My Vampire Harem Will Dominate Everything

Chapter 264: This Is Not What I Bargained For

The air swirled, charged with the residual vitality of the blood oath. Ezra stared at his hand, knowing he'd made the deal with the devil and it would not be without consequences.

He watched as Ivo walked to the large office desk of the CEO, pulled open a drawer, rooted inside of it and pulled out a glass bottle.

Blood wine.

This bottle was different from the usual ones. It had golden labels and the glass was a green so dark, it was a shade away from being fully black.

"Doesn't this call for a celebration?" Ivo asked as he pulled out two glasses.

He gestured to the bottle as he popped the cork. "The second most expensive and technically illegal blood to bottle. I almost lost a leg to get this." He joked. "It was worth it, okay?"

"What type of blood is it?" Ezra asked as he walked closer, trying to distract himself from what he just walked into.

"Vampire blood." Ivo answered, grinning as he poured the dark blood into the glasses. "Cool right?"

Ezra frowned. "What's the most expensive blood to bottle?"

"Human blood." Ivo answered, handing Ezra the second glass. "And very illegal. It carries a death sentence as you know. Or don't you?"

"I know." Ezra answered.

Ivo nodded in approval as he stood with his back to the covered window of the office. His tall, imposing figure radiated confidence as he stared at Ezra with a smile that didn't quite reach his eyes.

He raised his glass towards Ezra and Ezra mirrored him. "To our future."

"To our future." Ezra echoed and they drank.

The rich dark blood flowed down his throat, packed with vitality. Ezra smacked his lips at the rich taste, impressed. Now he could understand why Gen was so fond of drinking the blood of her enemies.

Ivo dropped his glass on the desk, the clink pulling Ezra back to reality.

"You've made the right choice, Ezra." Ivo said, his deep voice carrying a note of approval. "With you standing with us, our coup against Yuri will succeed."

Ezra could not deny what was happening any longer. He nodded, outwardly composed, but inside, his thoughts raced.

He had no intention of being part of any coup. The thought of taking sides in this power struggle made his skin crawl. The last thing he wanted was to get caught in the middle of a war between Yuri and her husbands.

But he had to maintain the illusion for now. This was the safest option for him and his wives. If he appeared to be on Ivo's side, he could stay close enough to figure out what was really going on, and more importantly, what to avoid.

"I'm glad I can help." Ezra replied smoothly, trying to hide the storm in his gut from showing on his face.

Ivo's smile widened slightly. He stepped around the table and placed a hand on Ezra's shoulder, his grip firm. "With your strength and loyalty, we can bring Yuri down. You're building a better future for yourself, Ezra Matten. As the key to our success, don't forget that."

Ezra forced a nod. "I'm with you." Inwardly, he recoiled from the words. He didn't want to be anyone's key to success in this coup. But if he was going to stay ahead of whatever storm was brewing, he needed to know the who, what, when and why.

"Who else is involved?" He asked, hoping to steer the conversation in a way that might reveal more about the coup.

Before Ivo could respond, the wall beside Ezra shimmered and shifted, the solid surface melting like wax.

Ezra leapt away instantly, just in time to see Lady Amara stepping gracefully into the room. She was dressed as usual in her long black gown which flowed behind her as she moved.

"I am." She said softly in answer to Ezra's question, her voice carrying an unsettling calm. "I'm one of the people on the right side."

Ezra stared at her, his eyes wide with surprise. Amara had always been one of Yuri's most loyal supporters. Her loyalty had seemed unshakable, unwavering, far stronger than any ties Ezra himself had ever had to Yuri.

To hear her now, openly declaring her alliance against Yuri, left him speechless for a moment.

"Your whole faction is against Yuri?" Ezra asked, the disbelief in his tone plain for all to hear. He needed to understand why someone as loyal as Amara would turn against a leader she had supported for so long.

Amara tilted her head, staring at him with a knowing smile. "It was never Yuri I was supporting, Ezra."

Before Ezra could process her words, Ivo stepped forward, a note of caution in his voice. "Are you sure it's wise to tell him this, Amara?"

Amara turned to Ivo, her expression unreadable. "I'm tired of hiding secrets, Ivo. I'm tired of being locked in a cage of silence, unable to speak."

Ezra watched the exchange, his confusion growing. He had expected political maneuvering, maybe even betrayal, but this felt different. Something deeper was happening here, something more… personal.

Ivo's jaw clenched as he looked between Ezra and Amara. "But is it really wise to trust him with this? He's only just-"

Amara cut him off with a wave of her hand. "He's taken an oath, Ivo." She said, her tone dismissive. "He's on our side now. It doesn't matter what he does with the information. Our fates are tied together, whether he likes it or not."

Ivo let out a long, defeated sigh, rubbing the back of his neck. He glanced at Ezra, gauging his expression before nodding slowly. "Fine. Tell him, then."

Amara turned to Ezra, her gaze softening. "I was never truly loyal to Yuri, Ezra. I've been helping Ivo from the beginning. Everything I've done has been for him."

Ezra blinked, trying to make sense of her words. "You… You're helping Ivo?"

Amara nodded. "Yes. Ivo and I have been working together for years."

Ezra frowned before the realization hit him like a punch to the gut, and his eyes widened in shock. His mind raced as he tried to piece together everything he knew about Amara, about Yuri, and now about Ivo. "You're… lovers?"

That had to be the only explanation. The Lone Lady, surviving without the ready support of a male vampire to provide regular vitality? Very hard. Now, he realized she hadn't been alone all along.

A slow, satisfied smile spread across Amara's lips as she met Ezra's gaze. "Yes." She confirmed, stepping closer to him. "We've been keeping it a secret, but now, it's time to be free of her. We want to be free, Ezra. We want to live our lives without Yuri's control."

Ezra could only nod, still processing what he had just learned. His vitality swirled inside him as the pieces of the puzzle began to fall into place. This wasn't just about power. It was personal. Ivo and Amara wanted Yuri gone so they could have the life they wanted. Together.

Amara stepped closer, her hand reaching out to gently clasp Ezra's. Her touch was cold but her eyes held a pleading sincerity that he hadn't expected. "Ezra, help us make this happen. Help us make our dream come true."

Ezra nodded mutely, not trusting himself to speak. His mind was running on all gears and he wasn't sure what to think anymore. He had walked into this situation trying to avoid entanglement, but now, it seemed impossible to stay out of the way.

Amara gave his hand a quick squeeze before letting go. She smiled warmly at him, her earlier composure slipping just enough to reveal a trace of vulnerability. "Thank you, Ezra. I won't forget this." She said softly before turning to leave.

Ezra stood frozen in place, watching her walk away. His mind screamed at him to think, to analyze, but he couldn't. All he could feel was the weight of the oath on his soul. Betraying Yuri hadn't been an easy decision, if it was even a decision he wanted to make. But now, they were just complicating things for him.

As the door closed behind Amara, Ivo clapped a hand on Ezra's shoulder, his touch heavier than before. "You've done well, Ezra." He said, his voice filled with approval. "Together, we'll take Yuri down. And when we do, Southside will be ours."

Ezra nodded, forcing a tight smile. "I'll be ready."

Ivo nodded, seemingly satisfied with the response. "It's time to head back. We've still got work to do before everything's in place."

Ezra followed Ivo to the center of the room, his mind still reeling. This was far more than he had bargained for. He wasn't just caught in a web of political intrigue anymore. He was now deeply entwined in the personal lives of two of Yuri's closest allies. And they were counting on him to help bring her down.

He only had one thing to say in the privacy of his mind.

Shit.