134

134

Sophia’s POV

I blinked my eyes open, my body feeling like it had been weighed down by a mountain. Every limb was heavy, every muscle sore. The dim light in the room flickered as I adjusted to being awake, but I wasn’t fully there yet. My mind felt foggy, the remnants of whatever drug or spell they’d used still lingering in my system.

The last thing I remembered was being trapped, tortured—my captors moving me from place to place. And then… nothing. Just pain, exhaustion, and darkness.

“Ian?” My voice came out as a weak rasp, but I felt his presence before I even saw him. He was by my side in an instant, his warm hand wrapping around mine.

“Sophia,” he breathed, his voice thick with emotion. “You’re awake.”

I tried to sit up, but my body protested. I settled for squeezing his hand instead, taking comfort in his touch. He was here. I was safe.

“How long…?” I started to ask, but Ian shook his head, his thumb brushing over my knuckles.

“Don’t worry about that now,” he said gently, his eyes scanning my face as if making sure I was real, that I was truly here. “You need to rest.”

But I couldn’t rest. Not yet. There was so much I needed to know, so much I needed to ask. My thoughts raced, but they were slow and sluggish, like trying to wade through mud. I’d been through hell, and I needed answers.

“Ian,” I said again, forcing my voice to be steady, “what happened? Where am I?”

“You’re safe,” he assured me, his hand tightening around mine. “We found you. You’re back in the vampire realm.”

I nodded slowly, my head spinning. “And the… the ones who took me?”

His jaw clenched, and I could see the fury in his eyes. “They’re dead. Most of them. The ones who tortured you… they paid for what they did.”

A shiver ran through me at the memory, but I pushed it aside, focusing on Ian. There was something else in his eyes—something beyond the anger and relief. It was almost like… worry.

I tried to sit up again, this time with more determination. “Ian, what’s wrong?”

He hesitated, his eyes flickering away from mine for just a second. But that was enough. Something was definitely wrong.

“Sophia,” he began, his voice softer now, more careful, “there’s something I need to tell you.”

I frowned, my heart skipping a beat. “What is it?”

He took a deep breath, sitting down on the edge of the bed beside me. His hand never left mine. But the look in his eyes made my chest tighten with anxiety.

“You’re pregnant,” he said quietly.

For a second, the words didn’t register. I just stared at him, confused. Pregnant? That didn’t make sense. How could I…?

“I… I’m what?” I asked, my voice barely above a whisper.

“Pregnant,” he repeated, his gaze steady, though I could see the tension in his jaw, the way his fingers gripped mine a little too tightly. “Lyanna confirmed it.”

I felt like the room spun around me. Pregnant? That couldn’t be right. Vampires didn’t just get pregnant, especially not after everything I’d been through. How could this even be possible?

“Ian, that doesn’t…” I trailed off, my mind struggling to catch up with the reality of what he was saying.

“I know it’s a shock,” he said, his voice filled with understanding, “but it’s true. You’re carrying our child.”

Our child.

The weight of those words settled over me, and for a moment, I didn’t know whether to feel relieved or terrified. I hadn’t even considered the possibility. With everything happening—the torture, the Council, the endless fights—I had never thought this would be something I’d have to face. Not now. Maybe not ever.

“But…” I stammered, “how?”

Ian sighed, running a hand through his hair. “It’s because of your lineage. The ancient bloodline. There’s more power in you than we realized. And now… it’s led to this.”

My heart pounded in my chest, and I could feel a rush of emotions—fear, confusion, but also something else. A strange sense of relief washed over me, though I wasn’t sure why.

Pregnant. I was pregnant. The thought repeated itself over and over in my mind, but it didn’t feel real.

And then another thought hit me, and I couldn’t help the soft, bitter laugh that escaped my lips. “So… they won’t bring in another vampire lover for you now.”

Ian’s eyes widened in surprise at my words. “What?”

I met his gaze, feeling a mix of exhaustion and dark humor. “The Council. They’re always watching us, judging us. They probably thought they could find someone better, someone who could… breed for you. But now, I guess they’re stuck with me.”

Ian’s expression shifted, his lips pressing into a hard line. “Sophia, I don’t give a damn about what the Council thinks. I never have. I chose you. Not because of what they want, or some ridiculous political expectation. I chose you because I love you.”

His words sent a warmth through my chest, chasing away some of the lingering fear. But still, the reality of the situation weighed heavily on me. This was more than just us now. This was something much bigger.

“And what happens when they find out?” I asked quietly, my eyes searching his. “They’ll see this baby as a threat, won’t they?”

Ian’s jaw tightened, and I could see the emotions brewing beneath the surface. “We’ll protect you. I’ll protect you. I don’t care what they think or what they do. No one is going to hurt you or our child.”

I nodded slowly, but the fear still lingered. I trusted Ian, but I knew how dangerous the Council could be. How dangerous the vampire realm could be.

“Ian,” I whispered, squeezing his hand a bit. “We’ll figure this out, won’t we?”

He leaned down, pressing a soft kiss to my forehead. “We will. I promise.”