.It should have been one of the happiest days of my life, but instead, it had been chaos. Werewolves, rogue vampires, betrayal from the council members… and now this gnawing realization that my child, our child, was not safe. That I was not safe.I felt Ian’s presence before I saw him. He moved like a shadow, silently, gracefully, and I didn’t need to look up to know he was worried. His silence said more than his words ever could.“Sophia,” Ian’s voice was soft as he crouched down in front of me, his eyes filled with concern. “Talk to me.”I lifted my gaze to meet his. How could I possibly explain the sheer weight and exhaustion and doubt pressing down on my chest? The fear of
182Ian’s POVIt didn’t make sense. None of it made sense.Mike? My chest tightened, and my thoughts blurred as the weight of Jacob’s words pressed down on me. Mike, the friend who had fought beside me, had advised me through the worst times, had been part of my life for centuries… He’d betrayed me.I stood there, numb, as the truth settled into my bones.“Ian?” Sophia’s voice broke through the fog, gentle but laced with worry. She was sitting on the couch, one hand protectively cradling her stomach, the other resting on the armrest, her eyes searching mine for an answer I didn’t have.I swallowed hard, trying to push the bile rising in my throat back down. “I—” My voice cracked. I couldn’t even form a coherent sentence. Mike had betrayed us. Betrayed me.I walked to the window, staring out at the vampire realm stretching beneath the dark sky. A kingdom that, up until now, I had believed was under control. But the reality was that everything I’d thought was safe had been crumbling rig
183Ian’s POVI paced about in the room, my heart beating hard and fast and my mind running through different thoughts. Every moment felt like a taut wire, stretched thin between the safety I wanted for Sophia and the threats that I couldn’t fully shield her from. The attacks had slowed, but that only made me more nervous. It was like the calm before a storm, and I could feel the storm brewing.Sophia was sitting on the couch, her hands resting on the gentle swell of her stomach. Our child. It only made me think harder about all the different things I could do to keep Sophia out of danger.“We need to talk,” I said, breaking the silence.Her gaze met mine, steady but expectant. “I know what you’re going to say.”“I don’t think you do,” I replied, running a hand through my hair, frustration leaking into my voice. “Sophia, I need you to stay in the human realm. You and the baby—”“No,” she cut me off, her voice firm. “We’ve talked about this already, Ian. I’m not staying behind while yo
184Ian’s POVIt felt as if the world itself was holding its breath, waiting for the battle to begin. We were in a neutral territory, a clearing deep in the forest that was between the vampire realm and the outskirts of the human world. I could tell that the place had seen conflict before, the ground stained with the blood of wars long past. Now it would see another.I could hear the sounds of my forces assembling behind me—vampires sharpening their blades and stakes, speaking in low, tense whispers as they prepared for the fight that would start any moment from now. The weight of responsibility hung heavy on my shoulders. I had never wanted this, to be a king at war. But here I was, leading an army to stop a rebellion that threatened everything I had fought to protect.Sophia stood at my side, her eyes scanning the area. She was pale but resolute, and I could see the fire burning in her. Even now, pregnant with our child, she refused to leave my side. I had argued, pleaded with her t
191Ian’s POVThe weight of my child in my arms was heavier than I expected, but not in a way that tired me. It was a weight that filled me with awe, a kind of responsibility I had never imagined could feel so peaceful. Ava’s tiny fists curled against my chest, soft breaths rising and falling in the perfect rhythm of sleep. For the first time in what felt like forever, everything was still, everything was peaceful.I sat in the rocking chair near the window, dim light filtering thought the curtain. The house was quiet—Sophia was resting in the bedroom, exhausted but content after the birth. I had barely left her side since she’d gone into labor, unable to help the overwhelming sense of protectiveness that surged through me.But now, as I held this tiny life in my hands, all the fear and chaos we had gone through seemed to fade away. It was just us—our family.“Hey there,” I whispered softly, my voice barely more than a breath as I gazed down at my child. “You’re finally here.”I felt
190Jenny’s POVThe news hit me like a tidal wave. I stared down at the test in my hand, my heart pounding in my chest, unsure whether to scream in shock or laugh in disbelief. Pregnant. I was pregnant.Jacob was in the kitchen, making us a late breakfast. I could hear the soft clatter of pans and the gentle hum of music from the living room, but I couldn’t move. For a moment, I felt frozen in place, my thoughts racing.We weren’t trying for a baby. We weren’t ever going to try. I was a vampire and even though Sophia was able to get pregnant, it didn’t mean I could too. But here it was, plain as day. The test didn’t lie.I felt a mixture of emotions swirl through me—happiness, fear, excitement. All at once, it seemed like everything in my life was about to change. But most of all, I was happy. I was so happy. Everything that had happened the past year ran through my mind all at once. The attacks, falling in love with Jacob, turning into a vampire, fearing that Jacob would leave me for
189Sophia’s POVIt was happening. It was really happening. After months of waiting, months of uncertainty, fear, and hope, she was finally here. My body was aching but not as much as I guessed it should be.I glanced over at Ian, who stood by my side, his hand gripping mine tightly. His face was filled with anxiousness. His thumb rubbed small circles against my palm, trying to soothe me, but I could feel the tension in his grip. This was a moment that neither of us could control, a moment we could only experience.“You’re doing amazing, Sophia,” Ian whispered, his voice low and steady, although it was trembling. His eyes met mine. “Just breathe.”I nodded, though the pressure in my abdomen made it hard to do anything other than focus on the next breath. I squeezed his hand in response, letting him know I heard him, even if I couldn’t find the words right now.The room around us was a blur. I barely registered the blur of voices—the midwife, a nurse—guiding me through the process. My
