26Sophia’s POVIan pecked me, kissing my forehead and my cheek before kissing my nose too. I giggled, melting into his touch while he wrapped his arms around my waist protectively. I loved it when we were like this. When he held me like he couldn’t afford to let me go. Like he never wanted to let me go.“Look left and right before you cross the road,” he said against my neck, his hot breath making me shiver. If he kept up with that, I might just have to seduce him into fucking me in his office, even though we both agreed that that wouldn’t do that again. Just so we wouldn’t get caught. It was better to be on the safer side.“I’m not a child,” I reminded him. “You make me feel so little.”“Do I?” He asked with a smirk.“Yes, you do,” I answered with a pout. “How old are you anyways?”“Older than you think,” he answered with a shrug. “Your Uber is waiting outside, we don’t want to keep him waiting. Make sure you call me when you get home. Okay?”“Yes, yes,” I answered with a roll of my
27Sophia’s POVMy heart was pounding so hard and so loud that even I myself could hear it. I stared with wide eyes as the car sped down the street so fast that I couldn’t even get the plate number of the car so that I could at least report it. “Fucking bastard,” I snapped as I glared at the car and then turned around to see the person who had rescued me. Their cold hand was still on my wrist and it was as if the person had just realized it because the person dropped my hand abruptly like it was hot iron.It was a man, his skin so white and his face hard as he stared down at me. “You should look carefully before crossing the road,” he said icily and started walking away before I could even say anything.I gulped, staring at his retreating figure for a moment before looking back at the road where I was supposed to cross. I gulped, putting one foot on the road before taking a deep breath and crossed the road. I was almost running.I put my phone inside the pocket of my pants and continu
28Sophia’s POV“Pens up!” Ian declared, announcing that the time was up for the test. I raised mine instantly, looking around calmly. I wasn’t in fear since I had finished my test a few minutes ago. I had actually managed to focus in his class today and the reading ahead I had been doing for a while now also helped me.He walked around, collecting the scripts from each students one by one. The ones he had collected their scripts stood up and left. He got to me and held my eyes for a moment before breaking eye contact and collecting the script from me.I ran my hands through my hair and walked out of the lecture hall, feeling a little bit of pride. I had no doubt that I would pass my tests today, afterall I had studied this time.My phone vibrated twice in my pocket and I took it out, seeing that Ian had sent me a text. “I want you in my house today.”I raised a brow and sent him my text. “Have you forgotten? Today is Monday.” I reminded him.His reply came in almost instantly. “No, s
29Sophia’s POVI turned around on my bed lazily, my body feeling very week. I had slept quite late because I was binge watching game of thrones with Jenny, who was still very much asleep and enjoying her sleep while me, the early riser, was on the bed, feeling weak and now unable to sleep.I sighed as I turned around on my bed once again, wanting nothing but to sleep but I couldn’t bring myself to sleep. I was going home today to visit my parents. Simon was sick and I couldn’t just stay here. My mind hasn’t been at rest ever since I heard that he was sick and I wanted to go home to see him and be sure that he was going to be fine.Plus Sarah wouldn’t stop crying that her twin was sick and I didn’t really like seeing her cry like that. I didn’t like seeing any of my family in tears.With a sigh, I forced myself to sit up on the bed and I looked around the room. The time read six thirty-two am on my digital clock. Today was Saturday.I sighed and checked my phone. There was already a g
30Sophia’s POVI turned around on my bed, hugging the duvet to my body. As I expected, Sarah had turned my room to hers but she had moved back to she and Simon’s shared room till I leave again. Simon and I were discharged yesterday night and I had been sleeping ever since.I opened my eyes and yawned, then stretched. I picked up my phone and checked the time. It was Sunday. Almost one pm. I picked up my phone and decided to call Ian first. I was supposed to call him since yesterday yet I had failed to do that. At least Jenny had spoken to him and assured him that I was okay.I ran my hands through my hair as I dialed his number and I waited for him to pick up his call. He picked up on the second ring.“Who am I speaking with?” He asked flatly and I frowned. Didn’t he have my number again? Or did I dial someone else?I removed the phone from my ear. It was his name. It was his voice. My frown deepened as I put the phone to my ear once again. “Did you delete my number or something?”“I
31Sophia’s POVSettling into my seat on the plane next to Jenny, I couldn’t help but feel a rush of excitement. The familiar hum of the engines signaled that we were finally on our way back to university. That meant one thing. I could finally see Ian. I glanced at Jenny, her hair which I had curled yesterday was bouncing as she adjusted her seatbelt. She caught my eye and grinned.“Can you believe the weekend’s over already?” she said, her voice tinged with annoyance. “It feels like we just got here.”“I know,” I replied, turning to face her fully. “But I’m kind of glad. I missed campus. And our friends. And, weirdly enough, even the library.”Jenny laughed, shaking her head. “Of course you missed the Campus. Only because you get to see Ian and go to his house. You practically live there.”“Guilty as charged,” I said, grinning. “But seriously, I’m looking forward to being back in campus. I signed up for that creative writing class we talked about yesterday.”Jenny’s eyes lit up. “Oh,
32Ian’s POVThe flickering candlelight cast dancing shadows across the walls of my study, illuminating the books that were on the shelves. Sophia sat across from me at the heavy oak table, her brow furrowed in concentration as she pored over her history textbook. She was beautiful, her fiery red hair catching the light in a way that seemed almost out of this world.I had told her to come here so we could revise together for the upcoming history exams.“Alright, let’s go over the causes of the French Revolution again,” I said, my voice smooth and calm, even though all I wanted to do right now was to bend her over the table and fuck her hard.Sophia sighed, pushing a stray lock of hair behind her ear. “Okay, so there were social, economic, and political causes, right? The society was divided into three estates, with the commoners, or the Third Estate, bearing the brunt of taxes and having the least power.”I nodded, watching her intently. “That’s correct. And what about the economic fa
33Sophia’s POVExam days always brought a sense of anxiety mixed with a peculiar thrill. This morning, the air was thick with anticipation, and the corridors of the university was bustling with students clutching notes, their faces masked with various degrees of nervousness and determination. As I walked to the exam hall, I felt the familiar fluttering in my stomach, a blend of excitement and nervousness. Today was my first exam, and it just happened to be history.Entering the vast hall, the atmosphere was charged. The silence was heavy, punctuated only by the rustling of paper and the occasional cough. I found my seat, third row from the front, and settled in, trying to calm my racing heart. The invigilator, a stern-faced professor with a reputation for no-nonsense, handed out the exam papers.I looked around, wondering where Ian was. Seeing him here right now would at least give me a bit of confidence but he wasn’t here. I sighed. Maybe his absence was what I needed right now. So
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