Caroline found the witches' home in the compound earthy, reminding her of her visits to Bonnie's coven before everything. Before Klaus. Detached from the rest of the wings, it was as if an invisible wall of aloofness shrouded the building. Unlike the rest of the compound, which was shrouded in luxury, the witches created a haven, like a slice of the bayou in the middle of the French Quarter. Different herbs and plants covered every available surface, mortar and pestles strewn about. Six witches lived together sharing everything, their youngest member, a young brunette named Davina, sat across the scarred wooden table from her. Combing through the numerous grimoires laid out in front of her, she appeared anxious to please Caroline. Her first request was a way through the barrier, however, Klaus had beaten her to it, already informing the witches that it was the only thing they were not allowed to grant her. Hmmm, the only thing, Klaus?

Under the guise of necessary protection, she instead asked the young witch for something to keep immortals away, for example if she were to come face to face with Mikael and he couldn't get within a few feet of her. The witches may think the queen prudent for such a request but Caroline's thoughts were on how pissed Klaus was going to be when he couldn't get near her. She couldn't think clearly when his hands were on her, and she needed to think. For a second yesterday, I forgot I was a prisoner. Those kinds of thoughts were dangerous, luckily the arrival of Elijah and the bound Kat was a record-scratch reality check, she may not be bound to a bed but she was still not allowed to leave. As long as she wasn't free, she couldn't be entertaining thoughts like what had entered her head when she'd awoken in the warm haven of Klaus's arms. I want to always wake up like this. When the cold realization settled, she'd bolted from the bed, thinking of only getting away from the sleeping hybrid, running headlong into Elijah. Her happiness at seeing that another pair survived the fire, dimmed at the sight of Kat's chains.

Davina closed another grimoire, snapping Caroline out of her reverie, her brown eyes sparkling with excitement. "I think I found it, Majesty."

A kinship sparked with the young witch, she seemed like an idealist, and it felt a little wrong to be using her to keep Klaus at a distance. "Please, Caroline." She added guiltily.

The young witch's smile brightened proceeding, "Caroline. It's a relatively simple spell, we'll charm a ring for you, turning it to the left three times around your finger activates your shield, turning it right four times deactivates it."

Standing from the table, Davina puttered about the house, collecting different items for the spell. Caroline noticed that the other witches seemed to move out of her way, striving not to come into contact with her. The witches didn't give glances of envy or respect or even fear like they did to an über powerful witch like Bonnie, they seemed to give her a look like she was beneath them. Though Davina was clearly accustomed to it, Caroline saw her eyes betraying her hurt every time one of the witches moved away as she approached. She must be so lonely.

When Davina returned to sit across from her, Caroline impulsively reached out to lay her hand on top of Davina's. The young girl startled, her eyes slightly dimmer than they were before, and Caroline couldn't help but blurt out, "You know you remind me so much of my best friend Bonnie. She's a Bennet witch, I was wondering since she's not here and I seem to be deprived of female companionship, you would come visit me in the main house some time?"

Davina gratefully linked her fingers with Caroline's, before shaking her head, "The King doesn't allow the witches at the main house." Pulling her hand slowly from Caroline's.

Damn Klaus and his rules. "I'm sure he doesn't, but I'm inviting you as a friend not a witch. Plus, there are a ton of empty rooms in the house, he wouldn't even notice."

When Davina made to shake her head in denial again, so Caroline pulled her ace. "It must be a great honor to be the only witch allowed at the main house."

The young witch's eyes lit with understanding and she nodded her head in agreement, hiding a smirk at the other witch's mouths whom hung open at the Queen's invitation. "I would love to visit you at the main house Caroline."

Smirking in delight, Caroline waved Davina on to complete the spell. With a few words in an ancient language, a bit of Caroline's blood, she handed the smaller silver ring with a gem of obsidian to her. Used to Bonnie's explosive magik, she asked hesitantly, "That's it?"

Davina's smile turned indulgent, "That's it."

