Chapter 4

Broken hearts

Tristan stared at the ceiling in the dark, he didn't dare to move. Ginna was asleep; her head was resting on his chest. This was the first time when he had held her like this. He had never held anyone like this. Carefully he touched her hair. He was in love with this woman; she was everything he had ever wanted. The thought was confusing, but it also filled him with guilt. He hadn't thought about her reputation when he had taken her innocence, he had only thought about how desperately he had wanted her.

She deserved so much better. He was ashamed when he thought about it now, his behavior had been everything but gentlemanly. A woman like her deserved to be cherished, worshiped. The way he had treated her… He knew that he needed to make things right, although he feared that it would be too little too late. They had been together for so many times that it was possible she was with child already. She could be carrying his son or daughter. The thought made him to hold her even more protectively.

He needed to make things right and wed her as soon as possible. Writing to her father would take too long, so he would talk to her brothers and ask for her hand in marriage. Surely they would agree, they had no reason not to. He didn't think that his father would have any rejections either; she was more than a suitable spouse for Tristan. His wife and the mother of his children. Lady Ginna de Martel. That sounded very good. He didn't think for a second that she wouldn't accept his proposal; he knew that she loved him. Neither of them had ever said it out loud, they didn't have to.

"My beautiful Ginna," he murmured and touched her cheek. "I want you to be mine forever."

He had got used to getting what he wanted and he wasn't going to let anything stand in his way. This was the woman he was meant to be with, he was sure of it. She was his and he wasn't going to let anyone take her from him.


Italy, 1114

Ginna's eyes flew open and she gasped in shock. Her whole body felt strange, she couldn't understand what had happened to her.

"It's alright, sister," Elijah's calming voice said. "It's alright."

Ginna blinked her eyes in order to clear her vision. The first thing she saw was Elijah's face hovering over her, his hand was stroking her hair.

"What…what happened?" Ginna asked hoarsely.

"Hunters," Elijah replied tensely. "They managed to dagger us all."

Ginna frowned; the last thing she remembered was going to sleep.

"If they daggered us all then how…"

"I am immune to the daggers," Nik's voice said. "Fortunately for all of us."

Ginna tried to get into a sitting position; Elijah wrapped his arm around her and helped her up. She noticed that she was on the sofa in their parlor. Rebekah was sitting at the table; she had wrapped her arms around her. Nik was standing in front of the fireplace with his arms crossed, his expression was harsh.

"Finn and Kol…" Ginna started.

"Kol has already been undaggered," Nik cut in. "He went after the rest of the hunters."

"And Finn?"

"He won't be undaggered," Nik replied coldly.

Ginna's eyes widened.

"What?"

"You heard me."

Ginna stared at him disbelievingly.

"You cannot mean that."

Nik smiled.

"I believe I can. I am sick of his whining and judgmental attitude, he cannot be trusted."

Ginna's eyes narrowed, she stood up and glared at Nik.

"You have no right, he is our brother…"

She didn't have time to finish her sentence when Nik was in front of her, roughly grabbing her by the throat.

"Niklaus!" Elijah protested.

"I would watch my tongue if I were you, sister," Nik snarled. "Unless you wish to join Finn."

"Niklaus, that's enough," Elijah said tensely.

Ginna looked into Nik's eyes and saw nothing there. No warmth, no compassion, no love. Nothing. He had lost all that when Aurora had broken his heart. That didn't justify his despotic behavior; he wasn't the only one whose heart had been broken. Even after all these years, Tristan's cruel words still hurt. He had said that she had been nothing but entertainment to him; she had never meant anything to him. What man would ever respect a woman who apparently would spread her legs to anyone?

And the marriage proposal? Surely she hadn't thought that he had actually meant it. He had only wanted to keep her willing to satisfy his needs. He might have as well ripped her heart out. That would have been less painful. She hadn't been the same after that, something inside her had died. One thing was for sure, she would certainly never trust any man ever again. She kept glaring at Nik when he released her.

"You think we are your subjects?" she asked coolly.

He raised an eyebrow.

"Are you challenging me, sister?"

She pressed her lips together and glanced at Elijah.

"Elijah? Surely you do not accept this?"

He looked distressed and sighed.

"Perhaps this is for the best. For Finn also, you know he have always hated what we are…"

"You cannot be serious," Ginna snapped. "You want to leave our brother daggered?"

"Yes, he does," Nik cut in. "And so does Bekah."

Ginna looked at her sister who kept her eyes on the table.

"Rebekah? Is that true?"

"Yes," she murmured. "I think it's for the best. For all of us."

Ginna couldn't believe what she was hearing. Apparently her siblings were willing to let Nik push them around however he wanted. Even Elijah who Ginna had always looked up to. For some reason he still kept coddling Nik. It was true that Nik was the strongest one of them, but that didn't stop them from leaving him. Unfortunately Ginna understood that Elijah and Rebekah weren't willing to do that. She however was. If that meant also leaving the rest of her family, then be it.

But first she would undagger Finn, she felt that she owed him that much. They had spent some time together after leaving from France and although she hadn't told him what had happened with Tristan, he had still managed to comfort her with his calming presence. She had found his company soothing, he never asked her to even speak if she didn't want to. Yes, he was often gloomy and he had many times cursed this new life of theirs, but he didn't deserve to be left daggered.

"Fine," she stated coolly. "If that is what you all think."

Nik smiled and touched her hair.

"Smart girl."

Elijah placed his hand on her shoulder when Nik left the room.

"Ginna…"

"It's fine," she cut in. "I understand, brother." She paused and looked into his eyes. He had always been there for her and she loved him, but she knew that he wouldn't leave Nik. She only hoped that he would one day understand why she couldn't stay.