llwild1992 (2015-)

The Originals: Blood Dagger

Chapter Four: Playing with Fire

"This is not good!" Klaus mumbled as he stood by and watched Jackson take Astrid into the posh restaurant, "what the hell is she thinking, we're trying to get Johan tempted to show himself; not this!"

"No—" Hailey protested as she sat down and crossed her legs and arms, "what the hell is Jack doing?" she huffed, pointing her nose to the sky, "how the hell did they even meet?" Hailey wanted to walk right in there and pull the girl's hair out, my god, like a flying fuck was she going to have tea with the stuck up rich bitch. Somehow she had gotten her claws into Jackson; she already had a hold on Klaus but now she was one inch too close to the Pack.

"I suppose Astrid is trying to make Johan jealous, to draw him out even quicker than it would take if she where to dine alone?" ever the voice of reason Elijah smirked as he stood behind Hailey, placing his hands on the back of the bench, framing her shoulders; it was the closest they had been without her rebuffing him, close enough to protect her if need be.

Klaus zeroed in on Astrid, she was speaking softly to Jackson as they waited for their table, and then he dared to tell her something funny. She responded by laughing as she always did, throwing her head back, one hand trying to cover her open mouth, the other hand resting on his chest, thrumming her fingers softly as the punchline was delivered. When the waiter had offered to seat them, motioning to the outdoor patio, she turned for a moment, knowing someone would be watching. With a gently gaze from her crystal eyes she found him, and smiled. She even dared to wiggle her fingers in his direction before takin Jackson's arm and was led away.

Both he and Hailey decided enough was enough, using their hearing they chimed into the conversation as they were being seated, Elijah groaned and told them to respect boundaries. But when did either hybrid really listen to him? Soon he decided to follow suit, even if it was wrong.

"You look lovely, did I say that?" Jackson said as the waiter held her chair out for her, he was nervous.

"Oh," she said as she placed her clutch down on the table and sat, "thank you." She sat down and the waiter offered to take her pashmina before asking for their drinks as he placed their menus in front of them. "What's good here?" Astrid asked as she held the menu up opening and closing the flaps as she read quickly.

"I wouldn't know," Jackson laughed as he ordered a beer, without the glass.

"Red wine please?" She asked the servant who nodded and scribed down their drinks. Astrid bit down onto her lip and looked towards the uncomfortable male sitting opposite her, she rubbed her palms together and looked about the open air garden, "this is a fantastic restaurant, thank you for picking it."

"What kind of gentleman would I be if I didn't take my gentlelady caller on a proper New Orleans date?" he joked at their situation.

With a scrunch of her nose Astrid leaned forward, "I am sorry I had to drag you into this." She laughed, "It wasn't my intention at first, but when the opportunity presented itself, I took it." She quieted down when the servant came back and placed their drinks on the table, pouring her wine with a practice ease, "good," she laughed as the glass was nearly full, "thank you."

"So," He gained her attention as he watched the man walk away, "What exactly are we getting into?"

"Just a bit of playing bait."

"For who?"

"The murderer." She shrugged her shoulder, "my former fiancé; Johan, who I cheated on with Nik, and then betrayed Nik over." She stated with a dainty sip of her wine, holding it between two fingers and her thumb, she had spoken so coolly, Jackson must have thought she was joking.

But who the hell jokes about a serial killer.

"The killer—the one who killed Cami—is your ex-fiancé?"

"The one and only," she said looking down into the menu, "How does Cajun chicken pasta sound?"

"Like you are skating over the truth."

"Okay," she said placing the menu done gently, and then folding her hands together over it, "the truth is," she looked into his eyes, "I am using his rage and jealousy against him, if he sees me out on a date with a better looking man than he is, he will snap, most likely he will kill you next in three days; and I apologize for that. I haven't been out in the week I have been here and I thought; why not ask the incredibly hot muscular dark haired man I just recently met; out on a date? I haven't been on one of those in a long time, and I find you impossibly and monumentally attractive—so bonus for me and boo for Johan." She said sternly, "happy?"