188Jenny’s POVThe day had finally come—my wedding day. I should’ve been nervous, or maybe overwhelmed by everything, but instead, I felt oddly calm as I sat in the small room at the back of the church, waiting for my moment to walk down the aisle. My fingers traced the intricate lace on my wedding dress, a soft white gown that had been perfect the moment I saw it. It was exactly how I had imagined my wedding to be—simple, intimate, and with the people I cared about most.Sophia sat next to me, her eyes sparkling with excitement. “You look incredible, Jenny,” she said with a smile that reached her eyes.“Thanks, Soph,” I said, trying to sound nonchalant, but there was a catch in my throat. “It’s kind of crazy, isn’t it? That I’m actually doing this?”She laughed softly, brushing a loose strand of hair behind her ear. “A little bit, yeah. I thought you were joking last week when you said you and Jacob are getting married. But you and Jacob are meant to be. I’m just happy you’re doing
187Ian’s POVThe sun was setting, making the vampire realm look pale. It used to be pretty to look at, but now the usual beauty felt hollow. Some parts of the ground was still red from all the blood that had dried on it, and though the air was quieter, it felt heavy. I stood in the middle of the courtyard, watching as the survivors moved about, trying to restore what had been broken.It wasn’t just the buildings that needed rebuilding. It was us—me, Sophia, the council, everyone.As the king, I had always known the weight and responsibilty of leadership but never like this. The battle exhausted on all of us, but there was a strange sense of relief hanging in the air, as if the worst had finally passed. The constant fear was gone. For now, at least.I felt Sophia approach before she spoke. Her presence felt like a soft, steady energy that I could feel even when I wasn’t looking. She stepped beside me, her hand slipping into mine, and for a moment, we just stood there, side by side, lo
186Sophia’s POVThe air in the realm felt different after the battle settled down. The energy that pulsed through the vampire realm seemed dulled, weighed down by loss and grief. The rogue faction was defeated, but the victory felt hollow. So much had been sacrificed. Too much.I stood on the edge of the courtyard, looking out over the horizon. The sun was setting but I barely noticed its beauty. My thoughts were heavy with the weight of everything that had happened. Lyanna was gone. The thought of it felt like a punch to the chest every time it crossed my mind. She had saved us, saved me and our baby, but the cost was her life.“I can’t believe she’s gone,” I whispered to Ian, who was standing beside me, his hand resting on my shoulder.Ian’s expression was hard, his jaw clenched as he stared out at the horizon. He hadn’t said much since the battle ended, the stiffness in his body telling me how much he was struggling to keep his emotions in check.“She was one of the strongest witc
185Lyanna’s POVThe visions had been coming in waves—dark and scary. I’d seen this battle long before it arrived, the pieces falling into place, the danger coiling around us like a snake waiting to strike. But no vision had prepared me for this.The air was thick with the stench of blood and fury, and the sounds of bodies coliding with each other filled my ear. I was at the edge of the battlefield, my senses tingling with the power I held. Magic pulsed in my veins, begging to be released, but I held it back, waiting for the right moment. Timing was everything.In the distance, I saw Ian fighting Mike, lunging at each other, blow after blow. Ian was struggling, that much was clear. Mike was pushing him to his limits, and it took everything in Ian just to stay on his feet.And then there was Sophia. I could feel her fear from here, her desperation. She was with Jacob, fighting off a swarm of rogue vampires, her body slower than usual. Her own power was wearing out. The pregnancy was ta
184Ian’s POVIt felt as if the world itself was holding its breath, waiting for the battle to begin. We were in a neutral territory, a clearing deep in the forest that was between the vampire realm and the outskirts of the human world. I could tell that the place had seen conflict before, the ground stained with the blood of wars long past. Now it would see another.I could hear the sounds of my forces assembling behind me—vampires sharpening their blades and stakes, speaking in low, tense whispers as they prepared for the fight that would start any moment from now. The weight of responsibility hung heavy on my shoulders. I had never wanted this, to be a king at war. But here I was, leading an army to stop a rebellion that threatened everything I had fought to protect.Sophia stood at my side, her eyes scanning the area. She was pale but resolute, and I could see the fire burning in her. Even now, pregnant with our child, she refused to leave my side. I had argued, pleaded with her t
183Ian’s POVI paced about in the room, my heart beating hard and fast and my mind running through different thoughts. Every moment felt like a taut wire, stretched thin between the safety I wanted for Sophia and the threats that I couldn’t fully shield her from. The attacks had slowed, but that only made me more nervous. It was like the calm before a storm, and I could feel the storm brewing.Sophia was sitting on the couch, her hands resting on the gentle swell of her stomach. Our child. It only made me think harder about all the different things I could do to keep Sophia out of danger.“We need to talk,” I said, breaking the silence.Her gaze met mine, steady but expectant. “I know what you’re going to say.”“I don’t think you do,” I replied, running a hand through my hair, frustration leaking into my voice. “Sophia, I need you to stay in the human realm. You and the baby—”“No,” she cut me off, her voice firm. “We’ve talked about this already, Ian. I’m not staying behind while yo