140

140

Ian’s POV

As I stepped through the portal and returned to the human world, the cool air of the city night washed over me, doing little to ease the tension that coiled tightly in my chest. The realm was falling apart, piece by piece, and I was the one who had to hold it all together. I had to be the king—steady, strong, impenetrable—but all I could think about was Sophia. And now, our unborn child.

The thought of her waiting for me In my condo pulled me like gravity, but I hesitated before heading inside. How could I tell her that our world was in ruins? That everything I had spent centuries trying to protect was crumbling under the weight of betrayal and war? She’d already been through so much—her kidnapping, the torture she endured, and now the pregnancy.

I pushed open the door quietly, stepping into the dimly lit condo. The scent of home greeted me, a mixture of Sophia’s favorite candles and the faint, comforting smell of her. I could hear soft voices coming from the living room. Sophia and Jenny were sitting on the couch, their heads close together as they talked quietly. When they saw me, both of them looked up, their eyes filled with a mixture of relief and concern.

“Ian,” Sophia said, her voice soft but strained. She stood up, her hands automatically going to her growing belly as if it was instinct to protect the life inside her.

“Hey,” I managed, though my voice was rough, the weight of the realm’s destruction pressing down on me. “Sorry I’m late.”

Jenny offered a small smile, though her eyes stayed on Sophia as if she were trying to gauge her friend’s reaction to me being back. I wasn’t sure how much longer Jenny could hide her own worries, but right now, I had to focus on Sophia.

“I need to talk to you,” I said, looking directly at Sophia.

Her lips tightened into a thin line, and she nodded. “I’ll go get some fresh air,” Jenny said quickly, picking up on the tension between us. “I’ll be just outside if you need me.”

Once Jenny was gone, Sophia walked over to me, her gaze locked on mine, searching. “What happened?” she asked quietly, her voice almost breaking. “You’ve been gone longer than usual, Ian. Please… don’t keep things from me.”

I exhaled slowly and took her hand, guiding her back to the couch. “The realm’s in worse shape than we thought,” I said, getting straight to the point. I didn’t have the energy to soften the truth, and Sophia deserved to know everything. “The attack on the castle wasn’t just a warning. It was a full-blown assault. They’ve damaged more than just the physical walls. We’re nearly ruined, Sophia.”

Her face paled, and she blinked rapidly, her grip on my hand tightening. “What do you mean ‘nearly ruined’? The realm—what about the council? Are they…?”

“Some of the council members are missing,” I said, running a hand through my hair, the tension in my muscles only increasing as I thought about how vulnerable the realm had become. “We don’t know who’s alive and who’s dead yet. The whole place is in disarray, and whoever attacked us isn’t done. This was just the beginning.”

Sophia’s eyes widened with fear, her free hand going instinctively to her stomach. “Our baby…”

The words hung in the air between us, reminding me that this wasn’t just about the two of us anymore. There was someone else—someone innocent—caught in the middle of this nightmare.

“I won’t let anything happen to you or our child,” I said firmly, cupping her face in my hands, needing her to understand how serious I was. “You and the baby are my priority. I don’t care what happens to the realm. If I have to destroy anyone who threatens you, I will.”

But even as I said it, I knew how hollow the promise sounded. The forces against us were adding up, and I couldn’t be everywhere at once. Sophia was no longer just my partner in this war—she was carrying a life, our life, and that made her a target in ways I hadn’t fully considered until now.

“Ian, I’m scared,” Sophia whispered, her eyes filling with unshed tears. “I thought… I thought after everything we’d been through that we might have a chance to be happy. But now… I don’t even know if our baby will ever be safe.”

I swallowed hard, guilt gnawing at me. I couldn’t lie to her. The truth was, I didn’t know if I could keep our baby safe. The vampire realm was no longer the sanctuary it once was, and even here, in the human world, we weren’t untouchable.

“I wish I could promise you that everything will be okay,” I admitted, my voice low and raw. “But I don’t know what’s coming next, Sophia. The realm… it’s not safe. There are werewolves, witches, and vampires out there who want to tear us apart. They’ve already made their move on the castle, and they won’t stop until they get what they want.”

Sophia leaned into me, resting her head on my chest. I wrapped my arms around her, holding her close, feeling the warmth of her body and the faint thrum of life inside her. She was strong—stronger than anyone gave her credit for—but this was too much for her to bear alone.

“I don’t want to bring our child into a world where they’ll always be in danger,” she said, her voice trembling. “What kind of life will they have, Ian? They’ll be a target before they even take their first breath.”

I clenched my jaw, anger flaring inside me. She was right. Our child would be a target. They would be hunted, just like we were. But that didn’t mean I was going to let that happen. Not if I could help it.

“They won’t be in danger,” I said, my voice hardening with determination. “I’ll make sure of it. I’ll protect both of you with everything I have.”

Sophia pulled back slightly, her gaze locking with mine. “But how, Ian? How can you protect us when the realm is falling apart? When there are enemies at every turn?”

“I’ll figure it out,” I said, my tone leaving no room for doubt. “We’ll find a way. I’ll find a way.”

Sophia exhaled shakily and nodded, though I could still see the worry etched in her features. She was scared, and rightfully so. We were standing on the edge of a war that could destroy everything we’d built together.

“I love you,” I said softly, brushing a strand of hair from her face. “And I love our baby. I’ll do whatever it takes to keep both of you safe.”

Sophia managed a small, sad smile. “I know you will. I just hope… I hope it’s enough.”

It had to be. I couldn’t let her down. Not now. Not ever.

For a long time, we just sat there in silence, holding each other as everything weighed us down. There was no escaping the reality of what we were facing. The realm was in chaos, and the forces against us were getting stronger. But the truth was, as long as I had Sophia by my side, I knew I would fight with everything I had to protect her and our unborn child.

The world might be crumbling around us, but I wouldn’t let it touch them. Not as long as I was still standing. The were they only ones I had at this point.