"No," he said, turning red, reaching for his beer he held her gaze, "So, why do I get the impression you are also using me to make Klaus jealous?" he asked bluntly as he took a sip of his beer.

"Nik still has people call him that?" she asked, an upset look about her face, it made him laugh, "that name is horrible!" she laughed, irking Klaus, "it's one syllable! 'Niklaus' is so much better!"

"But you called him, Nik."

"Yes I did."

"There has to be a story there."

"Well," she shyly said as she placed one finger on the rim of her glass, circling it a bit, "I was a girl when I met Klaus, I was so excited to meet someone who had no knowledge of me or my family; I wanted to be someone different to him than I was for my family. He was so different from me." She said as she sipped, "my mother wanted to name me 'Astrid' but she died giving birth to me, my father named me after his father and Christina was my mother's name."

"So Astrid was the only name that 'belonged' to you?"

"Exactly." She laughed, tapping the rim of her glass, "Fredericka does not feel like me, but in honor of my grandfather I use it."

"And your last name comes from your father's name?"

"Yes, Erik. His name was Erik Frederickson."

"Crazy,"

"That's my life." She laughed.

"So," Jackson began as their food was delivered, "what was Johan liked before all of this?"

"Let's see…" Astrid contemplated how to move forward with answering the question, "he was my best friend. After my father died, my Pack Master Christian took me in and raised me. We were always together, closer than even Pack Mates could be. He and his younger brother Hans where very good. Johan—he was always polite and considerate, following the lines of decorum at all times; it could and was taken for shallowness and judgmental. He could seem overbearing in his chivalry, but that was how we were raised at that time. I didn't know what his obsession with three was until modern doctors have termed it as OCD; everything was always in threes; he, Hans, and I. One person every three days; the first on the eighteenth—"

"I get it."

"He was in love with me; or as close to loves as someone like him could feel. He wanted me, and we did what was asked of us, we became engaged; it was the sensible thing to do. He was my dearest friend and he was Christian's grandson."

"He was the grandson of your Pack Master?"

"Yes, and Christian had groomed me to be his successor after his death, so it was the logical thing to do; to engage the future Pack Master to his own grandson. But I had fallen in love with Nik by then; that had been too much for Johan to handle. He believed Nik and him to be the best of friends and he believed that I belonged to him. The rest is history."

"How did he die?"

"That is a story for another night, Pup."

"So you and Klaus were really in love?"

"Yes," she blushed, "the endless kind of love. It was love at first sight for me." She looked through her peripheral vision and spotted Klaus standing beside Hailey and Elijah, ready to jump out of his skin. She knew all three were listening in on them. So why not make this interesting? "What about Hailey, what is the story there? You both are royals."

"Our parents both ruled the Crescent pack."

"A division of power, how cute." Astrid laughed, "There should only be one."

"Well our pack works differently."

"Did they engaged the two of you to unite the two royal families?"

"Yes,"

"How long have you two been affianced?"

"Since she was born."

"Wow that is not even a tradition my pack followed." As she sipped her wine, she noticed he became uncomfortable. "Did you two grow up knowing that?"

"No,"

"So you grew up engaged, but not together?"

"Yes."

"Why is that?"

"Let's talk about you again—"

"—no, I am more interested in you, tell me?" he looked away, "I'll get it out of you eventually; I am a very patient woman. I can wait."

"Do you know who Marcel is?"

"Only by reputation."

"He had my pack cursed, to spend every day as a wolf, to only be human again on the full moon. Hailey was spirited away as a baby and escape that curse."

"He reversed your natural cycle?" he nodded, "did you spend most of your life as a wolf?"

"Yes."

"For how long?"

"Nearly 20 years. So you can see why I am so calm about this; it's not the first time I've been on a hunter's list."

"Always a wolf? Oh my god! I've spent weeks at a time as a wolf, but never years. I am so sorry that happened to you, Pup." She reached over and held his hand between hers, the warmth that transferred from her hands into Jackson's had his eyes turning yellow and the simple touch. His wolf raised his head and howled at the feeling of a desirable female before him, but then when he scented her; it wasn't the female he wanted. But it didn't mind appreciating a beautiful female with an ample bosom and hauntingly blue eyes. She looked at him realizing what she had done, biting down on her lip she removed her hand and looked down at her options for dinner, "I believe I shall choose the lobster and asparagus on linguini and white sauce." She said, "what about you?" she raised her hand to call the waiter over, keeping her eyes low.

