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Ian’s POV

Sophia was stil very pale, like there was no blood at all in her body. Her breath shallow and her body fragile like a porcelain doll on the verge of shattering. I hovered by her bedside, feeling a never ending sense of helplessness. Her condition had improved slightly, but it was clear she needed something more. The thought of what that something was left a bitter taste in my mouth.

Human blood.

It wasn’t something I wanted her to rely on. The risks were too great, and the consequences… irreversible. I’d seen it happen before—vampires who couldn’t resist the taste of human blood, who became addicted to its power and pleasure. It changed them, made them lose themselves. I didn’t want that for Sophia. She had already been through so much, and this was a line I didn’t want her to cross.

But what choice did I have? She was barely clinging to life, and every minute that passed without action was another minute she grew weaker. The blood of animals wasn’t enough. It could sustain her for a time, but it wouldn’t restore her. Not after what she’d been through. She needed something stronger.

But that didn’t mean I was ready to let her feed on humans.

She stirred, her eyelids fluttering as if she was trying to pull herself out of the haze that she had been for several hours. I leaned closer, watching her carefully. Her eyes slowly opened, unfocused at first, but then they found mine. There was confusion there, mixed with a quiet pain that cut through me like a blade.

“Ian…” Her voice was faint, barely more than a whisper, but it still filled me with relief. I was happy to know that she was still fighting, still holding on.

“I’m here,” I said, taking her hand in mine. It was cold to the touch, another sign of how she was weak and still in danger. “You’re safe. Just rest.”

She tried to nod but winced instead, her whole body was probably still hurting badly. “I… I feel so weak.”

“I know,” I said softly, brushing a strand of hair away from her face. “You’ve been through a lot. But you’re going to be okay.”

Her eyes searched mine, filled with a trust that only deepened my determination. I couldn’t let her down. Not now.

“What… happened?” she asked, her voice strained.

“You were taken by hunters,” I explained, my tone gentle but firm. “They injected you with vervain, kept you weak. We got you out, but you’re still recovering.”

Her eyes widened slightly as she remembered, the fear and pain of what they had made her go through, flashing across her face. “They… they wanted to kill us.”

“But they didn’t,” I said quickly. “We got to you in time. You’re safe now.”

She nodded slowly, the tension in her body easing slightly, but she was still too weak to hold herself up. I helped her adjust her position, making sure she was comfortable, but the worry in her eyes didn’t go away.

“I feel… like I’m slipping away,” she admitted, her voice trembling. “Like I’m losing myself.”

“You’re not,” I assured her. “You’re still here, still fighting. You’re stronger than you think.”

She closed her eyes, taking in a shaky breath, but I could see how much effort it took. She was barely hanging on, and it was tearing me apart. I needed to do something, anything, to help her.

“What do I need to do?” she asked, her voice barely more than a whisper. “How do I get better?”

I hesitated, not wanting to say the words out loud, not wanting to admit that I was even considering it. But I couldn’t lie to her. She deserved the truth.

“You need blood,” I said quietly. “Human blood.”

Her eyes snapped open, filled with shock and fear. “No… I can’t.”

“Sophia,” I began, my voice gentle but firm. “It’s the only way to heal you completely. You’re too weak right now. The blood of animals won’t be enough.”

She shook her head, tears welling up in her eyes. “I don’t want to become… like them.”

“You won’t,” I promised her. “I won’t let that happen. We’ll do this carefully. Just enough to give you strength. Nothing more.”

She was silent for a long moment, her eyes dull as she considered my words. I could see the fear in her, the fear of what she might become if she got addicted to the blood. She didn’t want this any more than I did, but she also knew that without it, she might not make it.

“Okay,” she finally whispered, her voice trembling. “But… only if you’re with me.”

“I’ll be right there,” I said, squeezing her hand. “You won’t be alone.”

It took her some time to gather the strength to stand, and I stayed by her side, supporting her as she stood up. She was still weak, her movements slow and shaky, but she didn’t show any sign of pain.

She was a fighter. She always had been.

When she was ready, we slipped out into the night, the cool air hitting us, very different from the warmth of the house. The world was quiet, the streets empty, and I could feel the weight of what we were about to do pressing down on me.

Sophia moved cautiously, her senses heightened as she scanned the area. I could see the tension in her, the fear of what she was about to become.

We walked for a while, moving deeper into the outskirts of the city, where the chances of encountering humans were slim. I could feel her nervous energy, her uncertainty, and I stayed close, ready to intervene if she got too wild.

Finally, we reached a small clearing near the edge of the woods, where I had often gone to hunt. It was secluded, quiet, the perfect place for her to test her limits without risking too much.

“There,” I said softly, pointing to a small herd of deer grazing nearby. “This is a good place to start.”

She nodded, her eyes locked on the animals, and I could see the instinctual hunger flare in her eyes. It was a part of who she was, something she couldn’t deny, but she was doing a very good job controlling it. Gods. I was proud of her.

“You can do this,” I said, my voice steady. “Just focus on the hunt. Nothing else.”

She hesitated, her body tense, and I could see the internal battle she was waging. This was more than just her testing her strength and surviving now, it was also about her ability to control the darkness that lurked within her.

With a deep breath, she crouched low, her movements slow and deliberate as she stalked her prey. I watched, ready to step in if needed, but I could see that she was handling it. She was in control.

She moved with a grace that was both familiar and foreign, like a reminder of the predator she was. Her focus was sharp, her senses attuned to every movement, every sound. And when she finally pounced, it was swift and precise.

The deer didn’t stand a chance.

She fed quickly, efficiently, taking only what she needed before pulling back, her breath heavy with exertion. I could see the change in her immediately—the color returning to her cheeks, the strength in her limbs. She was still pale, still weak, but there was a vitality in her now that had been missing before.

“How do you feel?” I asked, approaching her carefully.

“Stronger,” she said, her voice steadier than before. “But… I hate this.”

“I know,” I said softly, reaching out to touch her shoulder. “But you did what you had to. And you did it well.”

She looked at me, her eyes filled with a mixture of relief and something else I couldn’t decipher. “Will it always be like this?”

“Not if I can help it,” I said with a small shake of my head, my voice firm. “We’ll find another way. But for now, this is enough. You’re enough.”

She nodded, but I could see the fear lingering in her eyes. This was a battle she would continue to fight, the kind that will break her in ways she has never expected. But for now, she had won this round.

And that was enough.

As we made our way back to the house, I stayed close, ready to support her if needed she needed it. She was stronger now though, more capable, but I couldn’t tell if tomorrow she’d need more blood. And she still needed human blood. What if tomorrow she wakes up and attacks Jenny?

I shook the thought out of my head. I wouldn’t let it happen.

Because no matter what happened, I wouldn’t let her fall. Not now, not ever. She was too important to me, too important to lose. And I would do whatever it took to keep her safe.

Even if it meant breaking every fucking rule and ending everyone in the world for her.