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Ezra sighed, his gaze fixed on the dark arrow still embedded in the wall of the study. "We have to make sure it never comes to a fight." He replied, though his tone lacked conviction.

Olivia gave a short, bitter laugh. "When have things ever worked out for us like that? When?"

Ezra remained silent.

Olivia stepped closer, her expression serious. "Griffin is a fifth ring vampire, and Helena will have also found a way to ascend by the time we will be betraying her."

"Not to mention, the difference in power between the fourth and fifth ring is bigger than the difference between all the lesser four rings combined. You could go toe-to-toe with a fourth ring vampire, but a fifth ring would squash you like a bug. Even if you ascended to the fourth ring, it would still be a tough fight."

"This is what we'll do." Ezra turned to look at her, his eyes intense. "Then we'll make you a fifth ring vampire."

Olivia's eyes widened in shock. "It's too soon after my fourth ring ascension, Ezra. The strain-"

He stood and stepped closer, placing a reassuring hand on her shoulder. "With the soul bond, we'll all give you our vitality. Anyhow, anyway we can, we'll find a way to amass the vitality needed and make it happen. It won't be easy. But when have we ever taken the easy road?"

"The vitality needed is too much!" Olivia exclaimed. "How will we even get that?"

A knowing smile crossed Ezra's lips. "Well, I guess we'll have to become rabbits." His face turned serious and he held Olivia's gaze. "This is the only way. You have to become our weapon. That's how we all survive. What do you say?"

"Okay. I'll do it." Olivia's shock slowly gave way to resolve as she nodded. "It won't be easy. The process is dangerous, and we don't have much time."

Ezra stepped back, pacing the room. "I'm more worried about how we'll be able to act against Griffin with his assistant always looking over our shoulder."

Olivia nodded and crossed her arms, considering his words. "We know she is competent and loyal to Griffin. We'll need to be very careful about what we say and do around her. However, I think this is a blessing in disguise."

Ezra raised a brow.

"We can use her presence to our advantage, feed her selective information that won't raise suspicion but keeps Griffin off our backs."

"That... is brilliant." Ezra nodded, appreciating her strategic thinking. "We'll need to craft a narrative that keeps her occupied and makes her report things that seem normal, even if we're planning something else entirely." discover-MVLeMpYr-novels

Olivia took a deep breath. "And in the meantime, I'll start preparing for the ascension. After all, I'll need to be ready to undergo the transformation quickly when the time comes."

Ezra stepped closer again, his eyes softening. "I know it's a lot to ask, Olivia. But you're our best chance. Together, we'll make it work."

Olivia placed her hand over his. "We'll make it work, Ezra. We've come this far, and we won't let Griffin or Helena destroy everything we've built."

Ezra smiled, pulling her into a brief, fierce embrace. His wives will always have his back.

**********

Ezra, Gen, and Olivia lounged in the living room, the atmosphere relaxed yet charged with the undercurrents of their recent decisions. Red was at her workplace.

The fire crackled softly in the hearth, casting a warm glow over the room. The poor use the bioluminescent, organic heating system but the rich use natural wood, enjoying the warmth of real fire.

Both were comfortable but only one was the mark of luxury.

Gen was sprawled on the couch, flipping through a magazine while Olivia sipped her tea, her eyes occasionally leaving her book and meeting Ezra's as they shared silent thoughts.

The tranquility was interrupted by a knock at the door. Olivia set her cup down and exchanged a glance with Ezra before standing to answer it.

Standing at the threshold was Griffin's assistant, whom Ezra had learned her name was Natalia. She stood there, her demeanor calm and professional.

"Good evening." Natalia greeted, her voice polite. "I hope I'm not intruding."

"Not at all," Olivia replied with a welcoming smile. Ezra had to do a double take. Even he could not tell if the smile was real or fake. Olivia waved a hand. "We've been expecting you. Please, come in."

Ezra rose from his chair, offering a nod to the lady. "Welcome, Natalia. We've prepared a room for you."

Natalia stepped inside, her eyes scanning the living room briefly before settling on the three of them. "Thank you for accommodating me. I appreciate your hospitality."

The unspoken words hung in the air. They had no choice but to accomodate her. Ezra's eyes were firmly on Natalia. Why hadn't Griffin just sent her before he signalled the need for an ally to the Arbiter? Things would have been much easier.

Gen closed her magazine and stood up, her smile clearly fake. "It's no trouble at all. Let me show you to your room."

The group moved through the house. Gen led Natalia upstairs to a cozy guest room at the end of the hall. The room was neatly furnished with a soft bed, a writing desk, and a window overlooking the garden.

"This will be your room," Gen said, opening the door and stepping aside. "If you need anything, just let us know."

Natalia looked around, her expression neutral. "It's perfect. Thank you."

Ezra and Olivia lingered in the hallway, ensuring everything was settled. "We're glad to have you here, Natalia." Ezra said. He was quite proud of the sincerity in his voice. "We understand the situation is delicate, but we hope you'll find your stay comfortable."

Natalia nodded, her eyes meeting his. "I'll do my best to assist where I can. Griffin trusts me to handle matters discreetly."

Olivia smiled reassuringly. Ezra couldn't help but glance at her. Where did she learn to act like this? "We appreciate that. For now, rest and settle in. We'll discuss everything in the morning."

With a final nod, Natalia closed the door behind her, leaving the trio in the hallway. They shared a loaded glance before making their way back to the living room. The trojan horse had arrived and all communication were now subject to scrutiny.

"She seems competent," Gen remarked, breaking the silence as they settled back into their seats.

They all smiled at the private joke. They'll be using her competency to their advantage. A reverse trojan horse, one could say.