AN: I do not own TVD or TO.

Just a little note. Nobody has been raped in this story, but there is mention of past attempted rape. So far there is no plan to include a rape in the story, but if there is one I will definitely warn you guys here in the author's note at the start of the chapter.

There is some smut in this chapter.

Anger.

Anger was a powerful motivator.

It rooted itself in her stomach. It sprung up like new flowers through her veins. It fueled every step she took through the garden. It flashed in her eyes when she stepped through the trees into the clearing.

It was almost enough to warm her.

"Do you remember everything?" Caroline whispered. She carefully lifted the cloak from Lexa's shoulders.

"Vividly," Lexa shivered. There was no chance she would ever forget Caroline's advice earlier, although she was sceptical about most of it. The life of a royal could be exceedingly dull; her brothers' wives had often delighted in pulling pranks on newcomers to the court.

She was glad for the dim lighting in the room; it meant she couldn't see the shadows of those she knew would be watching on the other side of the walls. That didn't mean she couldn't feel their stares burning holes in the thin shift where it hung off her shoulders.

"May I offer one final piece of advice?" Caroline folded the heavy cloak over her arm and reached for the veil.

Lexa nodded as she unhooked the material and passed it over.

"Try to relax," Caroline smiled encouragingly.

Lexa took a deep breath and nodded. She ran her fingers through her curls and tugged them forward over her shoulders in an effort to hide the scars before she remembered they were already covered. She swallowed nervously when Caroline left and turned around.

She was running her fingers over the carved bedpost when the door opened and closed again. She inhaled sharply and held her breath. His hand settled on her waist and carefully spun her around to face him.

"Are you alright?" Kol's eyes flickered to her hand where it held a death grip on the bed post.

Lexa stared at his chest where his shirt was open to expose the smooth skin. Her teeth dug into her lower lip.

"Lexa," he lifted her chin with his knuckle.

"I…" She met his eyes and swallowed, "I…" Her eyes darted to a wall to the left that was covered in an ornate pattern and returned to him. "I feel like there are a hundred pairs of eyes on me." She bit her lip again at her use of hyperbole. She knew there were only thirteen people on the other side of the room… fourteen… her eyes darted to the wall again.

"If it helps," Kol cupped her cheek, "there are only a handful of courtiers. Most don't bother watching," he whispered in her ear, "since they can't see anything beyond shadow."

"Speaking from experience?" Lexa felt her mouth beginning to quirk up.

"Two years ago," Kol snickered, "at Nik and Caroline's wedding. I couldn't see anything through the paneling and the curtains; at least nothing worth seeing."

"What did I say about lying to me?" She couldn't stop the small smile.

"I thought you might appreciate that one," Kol's eyes sparkled with amusement.

Her eyes sparkled as she shook with a silent laugh.

"I was right," he guided her back towards the bed.

Lexa tilted her head and narrowed her eyes. "About what?" She inhaled as Kol sat beside her.

"About your smile," he leaned forward and met her eyes, "being beautiful."

Lexa's breath caught in her throat when his mouth brushed over hers gently. She exhaled gently when he pulled back and met her wide eyes. A flush spread over her chest as his hand slowly slid up the smooth fabric. Heat spread across her ribs under his palm.

She chewed on her lip and blinked.

"What's wrong?" Kol caught her hooded eyes.

She found she couldn't lie when he was looking at her like that. Heaven help me if he ever sees the scar. "I'm scared," she admitted in a whisper. "I've been told this…" she glanced over her shoulder to the turned down bed, "… can be… painful."

"Lexa," Kol cupped her cheek and turned her face back to him. "If you can trust me I can make this as painless as possible."

"I barely know you," she breathed. "How can I trust you?"

"Take a leap of faith," he smiled gently and waited. He leaned in again when she nodded. "Try to relax, darling."

Lexa took a deep breath. Her eyes drifted shut when he kissed her again. She sighed when his fingers threaded through her hair and she felt his tongue swipe over her lower lip. She opened her mouth when he repeated the action.

Kol pulled her closer as he deepened the kiss. His hands roamed her back as hers settled on his chest.

Her brain stopped functioning when his tongue explored her mouth. Her head swam and she gasped for breath when he broke from her mouth to kiss along her jaw line. It was a good thing she was already sitting down because when he moved to nip at her ear Lexa's knees buckled. She slid her hands into his hair to hold him closer to her neck. Her heart thudded in her chest.

There was a moment of panic when her back was pressed into the mattress and she found herself pinned down beneath him. The soft down became a roughhewn table. Phantom hands gripped her thighs when his knee separated them.

Kol paused when he felt her stiffen and met her eyes. He quickly read the fear in her face. Her fingers had curled in his hair almost painfully.

