The One Night Stand Turns Out To Be My Professor

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93

Sophia’s POV

I could hardly contain my excitement. As Ian and I stepped through the portal, it felt like I was being transported into a completely different universe. I still couldn’t believe that the portal to the vampire realm was a stone in the middle of the forest. One second, we were standing on the edge of a quiet forest, and the next, we were in the vampire realm.

And it was more than I could have ever imagined.

“Whoa,” I breathed, spinning slowly as I took in the towering spires that pierced the dark sky. Everything had this strange, otherworldly glow. The buildings were sleek and elegant, made of materials I couldn’t even begin to identify. There was a hum in the air, like the whole realm was alive, thrumming with energy.

I felt like a kid at a theme park, overwhelmed but in the best possible way.

“This is amazing!” I turned to Ian, grinning like a fool.

He smiled back, though his expression was a little more cautious, like he was holding something back. “It’s a lot to take in, I know.”

“A lot? This is incredible! Why didn’t we come here sooner?” I asked, still turning my head to try and absorb every detail. I could feel the excitement bubbling inside me like a shaken soda can, ready to burst.

Ian chuckled, but his eyes flickered with something I couldn’t quite place. “Because it’s… complicated.”

“Yeah, yeah, I know. ‘The realm isn’t a playground,’” I mimicked his serious tone, waving him off. “But you’ve gotta admit, this place is pretty cool.”

Ian’s lips twitched into a smirk. “I suppose that’s one way to put it.”

I bounced on my heels, eager to explore. The city stretched out in front of us, and I wanted to dive into every corner, see what kind of secrets it held. But Ian seemed more hesitant, glancing around like he was waiting for something — or someone — to show up.

“What’s wrong?” I asked, my excitement dimming slightly.

“Nothing.” He shook his head quickly, forcing a smile. “I just… there’s a lot to consider now that we’re here.” I frowned, wondering what was really going through his head.

Before I could ask what he meant, a group of figures emerged from the shadows ahead of us. They moved quickly and quietly. They had an air of authority about them, their movements sharp, their gazes piercing.

“Ah, here we go,” Ian muttered under his breath. His whole demeanor shifted, tensing up as the group approached.

I instinctively moved a little closer to him, feeling comfortable under all their stares. The tallest one — a man with stark white hair and cold, calculating eyes — stepped forward, his gaze locking onto Ian.

“Ian,” he said in a deep, commanding voice, “we’ve been expecting you.”

I felt Ian stiffen beside me. He dipped his head slightly in greeting but didn’t step forward to meet them. “I wasn’t aware there was a formal welcome planned, Viktor.”

Viktor, the white-haired leader, flicked his eyes to me briefly, then back to Ian. “The council wishes to see you and your… companion.”

There it was. The council. The big, bad vampires in charge of advicing Ian.

Excitement buzzed in my chest as I digested this. The council! I was about to meet the vampire council. This was huge. Maybe I’d get a glimpse of how their world really worked. Maybe they’d be impressed by me. Maybe—