120

120

Jacob’s POV

The heavy oak doors of the council chamber closed behind me with a deep thud, echoing through the spacious, dimmu lit room. Even after all these years, stepping into this place felt like walking into a crypt—a reminder of how old and unchanging the vampire world was. The council sat in their usual places, high-backed chairs arranged in a half-circle, their faces unreadable as always. The atmosphere was thick with tension, the air practically humming with the weight of centuries of politics and power.

I glanced at Ian beside me. His face was as impassive as ever, but I knew better. He hated being here as much as I did. Hell, maybe more. Being the king meant this was his responsibility, but it didn’t mean he liked it.

I chuckled. He had barely spent a year on the throne, and he already hated it. Meanwhile I spent a year and almost half there without anyone to take my side.

We took our places before them, sitting on the high chairs and waiting for them to begin.

“King Ian, Jacob,” one of the council members, Viktor, began, his voice smooth but carrying the authority of someone who had seen centuries come and go. “Thank you for returning to the realm for this meeting.”

Ian gave a curt nod, acknowledging the greeting but not offering any pleasantries in return. There was no point. We were here to deal with business, not exchange pleasantries.

“We’ll make this brief,” another council member said, his sharp gaze flicking between the two of us. “The situation in the vampire realm grows more… precarious by the day.”

I exchanged a glance with Ian. That was an understatement.

“We’ve had reports,” Victor continued for him, “of minor rebellions among some of our younger vampires. They believe the current leadership is too lenient, too… human-focused.”

“Human-focused?” Ian repeated, his voice calm but carrying an edge that made me sit a little straighter. “What exactly does that mean?”

Another council member, an older vampire named Aldric, who had been around longer than anyone should have, leaned forward in his chair. His pale hands rested on the ornate arms, his long fingers tapping lightly. “It means, Your Majesty, that they believe we should be more concerned with our own kind and less with integrating into human society.”

A murmur of agreement rippled through the other council members, their eyes trained on Ian. They were testing him, as they always did, waiting to see how he would react. This whole thing reeked of manipulation, like they were trying to push Ian into a corner, force his hand on something. I could feel the tension simmering under the surface, and I didn’t like where this was going.

“We’ve also heard troubling news from the witches,” Aldric continued, his tone measured, but there was a gleam in his eyes that told me this was what he’d really wanted to bring up. “Some of them are growing… restless. There are whispers of rebellion.”

Ian’s jaw tightened ever so slightly, and I could sense the annoyance building in him. “Restless? What’s causing this unrest?”

Aldric leaned back, clearly enjoying the moment. “The witches believe they should hold more power in the realm. They’ve grown tired of their minor roles, and there are rumors that some may be aligning themselves with rebellious factions within the vampire ranks.”

I clenched my fists at my sides. Of course. Trouble was always brewing with witches, vampires, and every other supernatural being that existed. Keeping everyone in line was like holding back a tidal wave with a paper cup.

Ian, to his credit, didn’t show any of the frustration I knew he felt. “And what are you suggesting we do about it?”

One of the other council members, a woman named Lisette, who always seemed to be two steps ahead of everyone else, spoke up. “We believe it’s time to take more aggressive action. We’ve been passive for too long, allowing these factions to grow. If we don’t act soon, the realm could be in danger.”

“The realm is always in danger,” I muttered under my breath, though loud enough for the council to hear.

Ian shot me a brief, warning look, but didn’t disagree.

“Jacob isn’t wrong,” he said, turning his attention back to the council. “There are always threats. Rebellions come and go. Witches and vampires have never been fully at peace. What makes this different?”

Aldric’s lips curled into a thin smile. “The werewolves.”

A chill ran down my spine at the mention of the werewolves. I hadn’t heard that name in a while, and for good reason. The werewolves had been keeping to their own territory for the most part, and we’d done the same. But if they were stirring up trouble again…

Ian’s expression hardened. “What about the werewolves?”

“We’ve received credible reports,” Aldric said slowly, clearly savoring the moment. It seemed like he was currently basking in our misery. “That they are planning an attack on the vampire realm.”

I let out a frustrated sigh, shaking my head. “Of course they are.”

This wasn’t good. The werewolves were vicious, unpredictable, and deadly. They didn’t care about politics or power plays. All they cared about was blood and war. If they were truly planning an attack, things were about to get a hell of a lot more complicated.

Ian took a deep breath, his eyes narrowing slightly. “We need more than just rumors. I’ll send scouts to investigate. But if the werewolves are truly preparing for an attack, we will need to fortify the realm.”

“We agree,” Lisette said, her tone smooth and businesslike. “The council is prepared to offer whatever resources are necessary to ensure the safety of the realm.”

Ian nodded, though I could tell he was far from satisfied with the way things were going. “I’ll deal with the werewolf threat. What else?”

The council members exchanged brief, calculated glances before Viktor spoke again, this time with a tone that was more cautious, almost hesitant. I tensed. Viktor has never been like this, hesitant to say something. “There is… one more matter we wish to discuss.”

Ian’s eyes darkened, and I could sense the shift in him. This was what they’d been leading up to. “Go on,” he said, his voice low and dangerous.

“We want to see Jenny,” Aldric said.

The words hung in the air like a death sentence. I felt my entire body tense, my blood running cold at the sound of Jenny’s name coming from his mouth. My first instinct was to lash out, to tell them to keep her out of their damned games, but I held my tongue, barely.

Ian’s reaction was more measured, though I could see the flicker of anger in his eyes. “Why?”

Aldric’s smile was thin, almost predatory. “She’s a human who has been involved in our world. There are concerns that she may pose a risk, given her… proximity to you, Jacob.”

I clenched my jaw, my hands balling into fists. They were trying to make this about Jenny now? She hadn’t asked to be dragged into our world. She didn’t deserve to be scrutinized like this. She was innocent in all of this—an outsider who had no idea what kind of danger she was really in.

But they didn’t care about that. To them, she was just another pawn in the endless power struggle.

Ian remained calm, though I could see the tension in his shoulders. “Jenny isn’t a threat.”

“Perhaps not,” Lisette said smoothly, “but we need to be sure. The council has a responsibility to protect the realm, and that includes ensuring that no human is privy to secrets that could jeopardize our existence.”

Ian’s eyes flashed with anger, and I could tell he was on the verge of losing his patience. “You don’t get to decide who I associate with. Jenny is under my protection—and Jacob’s. That should be enough.”

“It’s not a matter of trust,” Aldric said, his tone condescending. “It’s a matter of protocol. We need to ensure that she is not compromised. If she’s been exposed to certain... influences, it could be dangerous for all of us.”

I couldn’t take it anymore. “What the hell are you trying to say?” I growled, stepping forward.

Ian shot me a sharp look, warning me to stay calm, but I was beyond that now. They were playing games with Jenny’s life, and I wasn’t about to stand by and let them.

“We simply want to meet her,” Lisette said, her voice soothing but insincere. “To ensure that there are no… issues.”

Ian’s eyes never left Aldric’s. “And if I refuse?”

Aldric’s smile widened, and I felt a sickening sense of dread settle in my gut. “Then the council will have no choice but to assume the worst as to why you won’t let us meet the human girl.”

“She’s no longer human, she’s one of us,” I seethed, my eyes narrowing at each and every one of them. “And you can’t meet her.”