By the time the orders had been filled, Astrid and Jackson where on their second round out drinks, taking his time to observe her, the dark haired male came to a realization, "you know that you do it, don't you?" his rough voice asked.

"You might have to be more specific, sweetheart, I do a lot of things." She whispered over her glass, hooded lashes dropping down low over her eyes, "I will admit I wish for you to continue speak because your voice is amazing," Astrid heard Hailey growl, from her peripheral vision she witnessed Elijah taking hold of her arm and kept her from leaving the bench. Klaus started to pace from his place beside his brother, back and forth. Stiffening an amused laughed Astrid sipped the wine and continued, "There are many things I like about you, sweetheart, and I intend to fully enjoy them this evening."

Pointing an accusatory finger at her, Jackson leaned in on his elbow and whispered to her, "That," he said, "is this really you or a façade, the mask of a lover."

Astrid laughed, leaning back into the chair, placing a hand over her mouth she attempted to quiet herself, Klaus knew it was because she hated her infectious laugh, Jackson thought she took him for a fool. Fanning herself with a perfectly manicured hand she returned his gaze, "I am sorry, yes I know I act this way; I want people to love me, so I do everything in my power to please them. It was how I was brought up, drummed into me; a lesson too hard to unlearn. Forgive me if my natural state has seduced you, a side effect of being a wolf as you well know; always appealing." Jackson and Klaus both thought she had omitted something from her explanation.

"So this is really you and not some seduction shit?" he motioned to her makeup and state of dress.

"Allow me to explain, Pup," she warned, "I was born into a world of grand titles and immaculate balls, and I have taken the preference of taste with me. I enjoy clothes and jewelry, always have. Prada, Gucci," she pointed to her dress and motioned to her shoes under the table, "Cartier," she showed him her hands, the golden rings, "but I assure you I am nothing but myself." Their food arrived after that, they remained quiet as the serving man remained beside them, asking Jackson to cut into his stake to assure it was well done, when he had left Astrid smiled coyly, raising her glass, "to us," she laughed.

"To Johan," Jackson changed as he raised his beer bottle.

Nodding she continued, "Hopefully you won't be killed."

"Amen." He said as they clinked their different glasses.

-X-

Walking out into the cooler air of the city, Astrid placed her hand into Jacksons, lacing their fingers, mostly for her enjoyment, and for tormenting both hybrids who stood beside Elijah as livewires. Hailey crossed her arms and tapped a booted foot over and over again on the cobblestone ground. Klaus held his ground, an explosion waiting to happen, a magnate for darkness as his blue eyes watched them. Smirking Astrid made herself impeccably close to her companion as he lead her down the crowded streets. They spoke of few things, more aware of the danger that followed them. Trying to keep an eye out for John's possibly attack, or even an attack from Klaus, Astrid sighed, Jackson was far more distractive than she gave him credit for.

Closing her eyes, she imagined they were just two mortals in this crowded city, walking together as lovers did, with nothing but the possibility of a goodnight kiss and romance tomorrow. Resting her head upon his larger shoulder she allowed him to show her the city, having an insider allowed for the real stories to come forward. Which Astrid enjoyed and Klaus and Hailey hated. She held his hand over her shoulder, fingers laced as she enjoyed both his warmth and torment. Wolves were known for their body heat, two wolves together would create such an intense tilde wave of warmth, and it was almost an aphrodisiac. To anyone else they could appear as two crazy kids in love.

"It is nearly midnight," she whispered, looking at her phone inside her clutch, "I believe we should call this date?" she asked with a sweep of her eyes to his.

"Okay,"

"How exactly did you get here?"

"I walked,"

"I shall drive you, my car is in the hotel parking lot."

"There really isn't a need to do that, Astrid."

