72Sophia’s POVThe doorbell rang for the second time in a row and I groaned as I got up from my bed, dropping the book I was reading and walking out of my room, down the stairs and then int the living room. I walked straight to the door and opened it without even checking to see who it was. I automatically knew it would be Jacob or Ian. Or Jenny. And if it wasn’t any of them then whoever it was wouldn’t be able to come inside if they weren’t human.But it was Jacob and Ian standing in front of the door. Jacob had a bored look on his face while Ian had a grin on his face, a bouquet of flowers in his hands.I beamed instantly, staring at the flowers with what I was sure was an adorable look and then taking them from him. “Is there an occasion?” I asked as I turned away and wallked back into the house, going straight for the kitchen.“Do we need to have an occasion before I bring my girl flowers?” He demanded and a blush crept up my cheeks as I placed the flowers into a small vase and t
73Jenny’s POVMy eyes opened slowly and I found it hard at first to register where I was. But slowly the bits and pieces of what happened were coming back to me and I realized with shock and panic that I was in the trunk of a car. A moving car.Fuck.For how long have I been here? For how long have I been in this car? And where were they taking me? Why were they taking me? Who the fuck were they in the first place? My heart was thumping hard in my chest as I tried to figure out everything. But it was hard to.The worst part was that I hadn’t even seen the face of the person that took me. I hadn’t had the time to comprehend before he rendered me unconscious.Luckily for me, my hands and my legs weren’t bound and I wasn’t about to let them take me t somewhere I didn’t know at all just because I knew Ian and Jacob. Or who knows? Maybe Jacob had a crazy girlfriend or fiancee that wanted to pull the Freya stunt on me too.God.I should have known being involved with him…having sex with hi
74Sophia’s POVI was pacing up and down in Jenny’s room, keeping an eye on her while she slept peacefully on the bed. Fuck. She had been kidnapped. She could have been killed, or whatever worse things that could have happened to her just because I let her go grocery shopping for the snacks that I ate all on my own.God.I felt terrible. I felt so fucking bad and I didn’t know what to do to make that feeling go away. I wasn’t really sure if that feeling was supposed to go away. Maybe I deserved to feel that way and worse. I could have been the death of my best friend.That couldn’t just leave my head like that. The fact that Jenny could have died because I didn’t follow her. I felt horrible. Maybe I was a genuinely horrible person and I deserved to feel that way every way of my fucking life.I sat by the edge of her bed and burst into tears right next to her, my shoulders quaking and my sobs loud that I didn’t even care that I could wake her up.I couldn’t bring myself to stop. I just
75Sophia’s POV.Mondays have a peculiar rhythm to them. For most, they symbolize the beginning of a new week—filled with fresh starts or dreaded routines. For me, it’s a day of duality. The sun was still rising as Jenny and I left the house. Our small talk was peppered with bits of morning humor, just enough to get our minds off the weight of the week ahead. I just hoped this week wouldn’t be like the others.Jenny was feeling better now and she had even been the one to insist we go to day today.I looked at Jenny, grateful that she saw me as nothing more than her bestfeiend. She didn’t look at me like the dangerous predator that I was. To Jenny, I’m just Sophia—her best friend, the one who listens to her late-night rants, shares clothes, and makes tea on rainy days.As we neared the point where we usually split off to go to our separate classes, I hesitated. I wanted to say something, but the words didn’t come. What could I say, really? That the idea of sitting in Ian’s lecture made
76Sophia’s POVThe living room was tense, a thick silence hanging between the four of us. Ian stood with a firm posture, his presence commanding the room as usual. Jacob leaned against the wall, his arms crossed and eyes sharp, scanning us like a military commander sizing up new recruits. Jenny and I sat side by side on the couch, our shoulders almost touching.The kidnapping had shaken us both, though Jenny bore the brunt of it. Even now, days later, I could see the haunted look in her eyes. She was trying to be strong, but the fear was still there, lurking just beneath the surface. It had changed something between us—forced us to confront the reality of the dangers we faced.Ian’s voice broke through the silence, steady and serious. “We need to talk about what happened.”Jenny flinched at the mention, but I squeezed her hand, a silent reassurance that I was there, that we were in this together.“We can’t allow something like this to happen again,” Ian continued, his gaze flickering
77Sophia’s POVIan had been working in his room for hours now and I was very bored. I wasn’t just bored though. I was horny and I needed him to fuck me.I got up from the couch where I had been sitting for hours and walked up to his room, pushing the door open and walking into it.He raised his head from the computer slightly and then focused once again on his computer.“You’ve been working for hours,” I murmured as I closed the door behind us and walked up to him. I began massaging his shoulders and then I kissed him on the neck.“I’m working, Soph,” he murmured although he paused.“Yeah and you’ve been doing that for hours now. You need rest,” I told him.He got up from the chair abruptly and turned to me.“Get on your knees,” he commanded in a thick voice and I did just as he asked, going down on my knees without hesitation. There was no use pretending that I didn’t want this when I knew very well that this was that I wanted. I wanted him to fuck me hard. To fuck me through me mat
78Jenny’s POVI was feeling tentative, not sure whether I should do as he just commanded or I should go away. He and I shouldn’t he fucking like this. But I couldn’t help but take advantage of the fact that Sophia has gone over to Ian’s house and Jacob was here alone with me.If Sophia could be having fun at Ian’s house, why couldn’t I? Plus I was very horny and I just needed him to fuck me as hard as he could. I just needed my release and I wanted him to be the one to give that to me.I stared at myself in the mirror, wondering if it made sense for me to walk into the guest room where he was, in a lingerie. There was a tiny part of me that feared that he was going to turn me down and tell me to get out of the room but that tiny part was covers up by the fact that I couldn’t think straight and I needed him to be inside of me.I turned away from the mirror and began to walk to the door before I could change my mind and realize that this was a bad idea. Not like I hadn’t realized that
79Ian’s POVThe weight of the realm settled over me the moment I crossed its threshold, the air heavy with the scent of ancient stone and the faint, lingering traces of magic. This place was a constant reminder of who I was and what I had to uphold. The title of King wasn’t something I wore lightly, and every time I returned, it was like donning a mantle that grew heavier with each passimg day.Today, though, the weight was almost unbearable. The council had been relentless in their demands, and I knew what awaited me in the chamber—more of the same questions, the same insistence, the same push for something I refused to give them.Sophia.As I walked through the corridors, the familiar architecture surrounded me—tall, imposing columns, tapestries woven with the history of our kind, and torches that flickered with an eternal flame. The walls seemed to hum with the whispers of those who had come before, a constant reminder of the tradition and power that had shaped this place.It shou
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