164

Ian’s POV

Returning to the vampire realm always heavier each time I stepped through the threshold. Maybe it was because of the shift in the air, or maybe because the vampire realm was much more complicated than the human world. The realm was still undergoing repairs, the aftermath of the attack hanging in the air like a stubborn fog. Workers moved briskly, and I noticed the council had been gathering in the grand hall. It had been a while since our last meeting, and I could sense something was brewing.

As I made my way inside, Aldric’s absence lingered in the back of my mind. His death had left a vacancy not only in the council but in the balance of power. The rest of the council, no matter how much they pretended otherwise, seemed rattled by the events that had unfolded. With everything going on, it was hard to know who to trust.

Viktor, as usual, was the first to speak when I entered. He looked over his shoulder and nodded, his eyes piercing. “Ian, good. You’re here.”

I didn’t respond immediately, my focus darting between the other council members seated at the table. There was an unusual sense of urgency, a kind of energy that made the hairs on my neck stand on end. I had a feeling this wasn’t going to be just another check-in on the rebuilding efforts.

“I’m here,” I finally said, keeping my voice neutral as I took my seat. “What’s this about?”

Viktor’s gaze didn’t waver as he leaned forward. “The council has come to an agreement. We believe it’s time for you to formalize your relationship with Sophia.”

I blinked, taken aback by the sudden shift in conversation. “What?” I asked, unsure if I’d heard him correctly.

“You heard me,” Viktor said, his voice even. “You’ve been keeping her in the human realm for months now. We understand the circumstances, but things cannot remain this way indefinitely.”

I stared at him for a moment, processing his words. “You want me to marry her,” I said slowly, as if speaking the words would somehow make them make sense. “After all this time, you’re saying I should marry her.”

Another council member, Margot, chimed in, her tone cautious but firm. “It’s not just a matter of what we want, Ian. The realm needs stability. You are our king, and Sophia carries your child. It’s time for her to take her place as queen.”

I couldn’t help but laugh, though there was no humor in it. “Now you want her to be queen?” I said, my eyes narrowing as I looked at each of them. “Weren’t you the same council that said I shouldn’t be with her? That she was a danger to our way of life? Have you forgotten that?”

“We haven’t forgotten,” Viktor said sharply, his patience clearly wearing thin. “But circumstances have changed. She’s carrying the future of our realm, and that future needs to be secured. The realm is still vulnerable, Ian. We need the people to rally behind their king and queen. A marriage will solidify that.”

I shook my head, frustration boiling just beneath the surface. “You didn’t want this. Don’t pretend this is some grand strategy now that she’s pregnant. You’ve treated her like an outsider from the beginning, and now suddenly she’s the answer to all your problems?”

Viktor’s gaze hardened. “It’s not about what we wanted. It’s about what’s necessary for the realm. The attacks haven’t stopped. The realm is still in recovery, and we need a show of unity. A marriage between you and Sophia would send a message of strength, of stability.”

“And what about Sophia?” I asked, leaning forward, my hands gripping the table. “Does she get a say in any of this? Or is this just another one of your council mandates that you expect us to follow without question?”

Margot sighed, folding her hands on the table. “We understand your frustration, Ian. Truly, we do. But you have to see the bigger picture. The realm is fragile right now. A formal union between you and Sophia would help reassure the people, give them something to believe in.”

I leaned back in my chair, rubbing a hand over my face. “You’re asking me to rush into a marriage because it’s convenient for you, for the realm. But what about us? What about the fact that you’ve spent months trying to drive us apart?”

There was a brief silence before Viktor spoke again, his tone softer, almost conciliatory. “We were wrong, Ian. We underestimated Sophia. But now we see her value, her importance to you and to the realm. It’s not just about convenience. It’s about securing a future for all of us.”

I met his gaze, searching for any sign of manipulation, any indication that this was just another power play. But his expression was sincere, and for the first time in a long time, I felt a flicker of something other than distrust from the council.

“And if I refuse?” I asked, my voice low, but the challenge clear.

Viktor’s expression didn’t change. “We would strongly advise against it. The realm needs stability, Ian. And you need to think about the future of your child.”

My hands tightened into fists under the table. They were playing their cards well, I had to give them that. They knew I would do anything to protect Sophia and our unborn child, and they were using that to their advantage.

“I’ll talk to her,” I finally said, my voice clipped. “But we’re not rushing into anything just because you think it’s convenient.”

Margot gave a small nod. “That’s all we ask, Ian. But please, understand that time is of the essence. The sooner we can formalize this, the better for everyone involved.”

I stood up from the table, not trusting myself to say anything else. My mind was spinning, trying to process everything they had just thrown at me. A marriage. A public display of unity. All for the sake of the realm.

“I’ll let you know what we decide,” I said, turning on my heel and walking out of the room before they could say anything more.

As I made my way back through the halls of the castle, my thoughts were a whirlwind of anger and confusion. The council had done everything in their power to keep Sophia and me apart, and now they were pushing for us to get married like it was the most obvious solution in the world.

I couldn’t believe the hypocrisy. They had treated her like an outsider, a threat, for so long. And now that she was carrying my child, they wanted to embrace her, to make her their queen. It was all so calculated, so cold.

But despite my anger, there was a part of me that understood their logic. The realm was still vulnerable, and a public marriage would help solidify my position as king, would help quell any unrest. But was that enough reason to rush into something as important as marriage? Could I really subject Sophia to the scrutiny of the realm when she was already dealing with so much?

By the time I reached the courtyard, I had more questions than answers. I needed to talk to Sophia. This was her decision as much as it was mine, and I wasn’t going to let the council dictate our lives.

As I stepped into the portal that would take me back to the human realm, I couldn’t help but feel a weight pressing down on me. The council had put me in an impossible position, but I wasn’t going to let them win. Not this time.

When I arrived back at the condo, Sophia was sitting on the couch, her hand resting on her growing belly. She looked up as I entered, her expression softening when she saw me.

“Ian,” she said, standing up to greet me. “What happened at the council?”

I took a deep breath, wrapping my arms around her and pulling her close. “We need to talk,” I said quietly. “About us. About what the council wants.”

She pulled back slightly, her eyes searching mine. “What do they want now?”

I sighed, running a hand through my hair. “They want us to get married. As soon as possible.”

Her eyes widened in surprise, but she didn’t say anything right away. She just stared at me, processing what I had just said.

“They think it’ll help stabilize the realm,” I continued. “That it’ll show the people we’re united, that we’re a strong front.”

Sophia shook her head, a small smile tugging at the corner of her lips. “So now they want me to be queen?”

“Yeah,” I said with a bitter laugh. “Now that you’re carrying the heir to the realm, suddenly they want to embrace you with open arms.”

Sophia chuckled softly, but there was an edge to her laughter. “It’s always about politics, isn’t it?”

I nodded, pulling her close again. “But this isn’t about them, Sophia. It’s about us. And we don’t have to do anything we’re not ready for.”

She rested her head against my chest, her voice soft. “I’ll marry you, Ian. Not because the council wants it, but because I love you. And I want to be with you, no matter what.”

I closed my eyes, holding her tighter. “I love you too,” I whispered. “And whatever happens, we’ll face it together.”