I swallowed past the lump in my throat and did as ordered. "I was asking for help locating the moonstone."

"You're going to have to clarify that a bit, sweetheart."

He wasn't going to like the next part. "I have a spell that allows me to travel to the Other Side. I've used it to acquire some of my more unusual spells. I thought maybe someone would know where the moonstone was or at least have a spell I haven't tried yet."

There was a long pause and I could feel his eyes on me, but didn't dare turn to look at him. I brushed my hair as if it was the most important thing in the world. "I'm fairly certain your hair is untangled enough, Cassie."

I set the brush on his nightstand but kept my back to him. I'd start crying again if I looked at him.

"Why did you feel the need to do this in the middle of the night without telling anyone?"

"A dream woke me and I went downstairs to get a drink. It just occurred to me to try."

There was silence for a long moment. "Why did you not come get one of us? Or wait until tomorrow, at the very least?"

I shrugged. I was a grown, strong, independent woman. I didn't want to admit that I'd come to depend on him. That I lived for the moments we spent together. I didn't want to tell him that he broke my heart and I just wanted to escape from here. "After this evening, I think it best I find the moonstone as quickly as possible."

"And why did you not come to me or my brother when your dream woke you?" he asked.

"I didn't want to bother anyone."

He sighed and I chanced a look at him. His arms were crossed over his chest while his blue eyes studied me. "You are never a bother, Cassie. In fact, you the least bothersome female I have ever encountered."

I gave him a half-smile.

"We've been looking for the moonstone for five hundred years. Why the sudden urgency?"

The man was bound and determined to understand my motivation. I didn't think telling him he was a dick would go over well. I was suddenly so tired. "I don't know if you noticed, but I am not a vampire. I don't have five hundred years. Neither does Elena for that matter. Besides, it's clear I've overstayed my welcome. It's time for me to go home, Nik."

He sucked in a breath and his eyes flared. A slow smile spread across his face. "You called me Nik."

My hand flew up to cover my mouth. I had. Damn it. "Sorry. It won't happen again."

"I liked it." He changed his position on the bed so he could crawl toward me like the predator he was.

My heart raced and my chest grew tight. He was gorgeous like this. Hell, who was I kidding? He was always gorgeous. When he stopped moving, his face was inches from mine. I ran my eyes over his features. "You called me a whore. It hurt."

His smile faded and my eyes didn't leave his as I waited to see what he would say, how he would excuse his behavior this time.

He swallowed. "I apologize, love. Elijah was taking what was mine. I didn't like it. I lost my temper."

As far as excuses went, that was a damn good one. And he apologized. I wondered when the last time was the hybrid apologized to anyone. "Didn't you ever learn to share, Nik?" My voice had taken on a breathy quality I didn't recognize.

He tilted his head to the side and his gaze intensified. "I won't share you, Cassie. Not with anyone."

"Since when do I belong to you?" We moved closer, until only a breath separated us.

His lips brushed along mine in answer, once, twice. I leaned forward, trying to get closer, and he wrapped a hand in my hair to hold me to him. Our tongues danced as we nibbled, bit and fed at each other's mouths.

We pulled back and looked at each other. "I take it you don't want me to leave then?" I asked.

He smiled, flashing both dimples. "No. I don't want you to leave, sweetheart."

The sound of a throat clearing interrupted us and I turned to see Elijah leaning against the doorframe. My cheeks heated. "I hope this means I can quit attempting to make you jealous, Niklaus. I wasn't sure how much further I could take things without getting my heart ripped out for my efforts."

"Not much," the hybrid growled making me smile.

"I just wanted to make certain you were all right, Cassie. Good night." He left us alone, closing the door behind him.

A FEW WEEKS LATER, I sat outside on the roof, making some notes in my grimoire when my phone buzzed. I frowned as I picked it up. I rarely heard from anyone but Elijah and Nik and they were right inside. I had a text from John Gilbert. John was Elena's birth father and brother to the man that adopted her. He was also the one that introduced me to the Gilberts as the daughter of a friend when I wanted to get to know Elena. Of course, he hadn't done so out of the goodness of his heart. I'd threatened to expose him to Elena before he consented.

Over the years, our relationship improved and we actually got along quite well now. Though he didn't know I currently lived with the Originals. I doubted he'd take that information well. He wasn't a big fan of the supernatural. And his daughter was the doppelganger. Never let it be said life didn't have an impeccable sense of irony.

His text was only three words: She knows everything.

I sent a quick reply that I'd be visiting soon and headed inside. I followed their voices and my nose into the kitchen. The brothers decided they were making dinner this evening and the air smelled of tomato and garlic. My mouth watered. I pocketed my phone and leaned against the doorframe to watch them.

"If you believe your presence will hurry us along, Cassie, you are mistaken. There are some things that cannot be rushed." Elijah continued to stir the sauce on the stove as he spoke.

Nik was slicing vegetables for a salad and came over to give me a kiss. "Hello, sweetheart."

"Hello, Nik." He smiled widely as he always did when I called him that. I wasn't sure why it brought him such pleasure but it was an easy thing to continue. I took a carrot from the pile he'd cut. "So," I said, drawing out the word. "It appears I'm going to be making a trip."

Elijah glanced at me and Nik laid down his knife. He rested his hands on the edge of the counter before turning to me. "Why do I gather from your tone that you are intending to take this trip alone?"

I patted his shoulder. "Because you are a very intuitive hybrid." I kissed his cheek and felt his jaw twitch beneath my touch.

"Where are you going?"

I gathered the salad dressing and shredded cheese to take them out to the table while I talked. Dinner was almost ready. "Virginia."

Nik brought the salad out to the table. "Where in Virginia?"

"Mystic Falls."

He turned his head slowly to look at me, an unreadable expression on his face.

"Did you say Mystic Falls?" Elijah called from the kitchen.

"Yes, why?" My eyebrows drew together. "What's going on?"

Nik pulled out my chair for me. "Let's talk while we eat."

Once everything had been placed on the table, they sat as well. "So, what's the deal with Mystic Falls?" I asked before taking a bite of pasta.

"First, why is it you need to go there?" Nik asked.

"I got a text saying my cousin knows everything now. I'm assuming that includes the fact she's the doppelganger. I need to talk to her and not over the phone."

"The doppelganger's in Mystic Falls?" Nik laughed.

I looked at Elijah hoping he'd provide some enlightenment.

He cleared his throat and sat his fork down. "The area now known as Mystic Falls is where our family resided when we were human. It is where we became vampires."

I smiled, once again thinking of the irony of the universe. "Actually, that works out nicely. What better place to break a curse than where it originated?"

"I'll go with you," Nik said and took a sip of his wine.

"No. You won't." He frowned at my response. "She's family. I'm going to make sure she actually knows everything and attempt to get her to cooperate with breaking the curse. Everything will go so much easier if everyone just cooperates."

Nik scowled. "Yes. It would. I don't like you going off by yourself, love."

"Calm down, Nik. What's going to happen in a little town like Mystic Falls?"