Giddy to test it out, didn't the sentry assigned to her make a good target? Jumping up, heading towards the door, she turned one last time to Davina, "I meant what I said Davina, should you need it, there are a ton of empty bedrooms in the house, plus you'd be closer to me so we could hang out more often."

With a glowing smile, Caroline departed, having no idea that such a visit to them was unprecedented and had never been asked to do anything, always ordered to do it.

Repeating the same status report for the third time, Marcel couldn't help the insolent smile that curled on his face. Klaus was so visibly distracted, and it only took a moment to realize the source. Marcel wasn't at all surprised that Klaus was having trouble with his mate, he possessed a far more intimate knowledge of each of the Mikaelssons, since the powerful immortal family had raised him. Klaus, the most complex, should not be shocked that he was mated with a Valkyrie who wanted nothing to do with him. He'd overheard the argument with Elijah and knew that any ground he'd gained with her was lost with his brother's arrival. One step forward, two steps back. Though one of the most Machiavellian minds to exist, Klaus was clearly at a loss when it came to his mate.

"You know you could try romancing her."

Klaus's focus snapped back from millions of miles away, raising one tawny eyebrow, to cover his distraction. Klaus's cockiness casting a shadow over how out of his depth he was with Caroline. "You think I need advice on how to woo my female?"

Marcel's own smile was filled with savage glee for his friend's predicament, "Well considering she isn't standing here at your side, I would say yes."

Klaus's smirk disappeared, instead glaring at Marcel, "She is getting used to her new role as my Queen."

Marcel couldn't help the wince, has he always been this clueless when it came to women? "I hate to be the one to tell you this, but this new adjustment period cannot be one sided. If she is to get used to life as your Queen, then you'll have to get used to life as a mated male. You can't continue as you did before your capture, you have to adapt, change to your new life."

Slamming his hands down on the desk, Klaus stood, "I'm over a thousand years old! I'm too old to change, a Valkyrie who's less than a century old can change, I cannot."

Marcel shook his head ruefully, "You're asking for trouble, my old friend. You are not mated to a demure miss, instead fate decried you bound to a shield maiden. Not just any shield maiden either." Marcel chuckled at his own joke, but Klaus glared at him in confusion. Not just any shield maiden?

"What are you saying, Marcel?"

Marcel's eyes widened in astonishment at Klaus's ignorance about his own mate, "You weren't curious about the fact that your mate is the youngest full-blooded Valkyrie by almost ten centuries?" Marcel had spent the days since the Valkyrie's arrival finding out everything about his new Queen.

Klaus was so consumed by thoughts of Caroline's skin and the pleasure she brought him, he wasn't able to think much beyond that. Klaus shook his head, lowering himself back into his chair. As King of the Hybrids he brokered in fear and information, but he knew nothing about his mate's life before coming to rescue him. Had she consumed him so completely that his crippling paranoia took a back seat? He hadn't survived a thousand years by blindly trusting anyone, even his siblings at one point.

Marcel took pity on the clueless Klaus and explained what he'd learned about the Queen, "Caroline Forbes, born fifty years ago, the first full Valkyrie daughter in the last thousand years, and a symbol of hope for her people. When she arrived on Val Hall's doorstep, rumors spread through the Lore about her. Her birth was a complete anomaly, spawning all kinds of theories. Some say it's a sign the old gods have died, using all their remaining power to create her, others thought that this Accession would be more than just a checks and balance of the population, but an all-out war for survival. In an all-out war, Wöden and Freya, used the last of their power to tip the scales for the Valkyries. No one knows for sure, only that she's important. Her foster mother, Annika, is leader of the coven of Valkyrie here in New Orleans. She has a foster sister, Emmaline the Unlikely, whose actually your cousin by the way, whom she spent almost all her time with, until Emma married Lachlan MacRieve, king of the Lykae, a couple of months ago. As kids, Caroline and Emmaline were the apples of their aunts' eyes, but in very different respects."

