Chapter 439: The Deal
Olivia’s POV
I never expected Frederick to tell me this... that whoever had Selene wanted me and that they had only given him three hours. I stared at him and saw how frustrated and miserable he looked... he was on the verge of breaking down.
"Do you have any idea who could do this?" I asked, curious.
He rubbed his face once, hard. He looked at the floor before he answered.
"Three suspects," he said finally. "A vampire nest that’s been angry at me for months. A rogue hunter group that traffics hybrids. And... someone inside the city with a grudge," he spat.
Three suspects. My mind raced with different thoughts. I opened my mouth to ask more, to press him for details, but my wolf snarled in my head and shoved against my thoughts.
Don’t, she warned. This is dangerous.
She wanted me to hold back, to stay away, but I couldn’t.
An idea formed in my head. It was quick and dangerous and selfless and brave all at once. My hands went cold as I looked at Frederick.
I knew I could never tell the triplets. They would never agree. They would fight me, stop me. They loved me too much to accept the risk I was about to offer.
I took a breath and said it anyway. My voice felt steady even though my heart was pounding.
"Take me," I said. "Give me to them. Save Selene."
Frederick’s head snapped up so fast I almost missed it. His eyes went wide, furious and stunned.
"What?" he barked.
"I’ll go," I said. "If that’s what it takes. I won’t tell the triplets. They’ll never agree. But I will go. Let Selene live."
For a long second there was only the sound of my own breathing. Frederick looked like someone punched him in the gut. I could see the war inside him—the plan, the prophecy, the future he wanted with me, and the person he was clearly falling for.
"You can’t be serious," he said at last, voice low.
"I am," I answered. "But only on one condition."
His jaw worked. He looked at me as if trying to read my bones. Then, slowly, he lowered himself onto the seat behind his desk and settled his curious gaze on me.
"On what condition?" he asked, sounding like he already knew what I would be asking.
I didn’t hesitate. With my gaze fixed on his, I responded.
"You will break the vow tying me to you," I said. "If I exchange myself for Selene, and she comes back safely, you will break the blood vow. I will no longer be tied to you. I will be free."
For a heartbeat, he said nothing. His eyes bored into mine, sharp, searching, as if he could see every thought, every flicker of fear running through me.
Then he leaned back slowly in his chair, his claws retracting as he steepled his fingers under his chin.
"You’d really do that?" he said at last, his voice hoarse, sounding disbelieving. "You’d walk into a den of vampires, knowing what they do to you, just to free her?"
"I’d do it," I said quietly. "But only if you free me. That’s my price."
He exhaled sharply, dragging a hand over his face.
"Olivia..." he whispered, sounding frustrated. "Do you even know what you’re offering? Do you have any idea what they could do to you?"
"Yes," I said. "I do. But that is for me to worry about, not you... all you should be concerned about is Selene coming back safely."
For a long moment, there was only silence. The clock on the wall ticked loudly, each sound a countdown to the three hours we’d been given.
Finally, Frederick’s hands dropped to the desk. He stared at me, his eyes dark and unreadable.
"You’re either the bravest woman I’ve ever met," he said slowly, "or the most foolish."
I lifted my chin. "Maybe both. But do you agree?"
His nostrils flared. His fangs caught the light as he gritted his teeth. Then, slowly, he nodded once. A single, hard nod.
"If she comes back alive," he said. "If she is unharmed... I will break the blood vow. You will be free."
Relief and fear crashed over me at the same time. My hands shook, but I kept my face still.
"Then we have a deal," I said.
Frederick stared at me with disbelief, but I also noticed the worry etched on his face, which wasn’t just for Selene but for me.
"How are you going to save yourself?" he asked, sounding worried.
I shrugged, acting nonchalant, but deep inside I was scared. I knew I had my teleporting ability, but once they clawed the magical collar on me, I knew my ability might be depressing, so how do I save myself? Frederick was right; this was foolishness, but I would do anything to be free from being tied to him.
Frederick frowned deeply. "We have to draft out an escape plan for you."
I opened my mouth to answer, but the phone on his desk rang again, loud and sharp. The hidden number flashed across the screen.
The kidnappers were calling back.
Frederick and I locked eyes. We were both tense. He picked it up without hesitation and put it on the loudspeaker so I could hear.
"What?"
A distorted, cartoon-like voice came through, cold and mocking.
"Have you made your decision, Lord Frederick?"
His jaw tightened. "Yes," he said through gritted teeth. "We accept. How do we do this?"
A crackle of static. Then the voice again, slow and deliberate.
"Only you and the girl. No guards. No tricks."
I felt my stomach twist. The girl. They meant me.
Frederick’s knuckles whitened around the phone. "Where?" he demanded.
There was a pause, and then the voice gave the answer like a sentence being passed.
"An old warehouse on the outskirts. You know the one—the abandoned freight depot by the river. She will be there. Alive. For now."
I swallowed hard. My heart pounded in my ears.
Frederick’s eyes flicked to mine, full of fury and something like fear.
"We’ll come," he said. "But if you harm her—"
The voice cut him off with a low laugh, harsh through the distortion.
"She has a bomb strapped to her. A single wrong move from you, a single trick, and she explodes. No games, Lord Frederick. No surprises. You bring the girl, and we give you yours."
The line went dead.
For a heartbeat, the room felt like it tilted. I could hear my wolf snarling inside me, claws raking against my chest.
A bomb. They were serious. This wasn’t a bluff.
Frederick lowered the phone slowly, his face pale under the rage. He looked at me like he was already trying to memorize my face.
"They’ve set the location," he said, voice rough. "We have to go now. Just you and me."
I nodded once, forcing my voice to stay steady even though my hands trembled.
"Then let’s go."
Inside, my wolf hissed and shoved against my ribs.
This is madness, Olivia.