"Johan will pick you off if you do not allow me to drive you." She leaned in to whisper to him, "I would never forgive myself, Jackson. Plus," she giggled, gripping the front of his dinner jacket pulling him closer and standing on her toes, she motioned with her eyes to the fuming female hybrid not thirty feet away, "might just send her over the edge."

"You like playing with fire, don't you?" Jackson smirked whispering back.

"Always have," she kissed him lightly on the lips, a chaste kiss, but a whisper, "always will, sweetheart."

Jackson's hands gripped her lower back as he pulled her into him, kissing her once more. Her hands found their way into his messy dark hair, gripping the curls, kissing him back with just as much fever as he did. She knew this was an act, which had created a fine line of taboo between them; which he now dared to cross as he kissed her in front of his mate. It was partially her fault and she knew it, she played with her natural allure too much with him. But he knew this would end badly. Boldly he held her neck in one hand; a sign of possession, causing both Hailey and Klaus to growl. Hailey couldn't stand the thought of Astrid daring to touch Jackson; but how stupid could he be to allow himself to be seduced by her?

Klaus unknowingly gripped his hair roughly and pulled, wanting desperately to pull them apart and claim Astrid. He wanted his hands around her neck, her arms in his hair, and their lips fused together. She had toyed with the wolf in front of him all night. Had dared to touch Jackson, watching her come to life had created a knife in his gut and she enjoyed twisting in all evening. He paced behind Elijah who was holding Hailey back. Watching as they kissed, it only lasted for a moment before she pulled away and shyly smiled at him, biting down on her lip.

"Come," she stepped back, offering her hand to him, "I'll see you to your pack lands." Jackson nodded and laced their fingers together and allowed her to leave him away. "I'll work on our agreement, tomorrow." She whispered.

"Good."

-X-

Opening the door to her hotel room, Astrid kicked off her heels, leaving them at the threshold. She smirked as she entered the darkness. Enjoying the soft shad carpet on the bottoms of her feet and cool of the rooms. Reaching over to the right she turned on the dim lighting of the Parisian themed sweat she paid for. Dropping her keys onto the floor next to her shoes, she sighed. Alone at last. She went about making herself ready for bed, it was past one in the morning. Pulling of her silk nightgown and matching robe she decided to take off her makeup, pulling her hair up into a ponytail as she sat down at the vanity, retrieving makeup wiped she went to work taking off her jewelry and then the makeup, bringing her back to the fresh face she knew existed under the lashes and foundation.

"You had to involve the wolf?" a disappointed Klaus said as he appeared in her mirror, standing behind her with a sour look on his face, arms crossed over his chest as he leaned his back against the chest of drawers.

Smirking, Astrid opened her lip moisturizer, taking a bit on the pad of her middle finger and dabbed it into her lip, "Good evening, Nik." She said as she smoothed the moisturizer in, "did you enjoy eavesdropping on my date?"

"No," he stated.

"Good," she chuckled as she turned around and looked at him, placing her hands on her hips, "I am glad that I made you feel uncomfortable. I know that you do not trust me, but you asked me to do this for you; and I followed through."

"I had a right not to trust you."

"You honestly think that I was interested in Jackson? I am attracted to him; he's young and good-looking, and a Pack Master; or will be when I place the crown upon his head." He scoffed at her depiction of the dark haired male, "but you know me. Why would I want him?"

"To make me jealous, Astrid."

"No, I only made you think I wanted him, I also made Hailey think I wanted him too, didn't I?"

"Stay away from Hailey."

"You need to let the girl go."

"That's not going to happen."

"Fine," She smiled, "I gather from your appearance; Johan did not come out to play tonight?"

"You would be correct."

"Sorry," she said placing a hand in her hair and removing the hair tie, "I thought bringing Jackson with me would do it." Her hair fell all about her in a mass of mahogany curls, Klaus' eyes watch as each strand fell in into its chosen direction, the red and blond strands melting into the brown.

"Clearly it didn't. I am actually starting to think; Johan is not the one killing people."

"Are you insinuating that I am taking out my competition for you?" she laughed, "no, try again."

