Chapter 102

If I didn’t know vampires, I wouldn’t have noticed the subtle change in Thorn’s expression. Something was wrong, though he, like the others, probably wouldn’t admit it.

"Are you sure you’re okay?" Balthazar squeezed his hand, concerned.

"Great. Lio, take care. And take care of him." He nodded at me, but without much warmth.

"You take care too," I murmured, still not understanding anything.

Thorn said his goodbyes and walked away just as abruptly as he had arrived.

"What was that?"

"I don’t know. But he’s hiding something."

I agreed and hurried to grab my phone, calling Zara. At first, she didn’t answer, but then she did.

"Why did you run off?" I sat on the couch while Balthazar watched me.

"I didn’t…"

"Stop lying!"

"I don’t know what it is! It’s all so strange, this guy is stalking me, Lio!"

"At the Alliance Party or after? He just got here, Zara."

"I don’t know, I already told you. Look, I need to go. I don’t want to talk right now, we’ll talk later."

"I’m worried."

"You don’t have to be. I just hope I never run into that bloodsucker again!"

"Did he do something to you?"

"No. And he never will. Bye."

I said goodbye and looked at Balthazar.

He felt the same thing I did.

Suspicion.

***

POV Balthazar

"Are you okay?"

The soft voice made me stop, suddenly echoing in my mind.

In that month I had been living in Constantini, this was only the second time she had reached out to me. A surprising number, considering that sometimes we went much longer without exchanging a single word.

"I'm fine, Mother. And you?"

I kept walking, leaving the office I occupied in the building near the cemetery, where I managed the financial and accounting affairs of the mines.

I knew she was taking a risk. Just like Calliope, who also spoke to me in secret, away from our father.

"I'm fine, Balthazar. Things have calmed down here."

Partially, as I had learned through Thorn. She continued:

"Your father is trying to reorganize everything. He made an offer to the Kuang Clan to move up your sister's wedding, but there’s been no response yet. And he's looking for a bride for Caliban. He needs someone to take over as leader now that you’re no longer here."

That, in a way, bothered me. There were moments when it felt like I was living a dream with Lio, one I could wake up from at any second. It wasn’t that I missed my past life—because in these thirty days here, I felt more whole than I ever had before.

It was just a matter of getting used to things. After all, I was still adjusting to this new reality.

"Hey, Balthazar."

I heard a female voice call me, and I waved at Anica, who was smiling near the duchesses' house.

"Is Lio still at the mines?"

"She should be home by now."

"If you need blood, you know where to find it."

She had no fear for her life. If Lio heard her talk like that, she wouldn’t just growl anymore. I kept my response polite:

"Thanks, my friend is bringing some for me later."

I continued on my way and refocused on my mother.

I asked her, "Have the Draganovs stopped causing trouble?"

"They've disappeared, but I've heard they’re still demanding a harsher punishment for you—like death. And they’re trying to push our clan into obscurity. Over time, they’ll calm down."

I doubted it. They were bitter and felt humiliated by Kassandra's rejection. I had a feeling they’d stir up even greater trouble. I remained on alert.

"Any news on your end?"

She asked, and I told her no, as always. I wouldn’t tell any of them about Lio’s pregnancy. They would surely find out eventually, but I would keep it a secret for as long as possible.

"Are you happy?"

"I am, Mother."

"Then I am too. I… I’m sorry for never reaching out before. For… not being more present."

That familiar ache returned to my heart, and I didn’t know what to say. In a way, I understood her. We had all been pruned by my father, by his desperation to make us strong and invincible.

In the end, I simply replied:

"It’s okay."

"Do you think we’ll see each other again, Balthazar?"

"I hope so."

"So do I. Well, I’ll say goodbye for now. We’ll talk again soon. Today, Thorn will bring another batch of blood for you. Then he’ll return to the U.S. If you need anything there, let me know. I’ll find someone trustworthy to help us."

I worried about her.

"Don’t take any risks. I can handle things here."

"Alright."

We said our goodbyes, and I was just arriving at the castle when another voice called out to me. This time, it was Thorn:

"I'm on my way."

"I know. Will you go straight home from here?"

"No. I’m making a stop first."

He sounded different, mysterious. Almost excited, which put me on edge.

"Where?"

"At the window of a certain she-wolf’s room."

I stopped, and the guard at the door gave me a curious glance. I greeted him and kept walking, circling the castle.

"Are you out of your damn mind? Tell me it's not Zara."

"What’s the problem?"

"You’re seriously asking, Thorn? That night was weird enough, and even after everything, you swore you barely knew her. You pulled that scene in front of Lio. Now you’re going to her window? Are you looking for trouble? Haven’t you had enough of that already?"

He went quiet for a moment, then finally responded:

"It’s stronger than me."

"Stronger is what it'll be when her father rips your head off. The guy is half-insane and hates vampires! Thorn, you’re married—your wife hasn’t even been officially declared dead yet!"

This time, he fell completely silent.

A conflict with the Vanóia family was the last thing I wanted to deal with.

Frustrated, I returned to the castle, unsure whether to tell Lio about it. Maybe she’d see it in my mind and tell Zara herself. Then the mess would be complete.

But when Thorn arrived with the blood, I would try to knock some sense into his head. Not that I was the best example of reason, but at least Riuk had never tried to decapitate me.

I couldn’t say the same for Jax Vanóia. Something told me he would never accept a vampire courting his daughter. Especially if he knew about Thorn’s past.

I pushed the thought from my mind and entered, eager to see my she-wolf, to kiss her lips, to be with her.

The problems stayed outside the walls of Constantini. One day, maybe they’d come knocking, but I would be ready to face them. Because now, I had more than I ever dared to wish for.

Lio, a family I was building, new goals.

And my child, who wasn’t even visible yet but already filled me with extraordinary love.

I wondered what they would be. An alpha? A pureblood? A superior mix?

It didn’t matter.

We would take care of them, and one thing would never be lacking in their life.

Love.