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Serena's hand tightened around her phone as Adrian's voice slithered through the line. His smooth, familiar tone sent a shiver down her spine, but she knew this was a necessary risk. She had always hated dealing with Adrian—his arrogance, his hunger for power—but right now, she needed leverage, and there was no denying that Adrian had his own game to play when it came to the *Sangreal* and the *Crux Ignis*.
"Well, this is an unexpected surprise," Adrian continued, his voice laced with amusement. "I assume you didn't call me just for a friendly chat. What can I do for you, Serena?"
Serena took a steadying breath, leaning against the windowsill as she watched the forest outside. "We have a problem," she said, her tone measured. "And I think it's one you might be interested in."
There was a pause on the other end of the line, and Serena could practically hear Adrian's mind whirring, calculating. "Go on," he said finally, his voice dropping an octave. "I'm listening."
"The Covenant has Alex," she said, forcing herself to keep her voice calm despite the urgency in her chest. "They're holding him as leverage, and we've taken something from them—something they'll do anything to get back."
Adrian chuckled softly. "Ah, the *Sangreal* and the *Crux Ignis*. I assume you've stolen them out from under the Covenant's nose? Impressive, but also… risky. You've just made yourselves the biggest targets in the world."
"We didn't have a choice," Serena shot back, a flash of irritation sparking in her. "The Covenant was going to use Alex against us, and those artifacts are too dangerous to leave in their hands."
"Dangerous in anyone's hands, I'd say," Adrian replied smoothly. "Which begs the question—what exactly do you want from me, Serena? I assume you didn't call just to tell me about your little heist."
Serena gritted her teeth. She hated that she had to rely on Adrian for this, but there was no other way. "We need help getting Alex back. The Covenant isn't going to negotiate without using him as a pawn, and I know they'll come for us as soon as they realize what we've done."
"And you think I'm going to swoop in and save the day?" Adrian said, his voice dripping with mockery. "I'm flattered, Serena, but I don't work for free."
Serena's grip on the phone tightened. "I'm not asking for a favor. I'm offering a deal. You want these artifacts just as much as the Covenant does—probably more. Help us rescue Alex, and I'll make sure you get what you want."
There was a brief silence on the other end, and Serena could almost hear Adrian's smile. "You're playing a dangerous game, Serena. Offering the *Sangreal* and the *Crux Ignis* to me when you know exactly what I intend to do with them. Are you sure you're ready to hand over that kind of power?"
"I'm not handing them over," Serena said sharply. "But I know you can help. You have resources, connections—things we don't. If we're going to get Alex out, we need someone who can go up against the Covenant without getting crushed."
Adrian hummed thoughtfully. "You're right about that. The Covenant is a force to be reckoned with, and if they've set their sights on you, well… you're in deeper trouble than I thought."
Serena's jaw clenched. "Are you in or not?"
Adrian let out a slow, exaggerated sigh. "Very well. I'll help. But remember, Serena, everything comes at a cost. I'll expect my payment in full once this is over."
Serena's stomach churned at the thought of what that payment might be, but she didn't have time to dwell on it. Alexander's life was on the line, and right now, she needed Adrian's help. "Deal," she said, her voice firm. "But don't try anything. This isn't a game."
Adrian chuckled again, his amusement clear. "Oh, Serena, everything's a game. The only question is who will come out on top. I'll be in touch soon."
The line went dead, and Serena let out a long breath, feeling the weight of the conversation settle on her shoulders. She had just made a deal with the devil, and while it was a calculated risk, she knew it could backfire in ways she couldn't predict.
"What did he say?" Rebecca asked, her voice low as she stepped out of the shadows where she had been listening to the conversation. Her eyes were filled with concern, and Serena could see the worry etched in every line of her face.
"He's in," Serena said, slipping her phone into her pocket. "But you know how Adrian is—he'll want something big in return."
Rebecca shook her head, running a hand through her messy hair. "I don't like this, Serena. You know Adrian can't be trusted. What if he double-crosses us? Or worse, what if he tries to take the artifacts while we're focused on getting Alex out?"
Serena leaned against the windowsill, her arms crossed tightly over her chest. "I know it's a risk, but we don't have many options. The Covenant isn't going to play nice, and we can't do this alone. Adrian has resources we don't, and if anyone can outmaneuver the Covenant, it's him."
Rebecca sighed, rubbing her temples as she processed the situation. "I get it. I just… I don't want us to lose everything. Alex, the artifacts—if Adrian pulls something, we could be left with nothing."
"We won't lose everything," Serena said firmly, though she could feel the doubt gnawing at the edges of her resolve. "We'll stay one step ahead of him. He needs us right now just as much as we need him."
Rebecca nodded slowly, though her worry hadn't fully dissipated. "What's the plan, then? If Adrian's helping, how do we play this?"
Serena turned to face her, her mind already racing through the possibilities. "First, we need to meet with Adrian in person. We'll set the terms of the deal and make sure he understands what's at stake. Then, we'll figure out how to get into the Covenant's compound without alerting them."
Rebecca crossed her arms. "And what happens after we get Alex out? What's to stop Adrian from turning on us once we've got him?"
Serena's expression hardened. "That's why we need a backup plan. I'll negotiate with Adrian, but we'll make sure we have a way to take him down if he tries anything. We'll use the artifacts as leverage, but we won't hand them over until Alex is safe."
Rebecca frowned, still uneasy, but nodded in agreement. "All right. Let's get ready, then. If we're going to meet Adrian, we need to be prepared for anything."
Serena's heart was pounding, adrenaline flooding her veins. They were walking into a situation that could go wrong in a thousand different ways. But she couldn't think about that now. Alexander's life depended on her, and she wouldn't fail him.
As they gathered their gear and prepared to head out, Serena couldn't shake the feeling that this was the calm before the storm. Adrian's help was a double-edged sword, and once they set this plan in motion, there would be no going back.
It was a dangerous game, and they were playing with fire.
But Serena was ready to burn if that's what it took to save Alexander—and stop the Covenant once and for all.