Klaus's eyebrows pulled down, Caroline didn't seem like a spoiled child, before he could open his mouth to voice his doubt, Marcel grimaced and continued, "I know what you're thinking Klaus, when I say apple of her aunts' eyes I do not mean they spoiled her, far from it. The limited contact with the valkyries we've had, we know them to be an extremely violent, war-hungry species, but until I looked into Caroline's childhood, did I realize how far it extended." Marcel would rather have kept his Queen' s past a secret from his overly protective king, but Klaus clearly needed help with her. Wincing, he continued, "They trained her in the most brutal way imaginable, dropping her in a field of infectious ghouls with nothing but her swords, abandoning her in the wilderness and telling her to survive. They took it upon themselves to create a Valkyrie worthy of her destiny and taught her a hatred of vampires since she could crawl. Emma was different, her they left alone when she showed no aptitude for combat, focusing all their attention on Caroline."

Klaus paled significantly during Marcel's report, the pain dealt to her by those who claim to love her. Her aunts claimed their brutal treatment came from a place of love, whereas Mikael had never concealed his stemmed from hatred. Clenching his fists in rage, he added the valkyries to his list of enemies to be eliminated after Mikael. He would keep her safe from the violent Valkyrie, she would never have to see them again. The valkyries would soon learn why it was unwise to cross him.

"More recently, your Queen took the last Bennet witch under her wing, rarely seen without her. Some of her other cohorts include a berserker named Matt," Marcel shifted uncomfortably and coughed before continuing, "and, a werewolf named Tyler, who she was dating until several years ago."

The mahogany of Klaus's desk began to crack under his grip. A boyfriend?! Before he could grill Marcel for further details about Caroline's past relationships, a haggard sentry was gasping and leaning against the doorway to his study. Finally gaining some decorum, he hastily bowed to his king before beginning, "The Queen, sire…" The sentry paused, his eyes focusing on the floor, narrowing.

The sentry was clearly struggling on how to proceed without offending his King. Glancing at the ceiling, Klaus sighed deeply in understanding, "Don't hold back, Thane."

The sentry continued, "The Queen is running havoc throughout the compound. At her request, another guard escorted her to the witches, where she commissioned an enchanted object that projects an invisible shield around her. A shield, which throws whomever runs into it violently back several feet. The Queen is using it to throw guards around the compound, including several through some walls in another wing."

Marcel was clutching his stomach, his laughter filling the study, as Thane struggled to continue. Klaus shot him a dark glare, narrowing his eyes on Thane. "I don't see the harm in her throwing some guards around."

Glaring at his feet, Thane mumbled, "She may have mentioned using it against you, sire."

Crack! Klaus was on his feet, pieces of his desk crumbling in his hands. Charging towards the door, thought to keep him at a distance, did she?

Marcel blocked his exit with his body, not a wise move, Klaus was just coherent enough to stop himself from wrenching his kidneys from his throat. Placating he threw up his hands, "Klaus, think about this for a second. Remember, woo your mate? Instead of slaughtering a bunch of witches who were simply following your Queen's orders, which is what I'm sure you are considering, try to turn the situation in your favor."

His eyes burning a bright blue, struggling to get control of his beast, as some part of him knew there was truth to Marcel's words. Gaining a modicum of control, his eyes still glowing in anger, he growled, "What do you suggest?"

Marcel gaped momentarily, "I have some recollection of you being charming to the fair sex. She doesn't want you near her? Convince her that's the last thing she wants."

Klaus paused, then a wicked grin stretched over his face. Oh, I'll convince her.

After putting several hybrids through walls around the compound, trying and failing to pick the mystical lock on Elijah's bedroom door, Caroline found herself exploring the compound in earnest, discovering what she assumed was Klaus's art studio. Dominating one of the walls was a canvas of a giant snowflake, and before she thought better of it, she reached out to touch the canvas, though the strokes seemed to convey the untamed aggression of the artist. Reaching out to the viewer sending out vibes of isolation and despair. Tearing her eyes away from the solitary snowflake, snagging on a leather-bound sketch book, tossed carelessly on an overstuffed arm chair. The end table situated next to it was littered with broken charcoal, clearly one of his favorite sketching location. Gingerly picking up the sketchbook, almost afraid of what she would find.

