It’s like nothing could break her – not completely at least.

Her face softened when she realized how intently I was studying her. “Smile for me, Derek Novak,” she pleaded, as she wrapped her arms around my neck and gave me a quick peck on the lips. “Come on… I know the world is crashing all around you, but this moment is ours. This one moment… I want to see you smile.”

I couldn’t voice the words out, but I was fascinated by her. “How do you do it, Sofia?”

“Do what?”

“Not hold grudges? It’s like you’re immune from it. How do you forgive so easily?”

I wished I hadn’t asked the question because the atmosphere immediately felt a lot heavier. A frown then marred her beautiful face. She looked away as she gestured for me to put her back on the ground. I gently let her slip through my arms, holding her until her feet were planted on the floor.

She wet her lips and forced a smile. “I’m not completely grudge-free you know. I visited Aiden yesterday. I don’t know why it’s so hard for me to forgive him for what he did, but it is. He’s broken my heart so many times, and he’s not supposed to. He’s my father. Maybe that’s why it’s so hard.” She heaved a sigh and mulled over that thought for a few moments before seeming to decide that she’d had enough of the melancholy. She stared up at me and smirked. “You, on the other hand… there’s something about you, Derek Novak… that makes it easy for me forgive and forget your numerous offenses against me. What is it about you?”

I raised a brow at her, unable to keep the grin from forming on my lips. “I think it’s the charm. You can’t resist my charm.”

She pouted and shook her head. “No.” She grabbed the front of my shirt and pulled it upward so she could look at my stomach. “I’m pretty sure it’s your abs.” She nodded as she stared at my torso. “Yeah… definitely those abs.”

“I knew it. You just want me for my body.”

She let go of my shirt and nodded. “I was wondering when you would finally figure that out. Good thing you’re too in love with me to care.”

I couldn’t keep the smile from my face. “I missed this, Sofia.” I couldn’t remember the last time I exchanged light-hearted banter or even just a good laugh with her. Now that we were having it, I felt like such a fool for being so consumed by the troubles surrounding us.

How could I forget that she’s my refuge, that when I’m around her, everything seems to just fade into the background?

She smiled and nodded at me. “I know. I missed this too, but seriously, Derek…” She drew closer to me and rested her head on my shoulder. “I find it easy to forgive you, because from the moment I gave you my heart, you never once broke it.”

“And I never will.” The words came out instinctively, and I meant every word of it, but the moment I said it, an image of the dream I just had flashed through my mind. It wasn’t the first time I dreamed of the beautiful brunette with the stunning violet eyes. Now completely aware, I remembered the woman’s name. Emilia. She was the original vampire’s daughter, and I knew without a doubt that she was trouble. Holding Sofia close, I couldn’t help but feel a sense of dread over what the dreams meant. She might be the reason I was distancing myself from Sofia.

I couldn’t understand them, but I knew they were lies. Sofia and I belonged together. No dream, vision or premonition could ever change that. I wasn’t going to allow it.

“I have an idea,” I told Sofia. “Let’s spend the day together. I’ll call everything off…”

I could see delight spark in her eyes at the suggestion. “Can we actually do that?”

I shrugged a shoulder. “Why not? I’m the king of The Shade. What could they possibly do to me if I miss a few meetings?”

She was about to open her mouth to respond when someone began pounding on her bedroom door.

“Sofia?!” a male voice from behind the door called out. “It’s Gavin. Open the door!”

He sounded alarmed. I was annoyed that Sofia and I were interrupted. “Is he always this demanding and impatient?”

“Yes.” Sofia nodded. “But I think it’s mostly because he doesn’t know you’re here.”

Gavin had been like a brother to her since she met him in The Shade. There was a time when I even found myself jealous over how close they were. Of course, Sofia was quick to reassure me that Gavin didn’t pose a threat to what we had.

I made my way to the door and pulled it open just as Gavin was about to start banging on it once again. When he saw me, surprise registered in his eyes.

“Oh, it’s you. I didn’t know you were here.” He quickly recovered from his shock and walked right in.

I was expecting him to address Sofia, but was surprised to find him talking to me instead.

“It’s good you’re here though, because everyone’s looking for you.”

“What’s going on?” Sofia’s fists clenched as she shifted her weight from one foot to the other. “What happened?”

