Chapter 0287

King Lucian clenched his fist and pressed it against his chest in an unusual gesture of devotion. "We come to swear our allegiance, to demonstrate our unwavering loyalty to the Guardians of the Realm. We vow to uphold the sacred covenants of the Guardians. You need never fear betrayal from my coven." As he finished speaking, he and his vampires dropped to one knee, bowing their heads in submission.

I exchanged a glance with Sebastian, both of us equally bewildered. Stepping forward cautiously, I felt his presence shift behind me, ready to shield me if this turned out to be a trap.

"Rise, King Lucian," I said, my voice steady. "Your pledge is noted. Know this—I never sought to harm your kind, but those who threaten me or mine will not survive the encounter." Valeria's power surged through me, her voice blending with mine. The vampires' heads snapped up at the shift in my tone.

"Guardian," Lucian murmured, "should you ever require our aid, we stand ready to serve."

In the blink of an eye, they vanished.

I turned to Sebastian and Adrian. "That was... unexpected. Do you think they're sincere?"

Adrian rubbed his chin thoughtfully. "They seemed genuine, but only time will tell."

Over the following months, more supernatural factions arrived at our borders, pledging loyalty to Evelyn and me as the Guardians. We summoned Oberon and Finnian to document these events and discuss their implications.

"Your power surpasses all others," Oberon remarked one evening. "The vampires named you well—Guardians of the entire supernatural realm, not just werewolves. The Moon Goddess may have created you for us, but your influence now extends beyond any single species. This is both a blessing and a burden."

Sebastian frowned. "What do you mean?"

"It means," Oberon explained, "that when conflicts arise between species, all will look to the Guardians for intervention. You will be forced to take sides. The birth of Evelyn and the revelation of your fated mates mark a turning point. Whether by design or chance, the role of the Guardians is evolving. The next generation will define what that means."

It was during one of these discussions that Evelyn went into labor.

We stayed close, knowing her pregnancy had been difficult. The delivery proved just as harrowing. Hours passed with no progress until the baby showed signs of distress. They called me in, hoping my healing abilities could help.

Unsure but determined, I placed one hand on Evelyn's stomach, sensing her daughter's weakening heartbeat, and the other on her forehead. Closing my eyes, I channeled healing energy into both of them. I had to be careful—my own pregnancy was advanced—but I managed to stabilize them, ensuring Evelyn didn’t hemorrhage and baby Ivy’s heart kept beating.

Then Finnian slipped in unnoticed.

He moved to the doctor’s side, reaching out to touch the crown of Ivy’s head as it emerged. Adrian was too focused on comforting Evelyn to notice. The doctor tried to push Finnian away, but Ivy suddenly moved down the birth canal as if drawn to him.

The doctor stepped back, allowing Finnian to guide Ivy out with gentle hands. His expression was one of awe and tenderness as he cradled her for the briefest moment before the doctor took over, cleaning her and coaxing her first cries.

When Evelyn finally held Ivy in her arms, relief washed over me. They were going to be okay.