The One Night Stand Turns Out To Be My Professor

109

109

Ian’s POV

The Council chambers were always cold. It didn’t matter what time of day it was, or even what season—there was an ever-present chill in the air that sank into your bones the moment you stepped inside. Maybe it was a reflection of the people who ruled from here, the ancient vampires who had governed for centuries, steeped in tradition and power. Or maybe it was just another way they liked to keep everyone on edge.

Today, I felt that cold more acutely than ever.

The summons had come abruptly, without explanation. That wasn’t unusual, but something about the way it was delivered—the way the messenger had looked at me, almost nervously—set off alarms in my head. They didn’t just want to talk about political matters. This was something else.

I entered the chamber, keeping my expression neutral as the heavy wooden doors closed behind me. The Council members were already seated in their usual formation, their faces impassive, their eyes dark and unreadable. But I could feel the tension in the room, hanging in the air like a storm cloud waiting to break.

“Ian,” Viktor greeted me, his voice was smooth, controlled, but there was an edge to it. “Thank you for coming.”

I inclined my head, stepping forward to take my place in front of them. “You summoned me. I assume this isn’t about the usual matters of state.”

Viktor’s eyes flickered for a moment before he exchanged glances with the others. “No, it’s not. We’ve come across some information—troubling information—that we believe you need to address.”

Troubling information. My muscles tensed, but I kept my face calm. I knew where this was headed. They had been sniffing around, growing more suspicious of Sophia with each passing day, even though I had made it clear she wasn’t a threat. But the Council didn’t listen to words—they only believed in what they could control.

Viktor leaned forward, folding his hands in front of him. “It’s come to our attention that Lyanna, the witch you’ve been consulting, has been investigating Sophia’s lineage. And it appears that Sophia is not an ordinary vampire, as you’ve claimed.”

My heart stuttered in my chest, but I didn’t let it show. I had expected this, but it didn’t make it any easier to hear. “What exactly are you implying?”

Another Council member, Damian, spoke up, his voice as cold as the room itself. “We’ve heard rumors of an ancient bloodline. One that disappeared long ago. If Sophia is tied to that bloodline, it could have far-reaching consequences for the balance of power in our realm.”

I clenched my jaw. “Sophia is adjusting to her new life. She’s not interested in politics or power.”

“Not yet,” Viktor cut in, his eyes sharp. “But we’ve heard reports that her powers are growing—powers that no ordinary vampire should possess. She’s a danger, Ian, whether you choose to acknowledge it or not.”

My mind raced. I had kept Lyanna’s suspicions quiet, not wanting to alarm Sophia before we had more concrete answers. But it seemed the Council had their own ways of digging up secrets. There were spies everywhere in the realm, eyes and ears in every corner. I should have expected this.

“What powers?” I asked, keeping my voice steady. “What have you heard?”

Viktor’s lip curled in a smile that didn’t reach his eyes. “It seems that during a recent encounter with vampire hunters, Sophia unleashed a force so powerful it incapacitated multiple attackers at once. A force even you were unable to control.”

My blood ran cold. So, they knew. Somehow, the Council had found out about the incident with the hunters. But how? I hadn’t told anyone, and neither had Sophia, Jacob, or Jenny.