Lyanna’s POV
The vision had already begun to darken long before the attack. I’d felt it coming, the steady pulse of malevolent energy that kept rippling through the threads of magic I’d woven to protect Ian, Sophia, and their growing child. But nothing could have prepared me for the moment when the shadows took form in the ballroom of their wedding reception.
It all happened so fast, yet the magic that surged within me made each detail painfully clear—the strike of fangs, the gleam of claws, the betrayal of those who had once stood by our side.
I saw Sophia standing in the chaos, her eyes wide with fear as the battle raged around her. Her hand instinctively moved to her stomach, cradling the life inside her as rogue vampires and werewolves tore through the room.
“Sophia!” I yelled, rushing toward her as the air thickened with the smell of blood and the crackling of broken glass. “Stay still. I’m coming!”
A rogue vampire lunged at her, but I was faster. My hand shot out, a rush of magic flowing through my veins like lightning. The spell I cast was instinctive, a protective barrier that shimmered between Sophia and the attacker. The vampire slammed into it with a snarl, his body ricocheting off the invisible shield and crashing into the floor.
Sophia gasped, clutching her stomach. “Lyanna! The baby—”
“I’ve got you,” I reassured her, feeling the weight of my magic stretch across the room. It was taking everything I had to keep the barrier strong while the chaos continued to unfold. But it was more than just the fight—I could feel something darker, something beneath the surface.
My eyes scanned the room, searching for Ian. He was fighting off a werewolf near the entrance, his face fierce with determination, but his movements were strained. The council members were scattered across the room, and it wasn’t until that moment that I realized something was horribly wrong.
It wasn’t just the attackers from outside. It was coming from within.
A cold, sinking feeling settled in my chest as my gaze locked on two council members in the corner of the room—Gregor and Helena. They stood back, away from the chaos, their faces twisted into expressions I’d never seen before. It was something like amusement, something sinister.
Gregor’s eyes met mine, and he smirked.
No. It couldn’t be.
But the truth hit me like a physical blow, and the magic within me flared in response. I’d seen betrayal before, but not like this. Not from the people who were supposed to protect the crown.
“Traitors,” I whispered under my breath, but the word wasn’t nearly enough to capture the fury bubbling up inside me.
Before I could react, Gregor stepped forward, his voice cutting through the chaos with chilling calm. “You didn’t honestly think you could protect her forever, did you, Lyanna?”
I bristled, my magic sparking like fire at the edge of my fingertips. “What have you done?”
Helena, her dark eyes glinting with malice, shrugged with a mockery of innocence. “We only did what was necessary. The royal line needs to be… adjusted.”
Sophia’s hand gripped my arm, her breathing quickening. “Lyanna, what are they talking about?”
I didn’t answer her right away. I couldn’t. The rage was too thick in my throat, and I had to focus on the magic that was keeping Sophia safe. Gregor and Helena were still advancing, their expressions cool, as if this was all part of a well-laid plan.
I took a step forward, placing myself between them and Sophia. “You betrayed Ian. You betrayed us all.”
Helena’s laugh was sharp and cold. “Ian isn’t fit to rule, and you know it. He’s been distracted by his human toy and her unborn child. That baby is a threat, Lyanna. You must know that.”
My stomach turned. “That child is the future. And you will not touch them.”
Gregor tilted his head, a mocking smile on his lips. “We won’t have to. Not once we remove the mother from the equation.”
That was it. The fury that had been building inside me erupted. I thrust my hands out, and a wave of magic surged from my body, crackling through the air with a force that shook the very foundations of the room. The shield around Sophia strengthened, the glow intensifying as I poured everything I had into protecting her and the baby.
Gregor staggered back, his smirk faltering. “You’ll regret that.”
“Not as much as you will,” I snapped.
Before I could attack again, Ian was suddenly at my side, his expression dark with anger. Blood streaked his face, his suit torn from the fight, but his eyes were locked on Gregor and Helena with a look of pure hatred.
“Helena, Gregor,” Ian’s voice was low, dangerous. “This is treason.”
Helena smiled, a twisted thing. “It’s survival. You’ve grown weak, Ian. Your obsession with this human has clouded your judgment. The vampire world needs a strong leader, not one who coddles his queen.”
Ian’s fists clenched, and I could feel the storm of emotions swirling around him—anger, betrayal, but most of all, the fierce need to protect Sophia and their child. He glanced at me, and I gave him a nod, reassuring him that I had Sophia safe behind my barrier. But for how long, I didn’t know.
“I should kill you both right here,” Ian growled.
Gregor stepped forward, his face hardening. “You think you’re in control? You don’t even know the half of what’s coming, Ian. There are more of us. You’re surrounded.”
A flicker of doubt crossed Ian’s face, but it was gone in an instant, replaced by cold fury. “I’ll find every one of you. And when I do—”
“You’ll be too late,” Helena interrupted, her smile widening. “You’ve already lost.”
Before Ian could respond, there was a flash of movement. A rogue vampire broke through the crowd, making a beeline for Sophia. My heart stopped as I realized what was happening. The child—Sophia’s baby—was the target all along. They didn’t just want to hurt Ian. They wanted to wipe out his future.
“No!” I screamed, throwing every ounce of magic I had into the barrier.
The rogue vampire slammed into it, but the force was too much. Cracks began to form in the shield, and I could feel the strain on my body as the magic wavered. I couldn’t hold it for much longer.
“Sophia, get back!” I yelled, but she was already backing away, her eyes wide with terror.
Ian lunged toward the rogue vampire, but Gregor blocked him, shoving him back with inhuman strength. The fight had just begun in earnest.
“Ian!” Sophia screamed, clutching her stomach. “The baby—”
“I won’t let them hurt you,” Ian growled, his voice shaking with rage as he fought to break free.
But even as he battled Gregor, I could feel the tide shifting. More traitors were revealing themselves, turning on the council, turning on Ian. We were outnumbered, and I wasn’t sure how much longer I could protect Sophia.
The shield cracked again, and a jolt of pain shot through me as I struggled to hold it together. Sweat dripped down my forehead, and I could feel my magic slipping, but I couldn’t let go. Not while Sophia’s life—and the life of her child—was at stake.
Gregor’s laughter echoed through the room. “You’re losing, Lyanna. You can’t protect her forever.”
But I didn’t respond. I couldn’t. I was too focused on the magic, too focused on keeping Sophia and her baby safe.
“Lyanna!” Ian’s voice was sharp, desperate.
“I’ve got her,” I panted, my body trembling with the effort. “But I don’t know for how long.”
Ian’s eyes blazed with fury as he turned back to Gregor, his fangs bared. “This ends now.”
And with that, the battle truly began.