"You need to start trusting me, Nik. I came here to help you; I don't want any more people to die because of Johan just as much as you. If he keeps killing the whole supernatural community here will be slingshot into the limelight; setting up a witch hunt."

"He can't hurt me."

"Yes he can; he has Mikael on his side."

"More like Mikael is controlling your fiancé."

"Former fiancé." She corrected, "Don't make us start fighting again, Nik; I'll win." She sighed and combed a hand through her curls, breaking the form and creating frizz, before she looked directly at him, as if looking through his soul, "I thought we learned our lesson this morning?" She asked as she stepped slowly forward, "we agreed we cannot be in the same room alone." She smiled as he lifted his head and looked away from her as she reached him, "don't worry, Nik, I won't take advantage of you in a moment of weakness." She laughed as she playfully hit his chest with an open hand, before she turned around, "Do me a favor," gathering her hair to one side of her neck she peered over her shoulder with a seducing smile, "unzip me?"

Klaus had every intention of coming here to insure her safety. If Johan had seen her, as he had, Johan wouldn't have attacked Jackson; he would have attacked her. Flirting and speaking as she did, showing off what they had both seen as a passionate woman, he would have killed her. She had flaunted herself in her dress and heals, to make them both jealous. Now she was asking him to help her out of the tempting torture device! He nearly fell to the floor as she smiled at him. She had played with the natural attraction Jackson had for her, and now she was playing with his attraction to her, and she enjoyed it. But she wouldn't win. Klaus gathered his strength as he reached for the contraption at the back of her dress, touching her heated skin as he clasped the zipper.

She shivered at his touch, a reaction well remembered to them both. With a quick fashion he pulled down, releasing her, receiving a prefect image of her bare back and the top of her bum. She turned away and stepped back before fantasies could conjure themselves in his head. She held the dress with her fingers under her arms and looked up at him with hooded dark eyes, biting down onto her lip she forced herself to avoid another of today's intense situations. No matter how hard she wanted to. His eyes lit with fire when he scented her desire for him, the very primal feeling of having an in need female before him, and one he desired himself. She stepped back and turned away, reaching for a pink silk robe and nightgown, and then left him to go into the bathroom.

The shutting of the door allowed Klaus a moment to breathe. His heart slammed into his chest. He needed to leave this hotel. It was a mistake to come in and confront her on her behavior. His intentions were to see to her safety, but one look of her making herself ready for bed had undone him. The door opened and she enter in her garments, and he still remained. Trying to place him out of her mind she went to the side table of the bed, opening a drawer and took out a box of matches. Striking one she lit a medium sized candle beside the bed, and then made quick work of the candles all about the room. Nik watched as she diligently avoided burning her skin. When she had done she closed the balcony doors, locked them, drew the heavy curtains and turned the lights off. Leaving them in the called light. This was how he remembered her. Bathed in warm candle light she looked like a dream. Resisting his sudden urge to relive old memories with him, Klaus shut his eyes, fighting them back.

"It won't work." She said, sitting down on the bed, reaching for a bottle of lotion, "not as long as we are in the same room together," placing on pale leg over the opposite knee, she began to rub her skin, "you have two choices," she kept her eyes down low as she made sensual movements with her hands, how he wanted those delicate hands on his body, "one you can leave; which would do both of us a world of good." Switching legs she continued in the silence before dropping the leg and looking directly at him with her crystalline gaze, "two; you can get in this bed, which by the look in your eye— you are already in, and make love you me. Tomorrow we both with regret it and end up fighting." She challenged him with a cool smile, "which will it be, Nik? In all honest I do not care which one, both benefit me—however I am not so sure about you, Nik."

His mouth had gone dry. She kept his gaze, spinning a web of temptation over him. The bit of her lip, the curving of her neck, the simple slow breaths she took. Aphrodite had taken human form and now offered the sweetest of temptations for him. Shaking it away, Klaus reminded himself if the problem at hand. "Come to the compound tomorrow morning." He blinked and her spell was gone.

Sighing, she stood, pulling the silk robe over her body, "I have errands to run."

"After them."