The first couple sketches were landscapes and portraits of people she didn't recognize, the strong strokes of charcoal defining delicate features. Trailing her hand along a strong charcoal line, she could imagine Klaus hunched over frantically sketching, pouring the memory onto the page. His powerful hands that could deliver unmerciful death, could trace the gentlest slope of someone's cheek. This sensitive part of Klaus didn't' mesh with the image of the merciless killer feared by even the oldest of immortals. Would she ever figure him out?

Figuring people out was a hobby, the motivation of why they do what they do, why they are the way they are. She was able to know someone for less than a day and be able to read them like a book, everyone was a puzzle just waiting to be solved. Klaus's puzzle was full of jagged pieces that would never fit together, no matter how much she struggled with them. She'd figured out older immortals, why did she have such trouble with him? One piece was the cruel King of the Hybrids, another the sensitive artist, yet another the loyal sibling, the more she knew about him the more the puzzle pieces refused to fit together.

He kept her here because she was his mate, but on the other side of the token, refused to claim her even when she'd begged. She knew both of his immortal halves must be frothing at the bit to claim her, to mark her as his mate. The longer she went unclaimed the weaker he'd become, and his control was already fraying, especially with her yesterday. He was fighting his very instincts to keep from claiming her, she'd actually begged him to claim her and he'd somehow resisted. He was holding a death grip on his decision to refuse to claim her until she accepted their matehood, or whatever, which she simply couldn't do. Gods knew he refused to let her leave because he refused to be without her, so why not reap the benefits of his highhandedness? Maybe there was something wrong with her? Caroline struggled against her insecurities, why didn't he claim her? Did he only want her because she was his mate? Why else would he cling to getting her to accept their fated bond? Caroline fought against these thoughts, but old wounds die hard.

Absentmindedly flipping through the sketchbook in her hand, she nearly dropped it when she came upon the first colored sketches in the leather-bound book. Sucking in a shaking breath, she turned the pages to the final cover. Hundreds of finished sketches of her in a variety of poses, sleeping, smiling, fighting, aroused, enraged. Klaus had drawn her in every way imaginable and all of them in breathtaking color. Her hand was trembling slightly, yelping when a cultured voice intoned from the doorway, "You deserved to be painted in full Caroline, it was my foolhardy attempt to catch something of your light on the page."

Pulling on some unknown reserve of aloofness, Caroline made her face a blank mask, slowly putting the drawings down. "I didn't think you would want paintings of your prisoner."

Klaus covered a wince at her acerbic tone, charm her, he reminded himself,"I keep you here for your protection Caroline. Do you think that if Mikael hears that I've found my mate, he would just leave you out of this?"

Caroline's brows came down in thought, but her lips turned into a stubborn line, "I can take care of myself. Plus, the Ancient Scourge protects Val Hall I would be safe there." Wraiths circled the manor, spectral hooded beings, preventing anyone from entering or leaving without offering a lock of Valkyrie hair as toll. Slowly, the wraiths were collecting a braid of Valkyrie hair, when complete they would be able to control all valkyries for a short time. She'd once asked her Aunt Nïx about it, worried the toll was too high, her aunt's eyes surprisingly lucid, had twinkled, don't worry sweet Caroline, my contingency plan hurtles this way. Many thought her aunt Nïx was crazed, but the Valkyrie soothsayer was steering this Accession, her seemingly random actions coming together in terrifying clarity.

Klaus, held his hands up in surrender, "This is true. But you haven't been able to contact your coven since we got, back have you? I could escort you there, but the risk of you being exposed for that long is far too great. I have spent over a thousand years waiting for my Queen, I won't lose her now."

He's making a little too much sense to me right now. No, he kept her locked here for his own selfish reasons, because of his paranoia and possessiveness. "If your motives are as pure as you say," Caroline's voice betrayed her skepticism, "let me help in the fight against Mikael. I'm a Valkyrie, I was raised to fight battles and plan wars. When he's dead, I can leave."

