Fangless: The Alpha's Vampire Mate-Chapter 331: A Dangerous Exchange

"Why are you here?" Florian opened the door.

He didn’t look flustered. His expression lacked the usual malice that twisted his features whenever Ol’gaz took control. That alone told Roderick that the demon was dormant, and for once, it was Florian himself standing before him. But the boy didn’t look happy.

Not that Roderick expected him to.

Who would be, after being abandoned and locked in a waiting room—again? It wasn’t just once or twice. Every time Florian was included in a meeting, he lashed out, and every time, Roderick sent him away like an afterthought.

Roderick understood where the anger came from, and he couldn’t really defend himself.

"Your sister is alive." The words left his mouth before Florian could explode. A preemptive strike. He knew this was what the boy wanted—what fueled his erratic behavior in every meeting.

Florian’s jaw tightened. Relief flickered across his face, but he didn’t relax. Not yet. He needed more. Needed to be sure Riona wasn’t in danger.

His gaze bore into Roderick. "I don’t know why you’re here, but I’m sure it’s for me—not Ol’gaz. And if I’m right, I suggest you talk fast before he wakes up."

He left the door open and walked to the sofa, throwing himself onto it with crossed arms and legs.

Lately, he’d been trying to build a mind barrier—a way to shield his thoughts from the demon. A fortress in his mind, keeping his memories, his experiences, his self safe. But he was still far from mastering it.

For now, Ol’gaz could break through too easily. The barrier was sloppy, fragile. But Florian was learning, strengthening it, brick by brick, driven by his fear for Riona.

And just recently, he had felt it—an unguarded moment where he had thought something, and Ol’gaz hadn’t noticed.

The first crack of freedom.

As long as Ol’gaz didn’t actively try to pry, this conversation would remain beyond his reach. That gave them a small window—one Roderick needed to use before the demon caught on and everything unraveled.

He spoke before sitting down. Florian hadn’t offered him a seat, but Roderick took it anyway, striding toward the sofa with the quiet assurance of someone who outranked the boy. After all, he was the aide to an emperor, while Florian had no real claim to anything—just a distant tie to a crumbling, soon-to-be-doomed kingdom.

First, Roderick spoke of Riona—what had happened to her and the happy ending she had briefly found before he was forced to leave the Forest of the Strays.

"I’m confident she’ll wake up. It’s just a matter of when. But I don’t think she’ll make it in time to save you before His Majesty and the demon see their plans through."

Florian clicked his tongue. He saw no point in pretending to respect Roderick. In this empire, hierarchy demanded it—but the world was ending anyway. What did it matter if, for once, he stopped hiding how he really felt?

Despite the insult, Roderick let it slide. There was no time for petty reactions—not with Ol’gaz lurking, ready to resurface at any moment. The demon couldn’t even suspect that Roderick had come to Florian’s chambers.

"You must be wondering why you and Ol’gaz felt a strange familiarity with Emperor Kaan, despite meeting him for the first time," Roderick said. "It’s because of a familiarity spell. His Majesty took samples of your sister’s blood and used them to cast a spell, making you perceive him as if he were your sister."

That was the question—the one that had been gnawing at Florian. Now, at last, he had his answer.

By revealing this, Roderick made his intentions clear. He was the one extending a hand first, the one initiating this fragile alliance. He had much to lose, and betraying him would be foolish given the risks he had already taken.

Florian chose to believe him.

In return, Florian said, "Ol’gaz is a demon—selfish and arrogant. It may seem like it’s following His Majesty’s will, but in truth, it’s just biding its time, waiting for the perfect moment to strike back and take what it believes is rightfully its."

He was certain of it. Ol’gaz would betray Emperor Kaan the moment the emperor let his guard down. After years of forced coexistence—sharing thoughts, emotions, and a mind—Florian knew exactly what the demon truly wanted.

Roderick wasn’t surprised. He merely pressed his lips into a thin line. "The same goes for His Majesty. Don’t underestimate him. He’s far crazier than you think."

And so, the exchange began.

They traded information in hushed tones, careful and deliberate. Roderick had to stay vigilant, always watching for any sign that Ol’gaz had taken control. One slip, one careless word, and the demon would know everything.

Whenever the emperor’s scholars made progress on the spell meant to force the demon into submission, Roderick reported it to Florian. And when Ol’gaz caught wind of the emperor’s schemes, Florian relayed the demon’s reactions back.

It was a dangerous game. But it worked—until it didn’t.

A voice, low and brimming with menace, shattered their fragile conspiracy.

"So you’ve been doing this behind my back."

One morning, just as he was about to go to bed, Ol’gaz suddenly manifested before him.

Its face was twisted—contorted in a way that shouldn’t have been possible, as if it were struggling to suppress something foreign. But Florian knew exactly what that emotion was.

Anger.

"Did you really think I was stupid enough to be fooled by you?" Ol’gaz groaned, stepping forward.

Florian instinctively backed away. His hands found the shelves behind him, pressing against them as he struggled to put as much distance as possible between himself and the demon’s breath. But Ol’gaz kept closing in.

It had taken on Florian’s own appearance again—its mimicry lasting longer each time. That, more than anything, unsettled him. It meant the demon’s grip over him was strengthening. It meant he had to build his mental barrier faster.

But that wasn’t the most urgent problem right now.

"Your little trick," Ol’gaz hissed, its breath hot against Florian’s skin, "doesn’t work on me."