141

141

Ian’s POV

The air in the condo was heavy, despite the familiar scent of leather and wood and Sophia, that usually kept me calm. I couldn’t shake the feeling of dread that had settled deep in my chest since returning from the vampire realm. The realm was in ruins—something I could barely process. Now, there was only one person who could help me figure out how we could pick up the pieces: Mike.

He had been gone for what felt like forever on one of his “long trips,” as he liked to call them. Disappearing without a word, doing god knows what, and leaving me to handle the mess. But Mike had a way of knowing things—things that even the council couldn’t see coming. I hated relying on him, but right now, I needed answers.

A sharp knock on the door cut through my thoughts. I stood up from the couch, my body tensing instinctively. I hadn’t seen him in months, and even though Mike was technically an ally and my best friend, he had a way of making things more complicated than they needed to be.

I opened the door, and there he was, leaning casually against the frame, a smirk on his face as if he hadn’t just left me to clean up the mess of the century.

“Miss me?” Mike’s voice was laced with that familiar sarcasm, the one that always made me want to punch him in the face. He was dressed in his usual black leather jacket, his blond hair slightly tousled, as if he’d just walked through a storm.

“Barely noticed you were gone,” I muttered, stepping aside to let him in. I closed the door behind him, the sound of the latch clicking echoing in the room. “You picked a great time to disappear.”

Mike shrugged, unbothered by my tone, as usual. “I’m back now. What’s the big deal?”

I resisted the urge to grab him by the collar and shake some sense into him. Instead, I motioned for him to sit, though I doubted he’d actually stay still long enough for a real conversation.

“The realm’s in chaos,” I said, jumping straight to the point. “The castle’s been attacked, the council’s scattered, and we have no idea who’s behind it.”

Mike raised an eyebrow, finally taking a seat on the arm of the couch, his smirk fading. “Attacked? How bad are we talking?”

“Bad,” I replied, running a hand through my hair. “The kind of bad where the realm might not recover. Whoever it was hit us hard and fast. They knew exactly where to strike.”

Mike’s eyes narrowed, and I could see the gears turning in his head. He was calculating, always thinking two steps ahead, but never revealing his hand until he was ready.

“And you think someone on the inside was involved?” he asked.

I nodded, the bitterness rising in my throat. “It’s the only explanation that makes sense. They knew too much—knew when and where to hit us. The council is compromised, but we don’t know who we can trust.”

Mike leaned back slightly, crossing his arms over his chest. “Sounds like a hell of a mess you’ve got on your hands.”

“Tell me something I don’t know,” I snapped, unable to hold back my frustration any longer. “Where the hell have you been, Mike? I could’ve used your help.”

Mike didn’t flinch at my tone. Instead, he tilted his head, studying me like he always did when he thought I was being overly emotional.

“I was handling something,” he said vaguely, his voice calm. “But I’m here now. Let’s focus on the problem at hand.”

I clenched my jaw but nodded, knowing that pressing him for details would only lead to more deflection. Mike never told me everything, and while it pissed me off, I also knew that his secrets often kept us one step ahead of disaster.

“Fine,” I said, exhaling sharply. “What do you know?”

Mike stood up, pacing slowly across the room. “I’ve been hearing rumors. Whispers of an alliance forming between factions that shouldn’t be working together—vampires, witches, and werewolves. They’ve been planning something for a while now, but the details have been… murky.”

I frowned. “Werewolves? What do they have to gain from attacking the realm?”

“Power,” Mike said simply. “It’s always about power. The realm is vulnerable, and they see an opportunity. Witches want freedom from the council’s rules, werewolves want territory, and some vampires want to see you dethroned.”

I shook my head, the anger building inside me. “So, they think they can just walk in and take over?”

“Seems like it,” Mike replied, his tone casual, but his eyes were sharp. “They don’t think you’re strong enough to stop them. They see the cracks forming, and they’re betting on you falling apart before you can pull the realm back together.”

I felt my fists clench at my sides. “They’re wrong.”

Mike’s lips quirked into a half-smile. “I know that. But they don’t. That’s why we need to figure out who’s behind this before they make their next move.”

I sat back down, feeling the weight of it all pressing on my shoulders. The attack on the castle had been devastating, but it wasn’t just about rebuilding the realm. It was about survival. These factions, these enemies—they didn’t just want to take control. They wanted to wipe us out.

“I need to know who I can trust,” I said, looking up at Mike. “The council is fractured. I don’t know who’s still loyal.”

Mike nodded thoughtfully. “Start small. Focus on the ones who’ve been with you from the beginning. Test the others, see where their loyalties lie. And be careful. Whoever betrayed you will make a mistake sooner or later.”

I gritted my teeth, hating the idea of having to play this game. But I knew Mike was right. The traitor would slip up eventually, and when they did, I’d be ready.

“And what about Sophia?” Mike asked, his voice softer now. “How’s she handling all of this?”

At the mention of her name, the tightness in my chest returned. Sophia had been through hell, and now she was carrying our child. The thought of her and the baby being caught in the crossfire of this war made my blood run cold.

“She’s… strong,” I said, though the words felt hollow. “But she’s scared. And I don’t blame her. She shouldn’t have to deal with any of this.”

Mike nodded, his expression unreadable. “You need to keep her safe, Ian. Now more than ever. This baby… it changes everything.”

I sighed, leaning forward and resting my elbows on my knees. “I know. I’ll do whatever it takes to protect them. But I can’t do that if the realm is falling apart.”

Mike walked over and clapped a hand on my shoulder. “Then let’s make sure that doesn’t happen.”

I looked up at him, seeing the determination in his eyes. For all of Mike’s unpredictability, when it came down to it, he was loyal. And right now, I needed that loyalty more than ever.

“We’ll start with the council,” Mike said, pulling out his phone. “Figure out who’s left, who’s still loyal, and who’s been compromised. Then we’ll deal with the rest.”

I nodded, feeling the first flicker of hope I’d had in days. It wasn’t much, but it was something. And right now, something was all I had.

“Thanks, Mike,” I said quietly.

He shrugged, the smirk returning to his face. “Don’t thank me yet. We’ve still got a hell of a fight ahead of us.”

“Yeah, we do,” I replied with a nod, sighing and trying to lighten up my mood but instead a frown formed on my face. I hadn’t told him about the baby, so how did he find out?

“Who told you?” I asked, raising my brows at him. “About Sophia and our baby?”

He got up with a smirk, making his way to my kitchen. “I have my ways, Ian. You all think you’re doing a very good job of keeping it a secret, which, trust me, you are. But there are other ways for me to find out.” He shrugged, opening my freezer and taking out a pouch of blood.

My eyes zeroed in on him and I couldn’t help the feeling of dread that filled over me.