“They’re coming. The other covens are coming,” Gavin said grimly. “It’s war.”

Chills ran up my spine, accompanied by panic. This was the moment we’d all been preparing for, and yet, now that it had arrived, I couldn’t help but admit to myself that we were nowhere near prepared. As I ran off to what felt like absolute death, I forgot to do the most important thing: kiss my fiancée and assure her that everything was going to be alright.

If I hadn’t been too busy fearing for the fate of the island, I would’ve once again heard my mind echoing to me those familiar words: You’re being an absolute fool, Novak.

Chapter 3: Sofia

As I watched Derek speed away, my heart ached with disappointment. I wanted to hit myself over the head for being so stupid. We were at war. We could lose our lives any time and I was standing in the middle of that bedroom, feeling sorry for myself over missing a date with Derek.

“Sofia.” Gavin laid a hand over my shoulder. “Ian, Kyle and I are trying to round up humans from The Catacombs – anyone willing to assist the vampires in defending The Shade. Are you coming with us?”

I was about to nod, but then I caught sight of Vivienne, Derek’s twin sister, standing by my door, leaning on my doorpost. I was surprised to see her at a time like this.

Gavin shifted his eyes from me to Vivienne and then back. “I guess that’s a no…” he said, before rushing out of the room.

My eyes were set on Vivienne. The two of us had come a long way since the night of my seventeenth birthday when I was brought to The Shade. Vivienne had gone from referring to me as Derek’s “pawn” to Derek’s “queen.” There was a time when she had to transfer some of her memories to me. These memories were instrumental in reminding her of who she was after the hunters had brainwashed her.

“Vivienne?” I asked, not sure if I was pleased to see her.

Vivienne was a seer and often times, when she sought out a person, she rarely came bringing good news with her.

I stared at Vivienne, making a mental note of how ridiculous it was that we were both standing there, about to have a conversation while the island was under attack by other covens. “What can I do for you?”

She slowly walked inside my room and sat on the edge of my bed. It was as if she was unaware of everything going on in The Shade. “I told you that finding the cure is an absolute necessity. Has there been any progress?”

I stared at her, unsure of what to say. The Shade is falling apart and you came to ask about the cure? “Well, there’s no progress whatsoever, Vivienne, but I’m not going to give up…” I began feeling antsy. I stared at Vivienne and she seemed to have not a single worry over the fate of The Shade. What is wrong with you?

Vivienne took a deep breath. “I am so sick of all this war and bloodshed and revenge. I can’t wait until Derek actually finds true sanctuary. We need that cure.”

“Vivienne, you do know that The Shade is under attack at this very moment, right?”

She gave me a knowing glance and shrugged a shoulder nonchalantly. “I know.”

“Aren’t you worried?”

She shook her head. “No, not really.”

“Why not?” I asked.

“We’re going to win this one.”

I knew she was a seer, but I still wasn’t able to resist the urge to ask, “How could you be so sure that we’re going to win this war?”

She chuckled at my naiveté. “We’re going to win this particular battle, Sofia. Not the war. I’m not sure what will come of this war or even how it will end or if it will even end. I do know for certain that the war has just begun, and that the first victory... is ours.”

Chapter 4: Ingrid

I hate her. I hate Sofia.

The image of Borys lying dead on the floor was still fresh in my mind. I had no idea how they did it or how they could’ve outsmarted him, but they did and I felt like I was to blame. I knew that Vivienne and Sofia were Borys’ greatest weaknesses. He’d been pining for Vivienne for centuries. His obsession with her only subsided after Sofia came along and replaced Vivienne in his mind.

I relied too much on the women’s fear of him and his brute strength. I should’ve been aware that he would be weak against their manipulations, against their attempts to seduce him. I should’ve known.

But it’s too late now. He’s gone. And while I have my own part in his demise, it’s still Sofia I ought to blame.

My daughter was a plague I couldn’t escape from. She took everything away from me and I was determined to make her pay.

I was backed up in a corner of the cot they provided inside their dungeon, moonlight streaming from the small window above the cell, barred with UV rays. Consumed by my own dark thoughts, I shuddered when a freezing wind began to blow through my cell. The breeze was unlike anything I’d experienced before. I could sense power coming from it and when it hit my skin, it felt as if it were penetrating right through my flesh and bones. I began shivering as fear took over my senses. What is going on?