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Ian’s POV

Lyanna was sitting across from me, her expression calm, but there was something in her eyes that made me uneasy. She had come to meet me here in the realm, and had asked for this meeting, insisting it was urgent, though she’d been vague on the details. That was unlike her. Usually, Lyanna was direct, straightforward. This… hesitance? It wasn’t normal.

“What is it?” I asked, leaning forward. The firelight from the hearth added a shadowy glow to the surroundings. The castle in the vampire realm was always cold, but tonight, it felt colder. Or maybe that was just me.

Lyanna glanced at me, her eyes narrowing slightly. “It’s about Sophia.”

I tensed immediately, my hands clenching into fists. The protectiveness I felt over Sophia came over me in full force. She was my mate, my love, the one I’d killed for, and I’d do it again without hesitation. “What about her?”

Lyanna sighed, resting her hands in her lap, her fingers tracing the patterns of her robe absentmindedly. “I’ve been observing her for a while now, Ian. Ever since she transitioned, something has been… off.”

“Off?” My voice was sharper than I intended, but I couldn’t help it. The thought of anything being wrong with Sophia set me on edge. “What do you mean?”

Lyanna held up a hand, her usual calm behavior returning. “I don’t mean physically. She’s strong, maybe stronger than we expected, but that’s not the issue.”

I frowned. “Then what is it?”

She hesitated again, and I felt the frustration building. I wasn’t in the mood for riddles. Not when it came to Sophia.

“Lyanna, just tell me what’s on your mind.”

She met my eyes, her expression serious. “I suspect she’s from a vampire lineage that we thought had disappeared a long time ago.”

Her words hung in the air between us, heavy and unsettling. I stared at her, trying to process what she’d just said. “What lineage?”

“That’s what I’m trying to figure out,” she said quietly. “But there are… signs. Little things. Her abilities, her instincts, the way she handled the transition. It’s not typical, Ian. Even for someone marked by you.”

My thoughts raced, and I found myself leaning back in my chair, trying to make sense of it. Sophia’s strength, her speed, her control—it had all been remarkable, yes. I mean, when Jacob had transitioned fully into a vampire, he handled it worse than her. So yes, Sophia had handled her transition remarkably. But I hadn’t thought much of it. After all, she was my mine, and the bond between us was strong. But now that Lyanna was pointing it out, it did seem… unusual.

“Why didn’t you mention this before?” I asked, my voice low.

“Because I wasn’t sure. And honestly, I’m still not. That’s why I wanted to talk to you before I did anything further.” Lyanna leaned forward slightly, her expression softening. “I care about Sophia, Ian. You know that. But if I’m right… if she is connected to this ancient lineage… we need to be cautious.”

I clenched my jaw, the muscles tightening painfully. “Cautious? About what, exactly?”

Lyanna’s gaze didn’t drop. “There are certain vampire families, Ian, whose power was so immense that it became a threat, even to themselves. They vanished without a trace, but if Sophia is connected to them… we don’t know what kind of potential she might hold. And more importantly, we don’t know who else might be aware of it.”

My blood ran cold at the thought. Sophia, my Sophia, caught in the crosshairs of some ancient, dangerous legacies and families? The idea was just too unbearablen for me. “Do you have any proof?”

Lyanna shook her head slowly. “Not yet. Just suspicions. But I want to dig into her background, see if I can find anything. Anything that could confirm or deny what I’m thinking.”

I stared at her for a long moment, my mind swirling with a bunch of emotions. I trusted Lyanna, and I knew she wouldn’t bring this to me unless she was genuinely concerned. But the thought of anyone investigating Sophia, prying into her life, made my chest tighten with an emotion I couldn’t really understand.

“What are you hoping to find?” I asked, my voice quieter now.

“Anything that links her to the old bloodlines. A name, a family history, something that we overlooked.” Lyanna leaned back in her chair, her gaze searching mine. “I won’t do anything without your permission, Ian. But I believe it’s worth investigating.”

I exhaled slowly, running a hand through my hair. The idea of digging into Sophia’s past, especially when she was still coming to terms with being a vampire, didn’t sit right with me. But at the same time, if there was something dangerous lurking in her lineage, something that could put her in harm’s way, I couldn’t just ignore it.

“You think she could be in danger because of this?” I asked, my voice tight.

Lyanna nodded, her expression grim. “If others know what I suspect, then yes. There could be those who would seek to exploit her, or worse.”

The meaning of her words settled heavily on me, and I felt a surge of protectiveness take over me instantly, like before. I would die before I let anyone harm Sophia.

“Fine,” I said, my decision made. “Look into it. But you do this quietly, Lyanna. No one can know. Not even Sophia. I don’t want her worried about something that may turn out to be nothing.”

Lyanna gave a small nod. “I’ll be discreet. And I’ll keep you informed every step of the way.”

For a moment, neither of us spoke, the fire crackling softly in the background. I could feel the tension in my chest, the worry eating up my insides. Sophia had already been through so much, and now this? Another secret, another mystery that we had to look into.

“Ian,” Lyanna said softly, breaking the silence. “I know this is difficult, but if I’m right, this could be important. Not just for her, but for you too. For your rule.”

I shot her a sharp look. “My rule? This is about Sophia. Not me. Not the council. I don’t care about any ancient power or legacy.”

Lyanna’s eyes softened. “I know. But sometimes, they’re one and the same. Especially when it comes to the vampire realm. If Sophia is connected to something bigger… you can’t afford to ignore that. Not with the council watching your every move.”

I growled low in my throat, the thought of the council already souring my mood. They were always watching, always judging, waiting for me to make a mistake. And if they got wind of this… I didn’t even want to think about what they might do.

“Just find out what you can,” I said, my voice tight with frustration and worry. “But remember, Lyanna. This is about protecting Sophia. That’s all I care about.”

Lyanna nodded once, her expression unreadable. “Understood.”

She stood, smoothing out the wrinkles in her robe, and I could feel her magic humming in the air, subtle but powerful. She turned to leave, but before she reached the door, I called out to her.

“Lyanna.”

She paused, looking back at me.

“If you find anything… anything at all that could put her in danger… you tell me immediately. I don’t care what it is.”

Her eyes softened again, and she gave a small, almost sad smile. “You love her more than anything, don’t you?”

I didn’t even hesitate. “Yes.”

She nodded, her smile fading into something more serious. “I’ll do everything I can to keep her safe, Ian. I promise.”

With that, she left, the door closing softly behind her, leaving me alone with my thoughts. I stared into the fire, the flames flickering in the hearth, but my mind not even on the warmth of the room.

If Lyanna was right, if Sophia was connected to some ancient lineage, then our lives were about to get even more complicated. And I wasn’t sure how much more we could take.

But no matter what came next, I would protect her. No one—vampire, council member, or ancient power—would take her from me.

Not while I still breathed.

I ran my hands through my hair again, getting up from the couch and going to sit on the bed, eyeing the frame of Sophia I had put on my night stand not long ago.

If anything happened to her…

I shook the thought off, convincing myself that she was okay and nothing terrible was happening, or going to happen to her. That she was not from any Ancient vampire lineage. That she has always been one hundred percent human before she was turned.

Because if she really was from an ancient lineage that can put her in danger, with all the people who already hated her and wanted her gone, I just didn’t know how I’d be able to protect her all on my own.