Chapter 23

Rebekah's beloved vampire hunter, Alexander, had shoulder-length dark brown hair and his hazel eyes could often be found gazing fondly at Rebekah. He appeared to be a gentle man who adored the only woman of the Mikaleson siblings at first glance. Speaking with him was easy and Kol found himself cracking a smile every now and then.

Yet Kol couldn't help staring at the man during the whole evening, thinking that something was wrong with the picture. Could it be some magical instinct against a vampire hunter? Or was it the knowledge that his sister would soon be mortal again and their time together was running out?

"Worried?" Nik suddenly asked, coming to his side to observe Rebekah and Alexander's silhouettes at the entrance of the villa.

The lovebirds were whispering some last sweet words before parting for the night. Because of the light of the torches, their elongated shadows appeared to be locked in an embrace. Looking at them, Kol could almost imagine them with grey hair and wrinkles at the corners of their eyes and grandchildren playing around them. It was a bittersweet feeling and he couldn't find it in himself to be happy for his sister. Because it was wrong and he didn't know why.

"Not you?" he asked his brother instead of answering his question.

Nik shrugged, "Not anymore. Alexander is a good man and they truly loved each other. Rebekah will be happy with him."

"Yes, she will." If nothing went wrong. Rebekah will be happy, even if only for a few decades. He would fight for her dreams, eve if it meant losing her. As long as she was happy, then it was fine. Even if he wasn't. "Don't you fear he'll hurt her once he discovers what she is? Or what if he refuses to become a vampire?"

"I already told you, I'm not worried anymore." Nik smiled softly. "Look at how he stares at our little sister. One would think she is the sun itself."

Alexander kissed their sister's forehead. A chaste kiss accompanied by a soft caress of her face. it truly was a beautiful sight.

"I just feel something is wrong," Kol admitted with a sigh, despair coming from the deepest part of his mind screaming at him to kill Alexander immediately, no matter how his siblings would hate him afterwards.

"Of course it is," Nik chuckled, ruffling Kol's hair as if he was still a child, "our sister is going to marry. It's good of you to feel that way. I would be worried if you didn't."

Facing Nik, Kol gave up trying to voice his fear and shook his head. "I guess you are right."

Obviously, he was the only one feeling that way. Casting one last glance at the couple before the villa, he said, "It's late, I'll leave now. Finn must have already gone home."

"I hope you know you can stay," Nik offered, "It is your home too. Besides, I assure you the company here is better than Finn and Sage's. With our brother's lamentations and the vulgar behavior of that lover of him, it's better to stay here."

"Thanks Nik but I'm pretty sure Rebekah won't be the only one marrying. Sage is our future sister-in-law, I should get to know her better."

He hadn't made five steps before Nik called him.

"About before Kol, I'm sorry," he apologized with a sheepish smile, "I should have gone to welcome you. I never meant to hurt you."

Nik's words startled him and Kol couldn't help smiling, a warm feeling surging inside him. "I'm fine Nik, no need to worry. It takes more than that to hurt me."

The warm feeling remained with him during the entirety of the travel back to Sófi's house. Truth was, Nik often hurt him with his words and actions. Ever since the night their mother bound his wolf with their father and Elijah's help and caused the death of Tatia, something had changed in his brother. Or to be more accurate, Something had broken Inside him. He was not the soft brother of the past, but one who never seemed to realize how deep his words could cut into Kol. And now, more than one century later, Nik apologized to him.

He entered Sófi's house silently and walked towards his bedroom. The door cracked when it opened, drawing a grimace on his face when Nora shifted in her sleep. The beating of her heart was regular though, with no signs of waking up.

He quickly took off his clothes before slipping in the bed. Just as he lied down, Nora rolled on her side and laid her head on his bare chest, a content sigh escaping her when she did so. He ran a hand through her hair as she opened one hazy eye, a sleepy smile on her face. "Everything's fine?"

"Shhh, sleep," he softly replied, "we'll talk tomorrow."

She put a hand on his chest and closed her eye, obviously happy to feel him next to her.

"Love you," she mumbled before falling asleep once more.

"I love you too Nora," he whispered, wrapping an arm around her and kissing the top of her head.

He spent a few more minutes listening to her slow but steady breathing and the comforting beating of her hearts before he closed his eyes.

When Kol woke up, the sun was barely a little spot on the horizon and the sky was still dark. Lying on him, Nora was sleeping deeply with her mouth open and a snicker escaped him when he wiped out the drool on the corner of her lips.

Somehow, he managed to leave the bed and got dressed without waking her up, then he went looking for water in order to take a bath. When Sófi entered the kitchen later and saw him boiling water, her brows shot up. "You can cook?!"

"I can, yes, but this isn't what I'm doing right now," he chuckled. "Nora and I like to bath in the morning."

The witch looked at the several water jugs waiting to be boiled. "I never thought a man could be so…"

"Considerate?"

"Actually, I was going to say domesticated but if it makes you happy..." She glanced at the water thoughtfully. "I guess I can help you."

The spell was easy enough and didn't need any words. Only intend mattered. Quickly, the water inside the jars started to boil.

Before carrying the jars away, Kol gave a piece of paper to Sófi. "The instructions for Sage's ring."

The witch didn't waste any time to read it while Kol grabbed two jars and left the kitchen to fill the big wooden tub in the bedroom.

Soon, a thin mist began to fill the room. For a normal human, the water temperature would be unbearable. For Nora though, the heat was pure bliss and she let out a sigh when the water engulfed her body. Behind her, Kol laid an arm over the rim of the tub and wrapped the other around Nora's waist, pulling the redhead into his chest. When her head dropped on his shoulder, he kissed the skin in front of his eyes and asked in a teasing voice, "is my lady satisfied?"

