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Suddenly, his phone buzzed with an incoming message. He picked it up, reading the terse command. It was an immediate summon to Griffin\'s throne room.

He smiled grimly. He knew this moment would come. Griffin was undoubtedly furious about the Blackthornes\' escape, and now, Ezra had to face him.

He quickly informed Olivia and Gen of his departure, ensuring that they remained vigilant in his absence.

He smiled to himself as he drove. The journey to Griffin\'s stronghold was indeed becoming increasingly familiar.

Upon arrival, the air seemed heavier, charged with an underlying tension.

He walked through the grand, intimidating corridors until he reached the massive double doors of Griffin\'s throne room. There was a new lady sitting where Natalia previously sat.

The lady nodded at him and waved him in. He pushed the doors opened with a creak, revealing the dimly lit chamber beyond.

Griffin sat upon his throne, his imposing figure framed by shadows and the flickering light of torches.

Ezra almost scoffed at the theatrics.

Griffin\'s mechanical breathing echoed softly in the room. Though he appeared calm, the air around him was thick with barely contained fury.

"Ezra." Griffin\'s voice resonated, cold and demanding. "Step forward."

Ezra did as commanded, his expression neutral and respectful. "My lord."

Griffin\'s eyes bored into him, a mix of anger and calculated control evident in his gaze. "You were tasked with capturing the Blackthornes. Instead, they escaped. Explain your failure."

Ezra met Griffin\'s gaze steadily. "My lord, the Blackthornes were prepared for an attack. They had learnt from the disappearance of their allies."

"They seem to also be aware of our capabilities. We fought hard and did everything possible to capture them, but they managed to slip away in the chaos."

Griffin\'s mechanical voice hummed with a dangerous edge. "Slip away? You had the element of surprise, the advantage in form of that damnable song Olivia sings, and still they escaped? How do you plan to make up for this... incompetence?"

Ezra took a deep breath, knowing he had to tread carefully.

"We may have lost them this time, but we have gained valuable insights into their tactics and resources."

"I propose a new strategy. We need to focus on tracking their movements and cutting off their resources. By isolating them, we can weaken their defenses and ensure their capture in the next encounter."

Griffin\'s eyes narrowed, considering Ezra\'s words. "You speak of a new strategy, but what guarantees do I have that you will not fail me again?"

Ezra maintained his composure, his voice steady. "I understand your frustration. I am committed to rectifying this situation."

"We will increase our surveillance and utilize our network of informants more effectively. There would be no further mistakes."

Griffin leaned forward, his presence even more intimidating. "You had better, Ezra Matten. My patience is wearing thin. If you fail me again, the consequences will be severe."

Ezra nodded, acknowledging the threat. "I understand. We will not fail you again."

Griffin\'s gaze remained fixed on Ezra for a long moment before he leaned back, his demeanor slightly more relaxed but still simmering with anger. "See that you don\'t. You are dismissed."

Ezra bowed and turned to leave, feeling the weight of Griffin\'s gaze on his back until the doors closed behind him.

As he walked back through the grand corridors, he knew the stakes had never been higher.

He had managed to maintain Griffin\'s trust for now, but all was not over.

He had to be careful, strategic, and above all, successful in their next move. Failure was not an option, and betrayal, if discovered, would be the end of him.

**********

As the heavy doors of Griffin\'s throne room closed, a figure stepped out of the shadows.

Natalia walked slowly to Griffin, her expression unreadable. She had been watching the entire exchange, her sharp eyes missing nothing.

Griffin\'s mechanical breathing filled the silence as he regarded her with a mix of curiosity and lingering anger.

"Natalia," Griffin intoned, his voice low and dangerous. "What brings you out of the shadows?"

"Calm, my love." Natalia smiled as she walked, her movements graceful and deliberate. "I witnessed your conversation with Ezra. I have... concerns about his true intentions."

Griffin\'s eyes narrowed, his interest piqued. "Tell me."

Natalia\'s gaze flickered with suspicion. "Ezra\'s explanation for the Blackthornes\' escape seemed too convenient."

"Despite the chaos and their prepared defenses, it is unusual for them to have slipped away so easily. I suspect that Ezra may have had a hand in their escape."

Griffin\'s expression darkened, the latent fury from before simmering to the surface. "You believe he betrayed us?"

Natalia nodded, her voice steady. "It is a possibility we cannot ignore. Ezra\'s actions and words suggest he is playing a deeper game."

"Judging by their preparation for Olivia to ascend, I think he is now seeking the Ascension well. I believe he may be working with the Blackthornes or, at the very least, aiding them for his own benefit."

Griffin\'s mechanical breath quickened, his rage coming back full force. "If what you say is true, then Ezra\'s betrayal will be his undoing. We cannot allow such duplicity to go unpunished."

Natalia continued, her eyes never leaving Griffin\'s. "I suggest we keep a close watch on him. I can keep an eye on his wives."

"Let him believe he still has your trust. We can gather evidence of his betrayal and strike when he least expects it. This way, we ensure that his allies are exposed and dealt with as well."

Griffin\'s lips curled into a cold, calculating smile. "Very well, my love."

He turned away to another shadowed part of the room. "X." He called out and the man appeared immediately.

"You will monitor Ezra closely. Report back to me with any suspicious activity. If he is indeed a traitor, he will pay for his deception with his life."

X bowed sharply. "As you command, my lord."

Natalia watched it all, a hint of satisfaction in her eyes.

Griffin hummed as his mind churned with thoughts of retribution and power.

If Ezra was indeed a traitor, his punishment would be swift and merciless. And in the process, Griffin would reaffirm his unchallenged dominance over all who dared to defy him.