57Sophiaโs POVMy alarm went off for the umpteenth time in ten minutes and I turned around on the bed, groaning tiredly and gritting my teeth as my hands searched for the clock. I hit snooze instantly and yawned, wanting to go back to bed when I realized with a frown that today, classes were starting again and I couldnโt afford to miss any classes.I ran my hands through my hair as the alarm rang again and I turned it off this time then I sat up on my bed. I wasnโt in the mood of going to school but I didnโt have much choice. Missing classes would only mean that I was going to end up failing those classes and I wasnโt ready for that yet. I needed to keep my clean records.I yawned and then covered my mouth before getting up from the bed and walking sluggishly to my closet. It was just twelve minutes past six and I was sure Jenny was still I her bed having her beauty sleep while I was the one awake, getting ready and will still go down to make breakfast for us.I wished I was as confi
58Jennyโs POVClasses were extra boring and torturous today. It sucked. And I had made sure I blamed Sophia for it. She had see my texts but hadnโt replied. That didnโt stop me from sending another series of texts.But at the same time, even with the fact that I found class boring and extremely long today, I was still determined to focus and get early to class.I slipped into the chemistry lab a few minutes before class started, picking a seat near the middle of the room. It was the perfect spotโclose enough to the front so I wouldnโt get distracted, but far enough back to observe without drawing too much attention. As I settled into my seat, I pulled out my notebook and pen, ready to take notes. The familiar smell of chemicals and freshly wiped surfaces lingered in the air, mixing with the low hum of conversations around me.Dr. Hughes entered the room with his usual brisk energy, immediately commanding attention. He was one of those professors who made even the most complicated con
59Jacobโs POVThere were quite a lot of things running through my mind and the last thing I wanted to do right now was to sit through this council meeting.I ran my hands through my hair in frustration and gritted my teeth as my eyes went to the wall clock. We still had about an hour till the meeting ended and I was already tired and bored of it.Weโve been here for a week and Ian had done a very good job resolving the issues that had been on ground. The issues with the lycanthrope ad the witches. He had managed to fish out the people who were starting the rebellion in the vampire realm and they had been punished. With death. This was going faster and smoother than I expected and I wished we would just leave this place already.Just the few weeks I had spent in the human world and I was already used to it and eager to go back. Or maybe I eager to go back because of her.I hadnโt been able to stop myself from thinking about her. About her safety. Ian knew it too, and even though he ha
60Sophiaโs POVI drained the blood I was drinking down the sink and finished the cup quickly then zoomed off to the door to open the door.I gasped when I saw that it was Ian and the other standing there. My mouth spread in a wide grin which Ian didnโt reciprocate. I frowned. What was going on? What was wrong?I moved to the side so they could come in and I closed the door behind me. โWhatโs with the looks? Whatโs going on?โ I asked.โYou didnโt call me to tell me that you both were being watched,โ he answered, his voice accusatory. I frowned. What was he saying? I didnโt understand.โI donโt understand you,โ I said slowly. โWeโre being watched. I mean you are the one who put men outside to watch over us arenโt you?โโIโm not talking about them. Iโm talking about the person that Jenny saw watching her,โ he answered.โWhat person? There was no one watching us. Jenny never told me such,โ I told him, shaking my head. โShe was probably joking.โโThis is a joke?โ Jacob asked as he began t
61Sophiaโs POVI brushed my hair away from my face as I walked up the house with Jenny. She was rambling about how she had gotten over Ronan and how she was so ready for her next relationship.We were close to the front door when I felt itโa shift in the air, a ripple of coldness that had nothing to do with the early morning chill. I tensed, my senses sharpening as I scanned the surroundings. Jenny must have noticed the change in my demeanor because she stopped talking mid-sentence.โSophia? What is it?โ she asked, her voice laced with concern.Before I could answer, they appearedโthree figures cloaked in darkness, their eyes glowing with malevolent energy. Witches. Not the benign kind that Lyanna was, but the darker, twisted kind that thrived on fear and chaos. I cursed under my breath. I should have sensed them earlier, should have known something was off. But they had masked their presence well, almost too well.โGet inside,โ I hissed at Jenny, pushing her toward the door. She stu
62Jennyโs POVSomething was wrong. It wasnโt so hard to tell. Sophia and Ian had not been in the same space with each other for about three days now and that was just too sketchy. The Sophia and Ian I knew couldnโt bear being apart from each other for more that a day. Sophia will get disoriented a bit. But now it seemed like she was the one taking the distance more seriously.Ian was down here with Jacob and Lyanna and they were talking about something that I knew that Sophia would have loved to know if she was down here. But she wasnโt. And Ian hadnโt asked of her. Ian hadnโt gone off to call her.I frowned. What was really going on between them? Were they having a huge fallout? Because if they wereโฆI swear it to God, Iโll kill him. A frown appeared on my lips and I glared at him. She died because of him and now he was having a huge fallout with her?My frown deepened. As if he knew I was staring at him, he turned his head towards my way, looking around and then his eyes landing on
