Warning, mature content

Part 28

3 years later

Dafne couldn't sleep, she was worried about Tristan. He had been much stressed lately and he had lost one of his oldest friends, one of the original members of the Strix. Tristan didn't usually show his feelings to anyone; he didn't want to look weak or vulnerable. Many people thought that he didn't have feelings at all. Those people were wrong.

Dafne had gotten to know him during their marriage and he was a very complex man. Cold and merciless, but also warm and loving. He was willing to do anything for the people he cared about. Dafne had seen that he would have done anything for her. He didn't want anyone else, only her. She was his equal in every way. Yet she had held back.

Exposing herself completely to someone scared her much more than she wanted to admit. Giving her heart to someone meant vulnerability. She would give him the power to hurt her. Maybe she had learned to trust him and she cared about him, but her heart still remained closed. There was only one man who had possessed every part of her and that man had broken her heart.

Yet she would be bound to him as long as he would live, whether she wanted to or not. That was the reason why she hadn't been able to give herself to Lucien and she didn't know if she could give herself to Tristan either. He knew that and he hadn't pressured her.

Suddenly she heard a noise and turned toward the sound. Tristan had just entered her bedchamber. Sometimes she needed time by herself, so they both had their own chambers, even though they often shared a bed. Watching her husband undress in the dark, she stayed quiet, sensing his tension. He crawled across the sheets to her and pulled her small frame against him.

"How is my wife?" he murmured in the dark.

"Your wife is fine. How are you?"

"You're here. I'll be fine. I think."

She could sense that things were worse than she had thought. Tristan really needed her.

"Yes, I'm right here," she said, wrapping her arms around his muscular shoulders.

He sighed and kissed her lips. She could feel the tension in his taut body as she ran her hands up and down his arms.

"Do you want to talk about it?" she asked.

He shook his head as he pushed her gently onto her back.

"Not right now."

He slipped his hand under the hem of her nightgown and stroked her thigh

"Are you sure?" she asked, touching his cheek.

"Please, Dafne. I need this," he whispered. "I need to be close to you."

She nodded and helped him to remove her nightgown.

"My beautiful Dafne," he murmured and kissed her.

She moaned as he teased her nub with his fingertips and gently sucked on her nipples until they hardened in his warm mouth. He knew how to make her soaking wet for him; physically they were more than compatible. When he entered her, she wrapped her legs around his lower back and clung to him with all her strength.

Missionary wasn't their favorite position, but tonight that was what he needed. She felt that he needed the comfort of her whole body wrapped around him. As he thrust into her, she caressed his back with her hands and his shoulder with her lips. It was very intimate, although she sensed his stress and grief.

"It's alright," she whispered into his ear. "I'm right here."

She rocked her hips in order to help him to relax.

"Dafne, stop, I won't last a minute at this rate…"

"It's alright," she repeated and stroked his hair. "Just come when you need to."

"Are you sure? I don't want you to feel used…"

"I'm sure."

He kissed her and dug his hands into the soft skin of her thighs and thrust harder. She relaxed beneath him, happy she could do this one small thing to help him. He came with a quiet shudder and lingered inside her for a few minutes before pulling out.

"Thank you," he murmured, pulling her to him and resting his head on her shoulder. "I love you so much. I don't know what I would do without you."

She rolled onto her other side and pressed her back to Tristan's chest. He held her tight to him and gently kissed her neck.

"I love you too," she heard herself saying. In that moment she realized that she meant it. She loved him. Truly loved him. She had finally left her past behind her for good.

Cadiz, Spain, 1702

"Perfect," Klaus snorted as he and Elijah dismounted. Many houses in the village were on fire, Kol had certainly made a mess.

Elijah sighed and shook his head.

"All my efforts to protect this family… Useless. Father is no doubt on his way here as we speak."

Klaus was too angry to reply, he marched towards the tavern. Something told him that was the right place to look for Kol. He was even surer of that after seeing the bodies lying all around the floor.

"Kol!" Klaus shouted. "Kol! I know you're here! Show yourself!"

"Calm down, Nik," Kol's voice huffed from the corner table.

Klaus' eyes narrowed as he saw Kol sitting at the table, a wine goblet in his hand. And he wasn't alone, there was someone sitting opposite him. A woman who was wearing a dark blue cloak. Her face was hidden under the hood, but Klaus certainly didn't care about her right now.

"Do you have any idea what you have done?" Elijah asked icily as he joined Klaus.

"Having a little fun," Kol replied smirking.

"We must leave," Elijah stated, ignoring Kol's cocky reply. "Mikael is coming."

"Hmm and yet Nik is still alive," Kol huffed.

"I barely escaped," Klaus snapped. "Father left the head of my horse on a pike."

Kol pretended to be shocked.

"He killed Porfio? What a beast."

"Enough," Elijah snapped. "We are leaving, the ship waits."

"No, I don't think so," Kol hummed. "I happen to be in the middle of a very interesting conversation."

"Then take the girl with you if you must, but we are leaving right now."

Kol looked at his companion and smiled.

"Now that's an interesting idea. What do you think, darling?"

The girl stood up and lifted the hood. Klaus' eyes widened, both him and Elijah stared at her disbelievingly.

"Dafne…"