Klaus's eyes turned ice blue at the mention of her upbringing, but he covered it by turning his back to her. The more involved she is here, Klaus thought, the more likely she is to stay after this is over. "I was about to spar in the courtyard with Marcel, make sure I haven't lost my edge after the island. Care to join, love?" He didn't enjoy imprisoning Caroline, but he saw no other option, when the threat passed he intended to let her choose. Or at least give the appearance of a choice, he wasn't letting her leave him. So long as she had the right answer when Mikael was dead, she'd never know that he never intended on releasing her. He knew he was getting under her skin, and when he had his hands on her, she craved release with him. But he found himself needing more from her.

"You want to spar with me?"

Klaus turned back to face her, his eyes surprisingly tender, "Is it such a surprise I enjoy your company?"

Crossing her arms in defiance, she snotty replied, "Yes."

Klaus snickered, gesturing her forward, "Come on Caroline. Don't you want the chance to take me down a peg?"

Shrugging noncommittally, "Well when you put it that way…"

"Plus, the staff has informed me that we can't afford any more loss to curtains or pillows."

Ducking his head out of the room narrowly dodging the book Caroline threw at him, her voice laughing, "You Ass!"

Klaus's returning laughter echoed off the halls, even more so as Caroline gave chase.

Klaus knocked Caroline on her ass for the tenth time in a row in the courtyard during their second sparring training that week. They'd struck a tenuous truce, and she was careful not to rock the boat the last two days. Their truce seemed to be easy going but Caroline was becoming more and more restless trying to figure out his motives. He hadn't made a move to touch her intimately, only insisting she sleep in his arms every night, and sparring every day. They sparred relentlessly, and she had newfound appreciation for his strength. He's not only strong and fast, he thinks like a roman war general, Caroline mused. He wasn't going easy on her, which made her grudgingly respect him even more.

On a particularly hard landing, she'd huffed and glared peevishly at him, "You could at least pretend that you aren't enjoying this so much."

Klaus snickered again, reaching down to help her to her feet. "What's not to delight in? The sun on my skin, after almost a century imprisoned? The smell of crawfish, drifting in from the Quarter? Or that my poor little Valkyrie, trained for war, is getting her ass kicked by, what did you call me earlier, a fossil?"

Caroline couldn't help the massive smile that spread across her face at his teasing, even as she punched him in the arm. A sort of friendship appeared to be growing between them, despite Caroline's reluctance. Her irritation at her imprisonment was lessening as she was somehow coming to genuinely enjoy his company. She could also almost delude herself into believing she was staying over at a friend's, well almost.

Human staff, hybrids, and witches congregated around the courtyard watching as the Queen and King sparred. Marcel was leaning nonchalantly against a pillar marveling at the sight before him, as did everyone who were circling the courtyard. Caroline and Klaus fought like two clashing titans, if Klaus weren't one of the oldest immortals in existence, Caroline would have won this match with a hand tied behind her back. But that wasn't what had the population of the compound so fascinated, it was the fact that in all their collective years serving under Klaus, none had ever seen him laugh.

Marcel remained slouch on the pillar, even as Elijah came up next to him. It was the first time the vampire had been seen outside of his room in the last two days. Elijah's voice was mystified as he observed he scene before him, "He's different with her. I never thought to see him like this."

Marcel took note of the envy in his voice, guess his wooing of his Bride wasn't going so well. Marcel had yet to catch sight of the legendary sorceress, Elijah kept a tight rein on the wily immortal. Klaus swept his leg out, taking Caroline to the ground again, hitting the ground hard, she let out an audible whimper of pain. Klaus lost his victorious grin and lunged forward to check her for injuries. The second his guard was down, Caroline wrapped her legs around his and twisted till she sat on his chest, a victorious grin now lighting her face.

Klaus petulantly intoned, "That does not count Caroline!"

Marcel snickered, the Valkyrie fights dirty. Caroline wasn't above using her status as Klaus's mate to win the match. Clever Valkyrie, Klaus will spend the rest of his immortal life trying to second guess her moves.