63Ianโs POV.I was angry. And it wasnโt just the mild type of anger, but the boiling kind. The kind that made me want to take it all out on an innocent person, but I remained sitting by my laptop, forcing myself to relax and focus on what I was doing.It wouldnโt do me any good to go off and kill an innocent human just because I was angry. And it wasnโt my fault I was angry. That Jenny just had to open her mouth and spoil my mood. Now I knew why Jacob didnโt like herโฆmuch.I ran my hands through my hair in frustration, my chest rising and falling wildly as I glared at the laptop. I kept staring at the screen of.my laptop but I wasnโt even seeing anything in particular. All I could think of was how angry I was.Jenny couldnโt fault me for being angry at Sophia. Sophia had taken a stupid risk that endangered both their lives. If Lyanna hadnโt been there to save them that day, them the both of them would have been injured or kidnapped, or worse.I was still trying to figure out what the
64Sophiaโs POVMy eyes fluttered open and I frowned at the terrible ache that was taking place in my head. I didnโt know why. I didnโt even know how I fell asleep.The last thing I remembered wasโฆFuck.Fuck. Fuck. Fuck.Jenny.I jumped out of bed instantly and raced to the door. I couldnโt believe that Lyanna had rendered me unconscious. How could she have done that?I ran out of my room and stopped on my tracks when I saw Jenny sitting on the couch in the living room. Jacob, Ian and Lyanna werenโt there. It was just her.โWhere the hell did you go to?โ I breathed out, running down the stairs and engulfing her into a hug. โI thought someone had hurt you! What if someone had hurt you? You shouldnโt be leaving g the house without anyone with you.โโI needed to clear my head,โ she said slowly and I could tell she was shocked.โYou canโt be serious,โ I murmured. โWhy couldnโt you clear you head outside? Why did you hage to go so far away? You were gone forโฆhours!โ I reminded her.โI nee
191Ianโs 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. Avaโs 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 quietโSophia was resting in the bedroom, exhausted but content after the birth. I had barely left her side since sheโd 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 usโour family.โHey there,โ I whispered softly, my voice barely more than a breath as I gazed down at my child. โYouโre finally here.โI felt
190Jennyโs 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 couldnโt move. For a moment, I felt frozen in place, my thoughts racing.We werenโt trying for a baby. We werenโt ever going to try. I was a vampire and even though Sophia was able to get pregnant, it didnโt mean I could too. But here it was, plain as day. The test didnโt lie.I felt a mixture of emotions swirl through meโhappiness, 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
189Sophiaโs 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.โYouโre doing amazing, Sophia,โ Ian whispered, his voice low and steady, although it was trembling. His eyes met mine. โJust breathe.โI 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 couldnโt find the words right now.The room around us was a blur. I barely registered the blur of voicesโthe midwife, a nurseโguiding me through the process. My
188Jennyโs POVThe day had finally comeโmy wedding day. I shouldโve 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 beโsimple, intimate, and with the people I cared about most.Sophia sat next to me, her eyes sparkling with excitement. โYou look incredible, Jenny,โ she said with a smile that reached her eyes.โThanks, Soph,โ I said, trying to sound nonchalant, but there was a catch in my throat. โItโs kind of crazy, isnโt it? That Iโm actually doing this?โShe laughed softly, brushing a loose strand of hair behind her ear. โA 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. Iโm just happy youโre doing
187Ianโs 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 wasnโt just the buildings that needed rebuilding. It was usโme, 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 wasnโt looking. She stepped beside me, her hand slipping into mine, and for a moment, we just stood there, side by side, lo
186Sophiaโs 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.โI canโt believe sheโs gone,โ I whispered to Ian, who was standing beside me, his hand resting on my shoulder.Ianโs expression was hard, his jaw clenched as he stared out at the horizon. He hadnโt said much since the battle ended, the stiffness in his body telling me how much he was struggling to keep his emotions in check.โShe was one of the strongest witc
185Lyannaโs POVThe visions had been coming in wavesโdark and scary. Iโd 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
184Ianโs 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 meโvampires 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
183Ianโs 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 couldnโt 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.โWe need to talk,โ I said, breaking the silence.Her gaze met mine, steady but expectant. โI know what youโre going to say.โโI donโt think you do,โ I replied, running a hand through my hair, frustration leaking into my voice. โSophia, I need you to stay in the human realm. You and the babyโโโNo,โ she cut me off, her voice firm. โWeโve talked about this already, Ian. Iโm not staying behind while yo