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Her reclusive nature made her a difficult figure to negotiate with, but her significant debts to Ascendant Capital made this meeting essential.

The door opened quietly, and Lady Amara entered, her presence as cold and distant as her reputation suggested.

She was dressed in dark, flowing garments that seemed to absorb the light around her, and her eyes were hard and calculating.

She took a seat opposite Ezra, her movements precise and controlled.

"Lady Amara," Ezra greeted, inclining his head slightly. "Thank you for meeting with me."

"Ezra Matten." She replied coolly, her voice barely above a whisper. "To what do I owe the pleasure?"

Ezra smiled, though it didn\'t reach his eyes. "I wanted to discuss your debts with Ascendant Capital."

"With the recent changes in our management structure, previous policies set by Macmillan are no longer in effect."

Amara\'s expression remained impassive. "I see." A pause. "And what does that mean for me?"

Ezra leaned forward slightly, his demeanor serious. "An extension on your repayment is out of the question. However, I\'m prepared to offer you an alternative solution."

Amara raised an eyebrow, her curiosity piqued. "And what might that be?"

"I propose a deal," Ezra said, his voice steady. "I will wipe away your debt in exchange for five favors. Each favor will clear twenty percent of your debt."

Amara\'s eyes narrowed, and she leaned back in her chair, considering his offer. "Favors, you say? And what kind of favors are we talking about?"

"That would depend on the situation," Ezra replied. "The favors could range from providing information to assisting with specific tasks."

"They will not be arbitrary, and I assure you, they will be within your capabilities."

The room fell silent as Amara weighed his words. Ezra knew he had to strike the right balance between firmness and persuasion.

Lady Amara was not one to be bullied, and her cooperation was crucial. He needed an ally that no one would consider. Who else would be better?

"And if I refuse?" Amara asked, her voice a mere whisper.

Ezra\'s expression hardened. "If you refuse, we will have no choice but to take legal action to recover the debt."

"This could result in the seizure of your assets and a significant loss of your autonomy. This is not a threat. It is a statement of fact. I run a business, not a charity."

Amara\'s eyes flashed with anger, but she quickly regained her composure. "You drive a hard bargain, Ezra."

"It\'s necessary," he said simply. "These are difficult times, and we must ensure the stability of Ascendant Capital."

Another silence stretched between them, heavy with unspoken tensions. Finally, Amara nodded, a faint smile playing at her lips.

"Very well, Ezra Matten. I accept your terms. Five favors to clear my debt."

Ezra allowed himself a small smile. "I\'m glad we could come to an agreement. I\'ll have the paperwork drawn up immediately."

Amara stood, her gaze fixed on Ezra. "I trust you will not abuse this agreement."

"Of course not," Ezra replied smoothly. "Our interests are aligned, Lady Amara. I look forward to our continued cooperation."

With a final nod, Amara turned and left the room, her dark figure disappearing into the shadows of the hallway.

Ezra watched her go, the weight of the negotiation settling on his shoulders.

He had secured an ally, albeit a reluctant one, and taken another step towards strengthening his coven.

As the door closed behind her, Ezra let out a breath he hadn\'t realized he was holding.

He glanced at the stack of documents on his desk, each one a reminder of the battles yet to come.

With Griffin, Helena, and now Amara, the path ahead was filled with challenges.

But for now, he had achieved a small victory, and that was enough to keep him moving forward.

He reached for his phone, ready to update Olivia and the others. They had much to discuss and plan.

**********

Ezra sat at his desk. He\'d just left the conference room, where he had spoken with Olivia.

Gen had been running interference on Natalia.

He leaned back in his chair, closing his eyes for a moment, allowing himself a brief respite.

The air in the room shimmered, and a sudden coldness swept through it.

Ezra\'s eyes snapped open as X materialized before him, his presence a jarring interruption.

The masked man\'s usual calm was nowhere to be seen. Instead, he radiated a palpable desperation tinged with madness.

"Ezra," X\'s voice was strained, barely concealing whatever battle raged within him. "You must free me from Griffin. Now."

Ezra stood, his gaze narrowing. "This is not the time, X. Let\'s discuss this later."

"No!" X took a step forward, his movements erratic, his eyes wild behind the mask. "You don\'t understand. He has me bound in ways you can\'t imagine. I need you to break these chains."

"Chains?" In spite of himself, Ezra was curious. "What kind of chains? Explain yourself."

X struggled to speak, his body shaking as if fighting against an invisible force. "I want to tell you, but... I can\'t. It\'s there. It\'s stopping me!"

Ezra watched him closely, his mind racing. "If you can\'t speak about it, then how will you tell me?"

X\'s mask moved erratically. "Wait! Wait!" The masked man held up a hand. "Feel my soul!"

"What?"

"Feel it. Look through the blood debt that links us. Take a look and see, Ezra Matten. The soul of a chained man!"

X stepped forward and Ezra felt it.

It was like a window he was unaware of had been opened, letting light into the room.

He closed his eyes, sinking into his soul. He traced the blood debt back to its source.

As he delved deeper, a cold shiver ran down his spine.

What he saw was a soul wrapped in chains, each link pulsing with dark fiery energy.

The chains were eerily familiar, similar to the ones he had once used to control Valaren, his dragon.

These chains were not mere metaphors. They were bindings in its purest form, designed to chain lesser beings to the will of their master. .

Ezra opened his eyes, the revelation leaving him momentarily speechless. "H- How? Why?"

X\'s eyes were filled with a desperate hope. "Now, you understand. You must know how to break them. Help me, Ezra Matten."

"Save me."