Triple Fated: A Romance Novel

Chapter 396: Her Blood

Chapter 396: Her Blood

Olivia's POV

The wine glass tilted in her hand, the crimson liquid splashing across the floor as she gasped. The sharp edge of

the broken glass cut across her palm.

Blood.

It hit the air instantly.

Rich. Sweet. Potent.

My wolf stiffened at the scent, but it was Frederick who reacted most violently. His head snapped toward her, his

nostrils flaring. His grip on my waist slackened as his pupils dilated, dark and hungry.

Selene clutched her hand tically, the crimson dripping between her fingers. "Oh—excuse me," she

murmured softly, her voice carrying just enough tremor to draw attention.

Several nobles gasped. A servant moved forward with a cloth—

But Frederick was already moving.

"Wait," he commanded sharply, his voice slicing through the chatter. In two long strides, he reached her side, his

hand catching her wrist before the servant could touch her.

His eyes locked on the wound, his lips parting as he inhaled deeply and greedily.

"Are you okay?" Frederick's voice cut through the crowd, sharper than I'd expected. His hand tightened around

Selene’s wrist, tilting it gently so the light caught the crimson flow.

But | wasn’t fooled.

It wasn’t concern driving him—it was hunger. His pupils were blown wide, his chest rising and falling too fast. He

wanted to taste it. Every nerve in his body screamed for it, even as he fought to control himself.

Selene lowered her gaze, shoulders tensing as though she could feel the weight of his restraint.

"I... I'm fine," she said quietly, pulling slightly, but his grip didn’t ease.

For one long heartbeat, | thought he'd cave—thought he’d lean down and sink his teeth into her right there in

front of everyone.

But he didn’t.

Well, she has to consent to it.

With effort, Frederick released her wrist and straightened, his expression smoothing into his cold formality. "Lord

Frederick," he introduced himself, bowing his head just slightly. "And you are?"

Selene’s breath caught. Her voice wavered as she answered, "You... you're a vampire."

His lips curved faintly. "That doesn’t answer my question."

Selene stepped back quickly, clutching her hand tighter against her chest. "Please... excuse me. | can’t... | can’t

be near you." Her voice cracked with just enough fear to sound real, but | knew she was pretending. | hate to say

it, but she was pretty good at this.

Then she turned, slipping into the crowd without another word.

The room buzzed with whispers, nobles exchanging knowing glances, but my eyes were on Frederick.

His jaw was tight, his hands curling slowly into fists. But it was his eyes that gave him away.

Pain. Hunger. Want.

He didn’t just notice her. He felt her.

And as he watched Selene’s retreating figure vanish into the crowd, | knew the hook had sunk deeper than either

of us had imagined.

"Selene has laid the bait, and I think Frederick wants to taste her," | whispered to the triplets through the mind

link.

"Good," Lennox answered. "All she has to do is make sure she poisons her blood and he feeds from her, then we

take it from there."

| nodded inwardly. "But that cannot happen today... Selene is acting scared of Frederick."

"Good," Lennox’s voice hummed through the link. "If she acts afraid, he won't suspect a thing. He'll think her

blood tempts him, but she’s too scared to cnear. That'll only make him want her more."

Louis added, "It's better this way. If she gave in too fast, he'd question it. The chase will make him hungrier. More

desperate."

Levi's voice followed, "And when the hunger is unbearable, that’s when she’ll let him take the bait. Not before."

| swallowed, my chest tight. They were right.

Frederick's footsteps pulledfrom my thoughts. He was walking back toward me, his eyes still dark with that

lingering hunger from Selene’s blood.

| pasted on a frown at him, but before he could reach me, | spun on my heel and strode toward the barstand.

Let him think | was upset. Jealous. Anything but suspicious.

The bartender blinked as | ordered sharply, "Something strong." My voice was tight, my hands curling into fists

against the polished wood.

Behind me, | felt Frederick's gaze settle, heavy and probing. Exactly as | wanted.

Let him think my jealousy was about him. That way he won't suspect Selene is in a gwith us.

Frederick’s presence pressed againstas he cto stand besideat the bar, his scent dark, commanding,

and heavy.

| didn’t look at him. Instead, | let the words drip from my lips, sharp and full of anger. "You look like you want to

fuck her."

His head snapped toward me, his eyes narrowing, but | didn’t stop. | turned, meeting his gaze directly. "If you

want her, Frederick, then go. Go chase her. Go fuck her. And I'll go back to the triplets where | belong."

His jaw tightened, his nostrils flaring. "No."

The word was firm, almost

desperate. His voice dipped lower, his

tone sharp. “Don't twigEyhis, Oia |

dgnitwantRer. Font understand it

either—her scent, her blood—it pulled

at me. But it's not her | want." His

eyes darkened. "It's you." The content

is on novelenglish.net! Read the latest

chapter there!

| scoffed bitterly, grabbing my glass and draining half of it before slamming it back onto the counter. "I want to

go home."

His stare lingered, unreadable, before he finally nodded once. "Very well."

We left the hall, his hand heavy at the

small of my back again as the nigpt

air cooled my heated kin. But before

| gold DeSthe easier, movement

caught my eye near the side of the

estate. The content is on

novelenglish.net! Read the latest

chapter there!

A commotion.

Two vampires.

They had Selene. She struggled in their grip, her voice breaking in a terrified cry. "Letgo! Please—letgo!"

Her wine glass lay shattered near the grass, her body thrashing against their hold. Fear poured from her in

waves—Iloud, frantic, believable.

It was an act. | knew it. But God, she was good at it.

Frederick reacted instantly. His body went rigid, then he shot forward, faster than the eye could track. His growl

ripped through the air, feral, deadly.

The two vampires flinched at his approach, dropping Selene in their haste before vanishing into the shadows.

Selene collapsed onto the ground, trembling violently. Her body shook, her eyes wide and wet with fabricated

terror.

"Please," she gasped, curling in on herself. "Don’t let them take me. Please..."

Frederick knelt beside her, his hand

slipping under her Tren

gsheet Vorb safe now,”

he-

soothing. "I've got you." The content

is on novelenglish.net! Read the latest

chapter there!

She sagged against him, trembling harder, her act flawless and believable.

And as | watched, realization hit. Frederick wasn’t just intrigued anymore.

Now... he felt protective.

Exactly what Selene wanted.