The One Night Stand Turns Out To Be My Professor

94

94

Ian’s POV

As soon as I stepped into the council chamber, the tension crackling in the room hit me like a wave. The council’s eyes, cold and scrutinizing, locked onto me and Sophia the moment we entered. Even as the king of the vampires, I could feel their displeasure about everything. They respected my authority, but they weren’t afraid to challenge it.

Sophia walked beside me, stiff and nervous. She was trying to hide it, but I could see the way her fingers twitched, the way she bit the inside of her cheek. Even though she was doing her best to stand tall, I could see right through her and I started to regret ever bringing her here in the first place.

I had decided to bring her here after she had insisted that she wanted to meet them, and despite my power, they would test her. Push her. They would see how far she could bend before breaking.

“Are you sure about this?” she whispered, glancing up at me. I wanted to remind her that she was the one who wanted to come here, to meet them, but then that would just be harsh.

So I nodded instead. “It’ll be fine. I’m here.”

She gave me a tight smile, but I could still see the worry in her eyes. I didn’t blame her. The council was ruthless, even with me in the room. They didn’t like outsiders, and they liked fledglings even less. But this was necessary. If she was going to be part of this world, they needed to see her, test her… and I needed them to accept her.

The doors shut behind us with a heavy thud, and Viktor, the head of the council, stood. His white hair gleamed under the dim light, his eyes sharp as they swept over us.

“Ian,” Viktor greeted, his voice low and formal. “It’s been some time since you’ve graced us with your presence.”

“I’ve been busy,” I said, keeping my tone steady. “As you know.”

“Indeed,” he said, his gaze shifting to Sophia. “And I see you’ve finally decided to bring your fledgling.”

I felt Sophia stiffen beside me. I placed a hand on the small of her back, hoping to calm her.

“This is Sophia,” I introduced, keeping my voice authoritative. “She’s with me.”

Viktor’s eyes narrowed, studying her like she was something foreign. “With you, yes. But that does not automatically guarantee her a place here.”

“I decide who belongs in this realm,” I reminded him, my voice firm. “Not the council.”

Morgana, who sat to Viktor’s right, leaned forward. Her dark eyes glimmered with disdain as they flicked from me to Sophia. “Even kings must answer to the laws of our world, Ian. You know that better than anyone.”

I clenched my jaw, resisting the urge to snap back. Morgana had always been difficult. She thrived on defiance and rarely missed an opportunity to challenge me.

“She’s right,” Viktor said, though his tone was more careful. “Sophia’s presence here raises questions. As the king, you may have brought her into this world, but she is not exempt from scrutiny.”

Sophia shifted beside me, her unease palpable. I knew this would be hard, but it was necessary. If the council rejected her, there would be whispers. Doubts about my decision, and worse, about my judgment as king. I couldn’t allow that to happen.

“I’m aware of the laws,” I said, my tone sharp. “But let me remind you that I’ve already made my decision. Sophia is part of this realm, and she will stay.”

Morgana’s lips twisted into a cold smile. “Your decision doesn’t erase the fact that she’s human-born. That makes her a liability.”

Sophia flinched at the word, and I immediately stepped forward. “She is no liability.”