"I have a great deal of things to accomplish, it could take hours." She slid up right next to him, offering to see him to the door.

"Astrid," he warned as he stepped to exit her rooms, keeping himself at arm's length from her.

"Tell me what I want to hear, Nik?"

"We shall have words." He mirrored her demand to speak to him days prior as he opened the door, when she moved to shut it, he forced his hand onto the oak door, "as many as you'd like."

"What I'd like is to have a partnership with you." She groaned running a hand through her hair, "what I'd like is for you to give me some form of trust. I did not have to come, I could have gone on my merry way and let Johan find you; but for the love I once bared you I did." She pushed his hand off of the door with little effect, "I want you to leave, Niklaus."

"Come to the compound."

"At my earliest convince."

"All I ask for, Love."

"Goodnight Niklaus."

"Astrid."

1705 Copenhagen, Denmark

Klaus paced in the darkness of Johan's guest chambers. He needed to leave, he had almost taken Astrid right there in the darkness of the corridor. It was dangerous; obviously she was held in high regarded as a princess to this pack. Over the days he spent here he realized she was the only one, the only woman with a wolf. Such a rarity among a full blooded pack. She belonged to someone more worthy than him, someone worth her beauty and strength. But by the gods he wanted her. He had never wanted another's blood so much in his life.

He should leave, this was not his home. Yet he never felt more at home anywhere else before. He did not belong with the humans; they were food, vampires who knew of his parentage such as his siblings held him at arm's length; and inside and forever an outcast. But here with these wolves, he felt something stir inside him. Maybe it was the natural feeling of belonging, or maybe it was his wolf awakening after all these years. Or maybe it was her.

He slapped himself across the face, never should he allow himself to be swayed by a woman. Elijah allows himself to find a shred of happiness in a beautiful young swan, declaring love and wooing her, but in the end he destroys the swan. Klaus would rather enjoy beauty while it lasted without the thought of entertaining 'forever', but in his chest he felt something tightening. He would give the world to Astrid if she asked for it. He couldn't take her; she was destined for something much greater than him; a princess will always marry a prince, and they will go on to produce the next generation of royals. He could never give her that. She would want more than what he could give.

Scratching at the door alerted him, Johan was not there, to his knowledge all wolves remained gathered in the ballroom. Listening he could hear the frantic heartbeat, and the breaths of a woman. Astrid? But he sensed no wolf. Rushing to the door he grasped the handle and flung it open. Finding a flushed Margrethe standing before him in her ball gown. She covered her chest with her hand as she looked upon him.

"Dearest Margrethe." He greeted with a smile.

"I do not trust you," Margrethe whispered as she handed him a folded piece of parchment, then she bowed her head and excused herself. Leaving Klaus standing in the candle light hallway, with no idea what was happening.

There was something inside the folded parchment, opening it a small brass key fell into the palm of his hand, looking at the paper, he found a note. Taking it to a candle he peered into it. Written in a feminine hand Klaus sighed.

There is a small door through the kitchens, use this key. There will be a small window in the stairwell with a rock in the corner, use the key under it to open the next door.

—A

Swallowing hard, his immediate reaction was to throw it into the fireplace and see it burned. He watched as the delicate handwriting wrinkled and decayed until all of it disappeared as if it never had existed. Biting down, he tried to clear his head as he fisted the key. She called for him; she wanted him. This key was the opportunity of a life time, but it was also something that could damn him.

He took it.

Carpe Diem…

Using his vampire speed he snuck through the halls, following his nose to the kitchens. The servants were all omega wolves, under the servitude of the alpha and his stronger wolves. They paid him no mind as he found the secret door. One child looked up, his blue eyes locking onto his in speculation. Placing his finger against his lip he told the child to remain quiet. Placing the key into the old lock, his adrenaline kicked in, it couldn't turn fast enough. Once the door opened, he walked through to not cause suspicion, closing it without a sound.

The small cylindrical staircase was tall, carved of the same stone the mountain was. This architecture was amazing; it was old, but well done. Placing his hand against the wall, he felt the energy this mountain held, how sacred it was to the Pack. Sure enough as he came to the top there was a single window, looking out into the night sky. Looking into the corners he found the very rock mentioned. Moving it, there was a second key. Placing the first one down he took a moment and breathed in deeply.

