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Sophia’s POV.

I could feel Ian’s worry as we both stepped into the vampire realm. I was worried too. Heck, I was scared of facing them. But Ian was holding my hand tightly, giving me all I needed to not turn around and run back to the portal. He gave me strength.

His face was set in a mask of calm, but I knew him well enough to sense the storm brewing beneath the surface. This wasn’t just about the pregnancy; it was about power, about control, and about the future of the realm.

The grand hall was as intimidating as ever, with its tall, dark arches and flickering torches casting long shadows. The council members were already seated in their usual positions, their eyes cold and calculating. They didn’t waste time on pleasantries. The second we stepped through the doors, Viktor, of course, was the first to speak.

“Ian. Sophia.” His tone was clipped, his expression stern. “It seems you’ve been keeping something rather significant from us.”

Ian’s hand tightened around mine as he took a step forward, positioning himself slightly in front of me. “This is a matter between us,” he said, his voice steady. “It doesn’t concern the council.”

Viktor leaned forward, his eyes narrowing. “When it concerns the future of the vampire realm, it most certainly concerns the council. Do you take us for fools, Ian? A king’s child—this is no small matter. You’ve hidden it from us for months.”

I felt their eyes on me, heavy and assessing, and I could feel the tension radiating from Ian. He was doing everything he could to shield me, but I wasn’t about to let him face this alone. Taking a deep breath, I stepped out from behind him.

“This child,” I said, my voice shaking only slightly, “is our business. But I understand why the council feels they have a say. It’s Ian’s heir, after all. But I won’t let you turn this into something more than it is.”

There was a long, heavy pause. Viktor’s gaze flickered to my belly, and I could almost feel the gears turning in his head. Then, something strange happened. He relaxed. His face softened, just a little, and he leaned back in his chair.

“You misunderstand us, Sophia,” Viktor said, his voice quieter now, almost… thoughtful. “We are not here to oppose you. In fact, quite the opposite. This child represents a future for our realm, and we want to ensure that future is secure.”

I blinked, not entirely sure how to process the sudden shift in his tone. Was this the same Viktor who had barged into Ian’s condo, practically demanding we explain ourselves?

Another council member, a woman named Selene, spoke next. Her voice was calm, almost soothing, which was a stark contrast to her usual icy demeanor. “You’ve been with us long enough, Sophia, to know that we take the future of our kind very seriously. A king’s child is not something to be hidden. But you are also carrying a part of us now. A part of this realm.”

Her words hit me hard. A part of this realm. For so long, I had felt like an outsider here, like I was never truly accepted. But now, standing before the council, it was like they were finally acknowledging me, not just as Ian’s lover, but as someone who mattered. Someone who belonged.

“You should have come to us sooner,” Selene continued, her gaze softening as it met mine. “We could have helped.”

I couldn’t help the small laugh that escaped me, though there was no humor in it. “Helped? You’ve done nothing but criticize me since I came here. You’ve questioned Ian’s judgment for being with me. And now, suddenly, I’m carrying the future of the realm, and you’re on my side?”

Selene’s eyes flashed, but she didn’t rise to my challenge. Instead, she folded her hands in her lap, her voice measured. “We’ve made mistakes, Sophia. But now, things are different.”

“Different?” I repeated, incredulous. “Because of the baby?”

She didn’t flinch. “Yes. Because of the baby.”

There it was, out in the open. I wasn’t just Sophia anymore. I was the mother of Ian’s child, the future of the vampire realm. And that changed everything.

Ian finally spoke, his voice hard. “You don’t get to pick and choose when Sophia matters. She’s been by my side through everything, and I won’t tolerate any disrespect toward her.”

Selene inclined her head, a gesture of acknowledgment. “And you won’t have to. From this point on, Sophia will be treated as our queen, as she should be.”

The word “queen” hung in the air, and I felt a strange chill run through me. Queen. I had never imagined myself in that role, not really. But now, with the council’s eyes on me, I realized that’s exactly what I had become. Not just Ian’s partner, but someone who carried weight, who had influence.

Viktor stood up slowly, his dark eyes never leaving me. “We summoned you here to understand why you kept this from us. But now that we know, it’s clear what needs to happen next.”

“And what’s that?” Ian asked, his voice still tense, protective.

“The realm needs stability,” Viktor said, looking between the two of us. “We’re still recovering, still rebuilding. The birth of a king’s heir will bring hope, unity. But it must be done properly, with the support of the council.”

I felt a knot tighten in my stomach. “What are you saying?”

Viktor stepped closer, his gaze intense. “We will support you, Sophia. We will protect you. But in return, we expect you to step into your role fully. Not just as Ian’s partner, but as the queen of this realm. You’ve earned that right.”

I couldn’t believe what I was hearing. After months of feeling like an outsider, suddenly I was being welcomed into the fold, not just accepted, but elevated. And all because of the baby.

I looked at Ian, his jaw clenched, but his eyes softened when they met mine. This was what we had been fighting for—for me to be treated as his equal, for us to build a life together. And now, it was within our reach.

But it came with a price. The council’s support was not without strings. They would protect me, yes, but they would also expect me to fall in line, to become the queen they wanted me to be.

“Ian,” I whispered, unsure of what to say.

He squeezed my hand, his voice low and steady. “It’s your choice, Sophia. Whatever you decide, I’m with you.”

I swallowed hard, my mind racing. This was my chance to finally belong, to be seen as more than just the human who had fallen in love with a vampire king. But it also meant giving up some of the freedom I had clung to.

Taking a deep breath, I looked back at Viktor, then at the rest of the council. “I’ll do it. I’ll take my place. But on my terms. I’m not just some pawn in your game. This child is ours, and we’ll protect it. Together.”

There was a moment of silence, and then Viktor nodded, a small, almost imperceptible smile on his lips. “Very well, Queen Sophia.”

The title sounded foreign, strange, but also… right.

As we left the council chambers, Ian’s arm around me, I couldn’t help but feel the shift. Things were changing. The future was uncertain, but for the first time, I felt like I had some control over it.