"Hmmm… She would be even more if there was a plate of fruit within reach," Nora answered him before she turned her head to give him a peck on the lips. "Good thing you don't taste too bad."

"No food outside the storage room and the kitchen to keep the rats outside. Sófi's order."

"Makes sense," Nora pouted, "It's a pity though."

His hand left her waist to rub her nipple with his thumb. "Don't worry, I'll make you forget your disappointment."

"Yes, I can feel that," Nora laughed, her hand going behind her to grip the proof of his desire.

His breath hitched before he buried his face in the hollow of her neck and murmured against the skin, "you're supposed to move your hand now."

"Oh?" she exclaimed softly and but didn't make any movement. "You want me to exercise with an empty stomach?"

He engulfed her hand with his own and forced it to move. "Good thing I'm here to help you then."

She shook her head and freed her hand. Then she dropped her head back on his shoulder and gave him a lazy smile. "It's too early. You can do the work out for the two of us."

"As you wish," he chuckled, then stopped talking and took hold of her waist to lift her up.

Not long after that, moans and sighs and helpless sobs could be heard inside the room as more and more water left the tub to splash the floor.

When they finally left the room, Finn and Sage were already up talking with Sófi and a beautiful golden ring with a lapis lazuli gemstone was adorning Sage's finger. His future sister-in-law was beaming, unveiling two rows of white teeth without restraint.

"Sage, keep smiling like that and you're going to blind me," Nora said happily as she entered the room. "Are you that happy to be able to walk under the sun again?"

Finn and Sage exchanged a loving glance before Sage shook her head and began to say, still smiling, "Finn asked me to marry…" Kol's and Nora's eyes widened in shock, surprised by Finn's courage. Then she finished speaking and Kol almost had to pick his jaw up, "Today. We are getting married today!"

With that said, Sage forgot about them and threw herself at Finn to kiss him passionately.

"Do you think she's trying to touch his tonsils?" Nora whispered with an amused smile and sparkling eyes.

"He's clearly a willing partner," Kol answered, watching Finn's arm pulling his soon-to-be-wife closer.

"Hard to miss that," Nora snorted, "especially with his hand there."

"Looks like they've forgotten us."

"It is a bit awkward to be honest."

Right. It really was. Good thing there was Sófi to cough loudly with a red face, her eyes looking everywhere but at the couple who was quick to separate and stammer some excuses.

"Well, congratulations!" Nora exclaimed and went to hug Sage and slap Finn's back. "You're clearly ready for the 'you may kiss the bride' part. Or the groom in this case."

Kol quickly put his hand on Nora's mouth and pulled her against him, her back pressed up against his chest, to stop her from making Finn and Sage even more uncomfortable. He was the good brother after all. Finn didn't need to know he was laughing inside at Nora's remarks.

The love of his life began to gesticulate, pulling on his hand without success. Eventually, she resorted to licking the palm of his hand. Which didn't work of course.

"Congratulations Finn, Sage," Kol said with a warm smile, "Why today though? Don't you want a big wedding?"

In his arms, Nora suddenly stopped moving, waiting for the couple's answer curiously.

Finn looked lovingly at Sage.

"We just want to be married as soon as possible. To be officially husband and wife."

That, Kol could understand. However…

"Have you told our siblings already?"

Finn's face darkened and Sage grimaced.

"I went to see them early this morning," Finn explained somberly, "They… explicitly told me they had no desire to go to the wedding or even acknowledge Sage's existence our family. Sage and I will leave after Rebekah's wedding."

Kol winced, "I am sorry Finn. They are a bunch of dimwits."

"Not your fault Kol," Finn sighed, "but thank you nevertheless."

The pain inside Finn's eyes was obvious, as was the disgust towards his siblings that Sage and Nora felt.

"We will be there of course," Nora said in a gentle voice. "Sage, do you want my help to get ready? Do you have a dress already? I do not know what are the current marriage rites but I would be happy to help you."

"Thank you Nora," Sage replied, "and yes, your help is very much welcomed."

Sófi also offered her help, though not without casting a glance full of pity towards Finn. When the three women left the room, Kol turned towards Finn who was staring at the door Sage had just closed.

"I still hate what we are," Finn eventually murmured wistfully, "but these years spent by Sage's sides makes me believe that she's worth it. She's worth all the pain in the world. I wouldn't even mind dying a thousand times for just a glance at her."

"Why have you waited so long to ask me for the Daylight Ring spell then?" Kol asked, not even bothering to hide the curiosity in his voice.

Upon hearing his question, Finn stilled and remained silent for a moment. "I… wasn't sure I could trust you," he admitted quietly once the silence had become unbearable.

"What changed?"

"You."

Kol let out a mirthless laugh before pointing out, "But I didn't change Finn."

He was still the same. Or at least he thought so.

Silence filed the room once more, with the two brothers staring at each other every now and then. Unlike the bride, he didn't need any make up and seemed to be satisfied with the clothes he wore.

Two hours later, Nora came back inside the room with a big smile and wasted no time to come to Kol's side. She kissed his cheek and brushed a lock of hair behind his ear before looking at Finn warmly.

"Where does the bride need to go?"

Finn immediately stood up straight, his fist clenching nervously. "There is a church in a small village twenty minutes by carriage from here."

"A catholic wedding then?" Kol chimed in, his head tilted.

Finn nodded with a wry smile, his eyes twinkling. "Sage wanted a church wedding. Despite all his faith, the priest wasn't protected against compulsion."

Sorry for the very late update. The last two months haven't been easy and while I wasn't satisfied with this chapter, I couldn't find the motivation to edit it. Things are a bit better now so here it is. I hope it was worth the wait :)

See you next time!