Klaus took up the key and placed it into the hole, he had two choices; turn around and leave, or open the door and follow his desire. Biting down on his inner cheek, Klaus made his decision, Turing the key he pushed the door open. The room he entered was filled with soft candle light, soft cream walls, and the scent of a woman. Walking further into the room, he found what he came for; Astrid sitting on her large bed, brushing her long mahogany hair, dressed in her white chemise. He kept his gaze upon her as he closed the door. She peered over her shoulder, a small smile on her lips as her lashes fell lightly over her eyes.

There was nothing to be said, their desires became palpable in the air. Astrid stood, walking to place her brush onto her vanity, in the mirror she kept her gaze onto him, the smile becoming fuller and brighter. The candle light covered her, bathed her in light yellow light, she looked like a goddess. When she turned towards him, he in took a breath, under the light, he could see all of her body. The swell of her breasts, the synch of her waist, the curve of her thighs. She was beautiful.

She advanced on him, and he met her in the middle of the room. She looked at him with an expression of happiness and euphoria. Reaching up she held his face in the palm of her hands, rising up on her toes, he met her in the middle to kiss her. He gave himself into it, reaching out with his hands, taking her smaller body and pulling it closer to him as their mouths fused. Her smaller hands searched his body until the found the bottom of his shirttails, without waiting she grasped them and with his held pulled it from over his head.

Pulling away from him Astrid smiled, biting down on her lips. Without hesitation Klaus leaned in and ceased that lip biting down on it, causing her to laugh as she held his hair in her hands. His once again found her waist and fisted her chemise. The single item of clothing was on the floor and she was in his arms once again in a matter of moments. Lifting her up to take all of her nearly feather-light weight he wrapped her legs around her waist and walked towards the bed.

She continued her sweet assault on him, gently caressing the skin of his shoulders while her lips chastely kissed him. Falling onto the bed Klaus looked down at her, pulling himself up a bit to look into her beautiful clear eyes. She held no fear, no regret for this decision. She cocked her head as she reached up and threaded her hands through his curls.

"It is alright," she whispered, "I am no virgin." The air left his lunge as a primeval feeling of jealousy flooded his veins, she blanched and took his chin into her hands, "had I known I would have met you; I would have waited." She giggled before leaning up to whisper into his ear, "I was rather impatient."

At that Klaus lost himself, gone where his slacks as he wrapped her body around his until they were one. Their breaths match each other, their hearts thundered as the same drum, there was no distinction of where one began and the other ended. She withered under his body, holding onto him, eyes closed, a flush of pleasure about her skin. She turned her head to the side, and grasped his wrist, Klaus then panicked, all he could see in their lovemaking was her veins, and he knew his fangs had descended, his eyes rippling and dark. She held onto him so sweetly; he couldn't get away.

"No," he said with all his might, lifting himself from her, "Astrid."

She looked at him, gasped at the transformation of her lover. But she did not cower, reaching up she held his face, placed her fingers against his chest. Her haunting eyes discovered what the others had spoken about; the monster hidden beneath. "What is wrong?" she was too sweet.

"I need blood." He rasped, realizing his hunger for her, to taste the moonlight in her veins, "I want your blood." He watched as one hand touched her neck, the through running through} her mind. "I cannot…" he tried to remove himself fully, but she followed, wrapping her arms around his neck and brought him back down.

Showering him with sweet kisses, she brought him to her, "I do not mind," she whispered, "do it."

"Astrid," he warned, but she turned her head, giving him view of her neck, his eyes locked onto her veins, "I cannot hurt you."

"You won't, I trust you." She leaned up to kiss his neck, placing her teeth against his skin and scrapped it gently.

At that, he fisted her hair, pulled her head to the side, and took what she offered and she wanted. Astrid groaned in both pleasure and pain. Her sweet blood flowed down Klaus's throat, surging within him a greater desire for this woman. In the blood-filled ecstasy they came down together, his head upon her chest as she held him. Breathing in deeply he clung to her, knowing he would never let her go now. She belonged to him.