The courtyard was so absorbed in the spectacle, no one noticed when a vampire with long red hair joined the group, but he was too absorbed in the change overcoming Klaus to notice every face in the crowd. Marcel was normally more alert, and he knew that the last person Klaus would want under the same roof as his mate was his psycho ex, especially when they shared history that lasted decades. When Caroline finally managed to get the better of Klaus, the vampire lunged forward hitting Caroline with the force of a freight train throwing her into the wall.

Marcel shouted, "Aurora!"

The vampire didn't even glance in his direction, throwing herself into Klaus's arms, "I can't believe your alive!"

Before Klaus could throw the presumptive vampire out of his arms, as if he would want anyone but the ethereal Valkyrie standing a few feet away, Aurora's hair was snatched at its roots, yanking her off him, and throwing her onto her back in the grass. Caroline stood over her, her swords resting on Aurora's neck.

With the slightest motion, she could remove her head, her voice deadly calm, echoing over the now silent courtyard, "Don't try that again."

Aurora knew that the immortal standing above her was a shield maiden and that threat was anything but idle. But she was a petty and jealous immortal, who'd lived almost as long as Klaus, and lacked caution, "Who the hell do you think you are, lightning whore?" Caroline's eyes turned silver at the insult.

Klaus was up and standing next to Caroline glaring furiously down at Aurora. "What are you doing here Aurora?"

"I heard rumors you returned, I wanted to see if they were true. Who is this Valkyrie?"

"She's to be treated as the most honored guest." Klaus stated imperially.

Caroline did not miss that, despite proclaiming it at every opportunity, Klaus did not call her his mate or his Queen. The tip of her sword dug a little deeper into the vampire, causing blood to spill. Because she still sensed a threat, not because she was jealous. She was not jealous.

"Caroline, you can let her up now. She won't attack again."

Her lips compressed into an annoyed line, she retracted her swords. Swiping her towel and water bottle, her teeth clenched with anger, she stomped from the courtyard without another word.

Klaus, failing to notice Caroline's disappearance, reached down to wrap a single hand around Aurora's throat and held her midair, her feet dangling. His voice was enraged, causing the crowd to disperse immediately, none wanted to be there when his temper was high. "How dare you lay a single hand on my mate!"

Aurora's face was turning a molted purple as she gasped for breath but managed to stutter, "M-mate?"

Chucking her into the same wall she threw Caroline, it shattered the plaster, leaving a deep crater from where she hit. "You are lucky, you foolish girl, that I was able to complete my goal or I would be holding your heart in my hands!"

Marcel, who hadn't evacuated the courtyard raised his eyebrows, moving preternaturally fast to catch the object Klaus threw to him. A small silver ring. Well, damn, Marcel's huge grin returned, the King is back.

"Leave here Aurora, and do not return unless at my queen's request."

The vampire scuttled out, gasping for air, leaving Klaus, Marcel and Elijah alone in the courtyard. "Have the witches make the ring ineffective against me, and return it to Caroline. Make sure she doesn't notice it was gone."

Marcel bowed his head, still sporting a huge grin and went to fulfill his king's orders.

Klaus took in Elijah's haggard appearance, his eyes bloodshot from lack of sleep. Clapping his brother on the shoulder, he gestured to his study, quietly shutting the doors behind him.

"Bourbon?"

Elijah silently nodded. Taking the proffered glass in his hand and took a seat in front of his brother's desk.

"I received word from our missing siblings, apparently Bonnie managed to save them from being blown up. They should be here tomorrow."

Elijah wasn't surprised, it took more than a little explosion to take out their family. Staring deeply into the glass in front of his, swirling it delicately in one hand, without taking a sip.

"Elijah, you need to get past this."

Elijah glanced up, his eyes bleak. "I can't."

Fingers steeped in thought, "Why not? You've suffered worse betrayals than this. Mother's for instance?"

Running a rough hand over his face, Elijah set down the liquor, not taking a single sip. "I think I could forgive her for betraying us, but there's more."

Klaus's tawny brow raised in interest, "More?"

"She wants nothing to do with me."

"What do you mean?"

Elijah leaned back in the winged chair, "Every time I ask her anything about her past or future, she answers with half-truths or blatant lies. I asked her what she would do when Mikael was dead, she answered 'Probably get my scuba certification'."

