CHAPTER 48

**SOPHIA**

The prince gently sets me on my feet, and I blink, still a bit dizzy, trying to focus on my surroundings.

We are at the highest tower of the castle, in an open area where the thick smoke from the lower floors cannot reach us.

The air is cleaner here, and I feel the freshness invading my lungs.

I take a deep breath, feeling some relief.

I walk a few steps to the stone wall of the tower’s open window and look down, where I can see chaos reigning.

The flames still dominate some areas of the castle, and the battle stretches like a mantle of destruction everywhere.

I feel the prince’s eyes fixed on me, but I can’t bring myself to look back at him.

Something inside me is still trying to process what happened.

My hands held his cloak tightly, pulling it around my body as if I wanted to hide from everything.

“Are you feeling better?”

His voice cuts through the silence, cold but with a hint of curiosity.

I turn slowly, touching my forehead where I feel the wound—a sharp pain that makes me wince.

“My head still hurts.”, I reply in a whisper, almost ashamed to show weakness.

I adjust the cloak around my body, covering myself better, as if I want to protect myself not only from the cold but from the memories of what almost happened moments before. The man, the axe, the fear… and then the prince, saving me in such an unexpected way.

“Let me see.”, he says, approaching slowly.

My heart races, and I feel my back press against the cold stone wall of the tower.

His movements are subtle, but I can’t avoid the nervousness that creeps over me.

His fingers, cold as ever, gently touch my forehead.

I groan in pain at the touch, but I don’t pull away.

“It’s just a cut. You’ll be fine.”, he murmurs as his red eyes focus on my lips, where there’s also a small cut.

His attention unsettles me.

He traces my lips delicately with his fingers, outlining them with a care I could hardly associate with him.

“What…”

I try to speak, but the words die in my throat when he silences me.

“Shhh…”

The tension in the air is palpable.

His touch is almost gentle, but there’s something more—something that makes me tremble.

The silence between us is broken only by the distant sound of footsteps and screams echoing from the corridors below.

“There’s a small cut here, too.”, he murmurs, the proximity of our faces intensifying the moment.

I feel my eyes drawn to his lips, a mix of confusion and desire stirring in my chest.

What is happening to me?

Before I can figure it out, the sound of footsteps rushing up the stairs alerts us.

The prince pulls away quickly, as if snapping back to reality. The attack isn’t over yet.

“Where are you going?”, I ask weakly, not fully understanding why I want him to stay.

“I have my duty to fulfill, Sophia. The invasion isn’t over, but you’ll be safe here.”

His tone is more of a command than a reassurance.

“When I leave, lock this door. Only you can secure it. Don’t open it for anyone. I’ll return when everything is safe.”

I open my mouth to say something or to ask more, but no words come out.

He quickly moves away, his movements almost a blur of speed.

I blink, confused, and soon I am alone in the tower.

I carefully lock the wooden door, as he instructed, and remain silent, observing the surrounding emptiness.

The chaos continues in the distance.

I sit on the floor, hugging myself, trying to find comfort.

His cloak is still wrapped around me, and his scent, a familiar scent, lingers.

I try not to think about what happened—the hands that tried to tear my clothes, the hateful words that still echo in my mind.

The pain in my head is still strong, but worse is the emotional exhaustion.

I feel drained, and the chaos outside seems distant as sleep starts to overtake me.

I don’t know how long I’ve been asleep, but I wake up, startled by the sound of distant screams and the urgent ringing of the castle bell.

Something terrible is happening.

I sit up suddenly, my heart racing.

The voices are louder now, and I can clearly hear the words echoing through the corridors below.

“The king is dead! The king is dead!”

Shock runs through my body.

Are the humans celebrating?

I widen my eyes, my mind racing.

How is this possible?

The royal family was immensely powerful, and the humans, no matter how skilled, stood no chance without a special weapon.

My gaze falls on the dagger I still carry, the same one that could kill the royal family.

I shake my head, pushing away the confusing thoughts.

The victorious cries continue, and the sound of the celebrations hits me harder than any physical pain.

Have the humans won?

Is the prince dead too?

The silence in the tower is heavy, and I feel completely alone.

Fear and sadness consume me.

With hesitation, I stand and unlock the door.

I open it slowly, my eyes scanning the corridor ahead.

The scene is one of devastation.

Bodies are scattered across the floor, blood flowing through the stone corridors.

Soldiers, both human and from the prince’s kingdom, lie dead, fallen on top of one another.

My heart tightens, and I hesitate to go further.

The sight is disturbing, and I can taste the fear in my mouth.

Every step I take down the corridor feels heavier, and the surrounding silence is unbearable.

As I walk, the voices of human victory echo distantly but persistently.

Something has changed.

The kingdom, the castle, the life I knew… everything seems to be crumbling before my eyes.

And the prince? Is he really dead?

My heart is pounding in my chest as I walk down the corridor, avoiding stepping on the dead bodies around me.

I can’t hear anything anymore—no shouts or voices from vampires or humans.

I’m scared, and I mentally wonder where Adam might be.

He can’t be dead.