She was his…

His alone…

Forever…

Astrid walked through the morning streets of the French Quarter with a smile on her lips. Coffee in hand she walked from window to window, looking into the shops and stores. She waved to a baker who was setting up the fresh morning croissants, an innkeeper shook out heavy rugs overhead and apologized for the dirt. She happily strolled. Her plan was in motion. Taking a victory lap was all she needed. Even though she knew she was followed. One by one the wolves' descended from the alleyways, watching her. She counted the, seven, all with dark black rings. Sipping her coffee she smiled, perfect.

Coming upon an expensive jewelry store, she couldn't resist. Walking up to it she peered into the window, in the refection a pearl necklace was perfect against her. She smiled. Two wolves were in the background, watching. Her cellphone rang in her purse. Sighing, she was expecting to have some fun with the Pupa, she fisted her little flip phone and pulled it out. It wasn't a number she recognized, "this is Freddie," she answered.

"Is this how I am fining you?" Klaus' voice wrapped into her ear.

"Nik?" she asked amused.

"Some errands, window shopping."

Smiling, she placed the phone into the crook of her neck and peered over her shoulders, "Where are you?" he was not behind her, nor was he aside her.

"Here," his voice said, "Watching you."

Astrid smiled and turned back to look into the jewelry shop window, "I think I'll enjoy that. Did you sleep well?"

"No,"

"Too bad, I slept like a baby." Laughing she walked to the next window, "dreaming of a lover long since gone from my bed."

"I believe it was mostly in my bed, Astrid."

"Honestly," she laughed, eyes on a huge sapphire ring, "do you think I was speaking of you?" He then appeared behind her in the glass, looking down at her. His eyes held a jealous gaze and Astrid couldn't help but giggle at his expression, "Mighty Niklaus Mikaelson driven to jealousy," she turned to face him closing her flip phone with a smile, "King would kill for the image."

"You are stalling for time, Love."

"I am running errands, Love."

"What are you really up to?"

"Nothing of importance to you."

"You do realize that the wolves patrolling this section of the city belong to Francesca Guerrera? None of them have moved their gazed from you?"

"Exactly how long have you been watching me?"

"Long enough to decode what you told the wolf and me last night. You're planning to gain Jackson's alliance by killing the Guerrera pack and making him Pack Master—with you as his queen."

She laughed, covering her hand over her mouth, "oh," she playfully batted his chest with the back of her free hand, she smiled towards him, causing Klaus to frown even more, "that is half of what I am doing. Jackson is a powerful alpha, he will be a wonderful Pack Master of Louisiana when I am done with him."

She attempted to turn back to gaze in the mirror but Klaus would not allow it, throwing himself onto her, caging her against the glass with both hands at her side and legs braced against each other. He held her gaze, challenging her, trying to find what it was she hid from him, "you're King Making." He accused.

Biting down on her lip she smiled, "guilty."

"Why?"

"Why not? If it his right to rule and that rule was usurped—someone should place the crown on his head." She cocked her head to the side, "would it anger you to know that you're not the only man I've tried to make a king? You are my only failure, Nik."

"Is that what you have done with yourself in the past two hundred years? You've created Pack Masters?"

She nodded and placed her hands upon his chest, "you would have been a good king, Nik, so powerful even then; unable to die, with a mind on the future and a creative eye." Her eyes roamed over his whole body as her hands followed, around his waist, up his arms, and to his chin. She gently cupped the curve of his jaw and looked at him, "this is how I pictured you as a Hybrid, just like this; free."

"You're threatening me." He stated, shaking her hands off.

"I'm complementing you."

"No," he chuckled, moving in closer to her, pressing his nose to hers, "by planning to make the wolf King of Louisiana; you are also removing me from power and control of New Orleans. That's is something I cannot and will not allow."

"Then what do you plan to do?" she asked, "with me?" cocking her head to the side, she raised her brow, "I hope something naughty."

TBC…

Page count: 15

Word Count: 7,072