Klaus chuckled at that, "What about..." this was a question he dreaded to hear the answer from his brother, "seducing her?"

Elijah let out a harsh bark of laughter, "Katerina has made no secret about wanting me physically. She delights in torturing me with it, attempting to force me to break my vow not to claim her until we're man and wife."

Elijah, forever the traditionalist. "Ah. Have you thought about letting her outside of your bedroom? I've heard females don't enjoy being isolated from everyone."

"I think I have to. Though I dread the idea she might..." His eyes glowed blood red.

Klaus knew his brother well, "That she'll discover someone she desires more?"

Elijah ground his teeth, "Yes."

Klaus leaned back gently, his head swirling with plans. He needed Elijah at full strength for them to have a chance against Mikael. "I have an idea, but you're going to have to trust me on it. And not ask any questions."

Elijah shook his head, but Klaus had already implemented his plan in his mind and if it worked, his brother might just have his Bride in truth.

Klaus found Caroline pacing and swinging her sword aggressively back and forth in their room. Muttering to herself, she shot a single baleful glance at him at his entrance, before resuming her pacing. Klaus stepped directly in front of her holding her face in his hands, eyes searching, "Are you all right Caroline?"

Her eyes lost their irritation for a second before she yanked her head out of his hands, "I'm fine. I've had worse. Who is she?"

This will be fun, Klaus thought sarcastically, he carefully pulled her sword out of her hand as a precaution. How do you tell your mate that a vampire you used to sleep with, just attacked her? "She's an old friend."

Caroline scoffed, "Well then I should be moving to another room, after all, wouldn't want to interrupt when your friend comes to visit."

She even headed towards the closet to pack her things, "Caroline, are you jealous?"

Klaus couldn't keep the delight at the idea out of his tone, if she's jealous of Aurora, she's starting to feel something more.

Caroline whipped around storming till she was toe-to-toe with him. "I am not JEALOUS!"

The last word uttered at such a volume, Klaus felt his left ear drum burst. Ignoring that he couldn't hear in his left ear, a smile split his face, "Aurora and I were once lovers, yes, but that was almost five hundred years ago, I've moved on, she clearly hasn't. That display in the courtyard was nothing more than a feeble attempt at reconciliation on her part. I didn't expect you to be so angry. Admit it Caroline, you don't like the idea of any other woman, touching what's yours."

"Maybe I wouldn't be jealous if you actually pretended like you wanted me the last two days!"

He must have heard her wrong, "Y-You think I don't want you?"

Caroline opened her mouth to reply, why did she say that, before she could form a tart reply, she was sailing through the air, bouncing slightly as she landed on the bed. Before she could process her sudden flight, Klaus used his supernatural speed to lay on top of her. Locking her hands above her head with his own, and keeping her body imprisoned. He smiled delightedly, not only was she clearly jealous of Aurora, but she was clearly suffering from him not initiating anything intimate between them, she was coming to realize that she needed to be touched by him as much as he needed to touch her. It was the reason he'd kept from any sexual moment between them for two days, to force her to realize how bad it would be without him. He hadn't been able to give up sleeping with her though, he was becoming swiftly addicted to nightmare free sleep, it had been a tortuous two days for them both.

She clearly expected him to yell at her, anything else but what he did. He began smothering her with kisses and compliments. A kiss on her lips, "As if I could look at another woman," On her nose, "when you stand so close," her pointed ears, "everything I could desire," her forehead, "in a queen." Kissing her lips softly again, "I will never understand Caroline, the things I've done in my long life, what I have ever done, to be mated to you."

Damn, his sweet words melted her ire, kissing him back tenderly. It didn't occur to Caroline, that this was the first time they acted like there was something more between them than a fated pairing. Klaus gazed at her in wonder before his wicked smile returned, "Now what was it you said about me not wanting you, my queen?"

God when he says my queen like that, like electroshock to her libido, shifting in anticipation, her voice dropped to a seductive purr, "Guess you'll just have to prove it to me, my king."