He saw her relax when he moved to lie beside her.

"Better?" He murmured.

Lexa nodded as the panic faded. "I don't like being pinned," she breathed. Her head turned on the pillow to meet his gaze.

"Is there something I should know, Lexa?" He watched her flushed face carefully.

"I'm cl-claustrophobic," she stuttered. It wasn't a lie. Small spaces made it difficult for her to breath. "I-Is is vital that y-you're…"

"No," he sat up on the bed and reached for her hand.

Lexa blinked when he lifted her. She stared down into his eyes when he shifted her body. Her knees fell to either side of his thighs. Warmth pooled in her abdomen when he pulled the long shirt over his head.

Kol tugged the strings of her shift. The material slipped from her shoulders and exposed her breasts to his gaze. "Can you trust me?" He leaned forward and whispered.

Lexa considered his question. He didn't have to reposition them. He didn't have to ease her concerns. As of three hours before she had become his wife; he could do whatever he wanted to her and no one would bat an eye. She had seen it happen with some of the nobles in Sicily.

Could she trust him? Perhaps not with her darkest secret, but with this he was proving worthy of it.

"I think so," she nodded.

Kol grinned before kissing her collarbone. The smell of roses reached his nose as he made his way down her chest.

Lexa gasped and arched her back when he sucked her nipple into his mouth. The heat seemed to spread downwards between her legs.

Kol brought his hand up and tweaked her other nipple. His teeth and tongue worked with his fingers to rouse her into a state of frenzy. His other hand traced patterns on her inner thigh slowly hiking her shift up around her waist.

"Kol," she breathed. Her hips rocked against his hand when he circled a sensitive spot.

His lips made a wet trail up her neck when he found moisture between her legs.

"I'm going to prepare you," he kissed the corner of her mouth, "it might be a little uncomfortable."

Lexa nodded slowly. Her lips formed an 'o' when he slid a finger inside of her. She let out a soft keen when he added a second finger and pumped them slowly in and out.

"Is this alright?" Kol grasped her neck with his free hand.

"Y-yes," she bit her lip. She didn't realize her hands had been exploring his chest until he groaned. "I-I'm s-sorry." She immediately pulled back her hands.

"For what?" Kol frowned when her hands fell away.

"I hurt you," she closed her eyes as her thighs started to tremble.

"No, you didn't," he took one of her hands and repositioned it over his heart, "I'll let you know if you do." He smirked. "So long as you promise to do the same."

"I can d-do that," Lexa gasped when he added a third finger. Caroline's advice came back in bits and pieces. A thin sheen of sweat broke out on her body and made the cotton transparent wherever it touched her skin.

She felt his abdomen quiver under her hands. Her nails scraped the skin as her hand reached down. He groaned again when her hand closed over his hard cock. Her hand trembled as she came to terms with the size.

He closed his free hand over hers and guided her.

Lexa's hand stilled when he crooked his fingers and stroked a spot inside of her while his thumb located the same sensitive spot he'd toyed with earlier. Her vision faded to black as her muscles seemed to tighten and release all at once.

"Oh," her head fell back as she moaned. She blushed when she felt something wet spread over her thighs and down his wrist. She whimpered when he withdrew his fingers.

Kol's hands splayed over her hips. He pulled her forward a few inches until her pelvis collided with his abdomen. He lined himself up with her entrance and pushed the tip inside. His breath hitched when he realized how tight she was.

Lexa found herself immensely grateful for the time he had taken to prep her. Whatever moisture had flooded her made it easy for him to glide inside.

She remembered her promise when his cock made it deeper than his fingers had reached. She bit down on her cheek and met his eyes. "Th-that hurts," she stuttered. She became hyper aware of the eyes on her when he lifted the shift over her head.

Kol nodded and lifted her hips back up until just the tip remained inside and slowly lowered her back down.

Lexa wrapped her arms around his neck and pressed her lips to his. She attempted to recreate his earlier kiss, but she knew her tongue must be clumsy. Regardless she threw herself into the kiss and moaned into his mouth as he worked her up and down slowly; each time going a little deeper than before until he was buried inside of her.

"About bloody time."

Caroline felt like slapping Damon. First he had arrived late to the ceremony and then he complained of it taking too long.

She refrained when she felt her husband's hand settle on her lower back. Nik seemed to take the words right out of her mouth; perhaps it was a by-product of being married to her for the past two years.

"She was nervous, Lord Damon," Nik nodded to Lexa. He could just make out her head being tossed back in what he sincerely hoped was pleasure; it should have been after the time Kol had taken to prepare her. "You would do well to remember women are often nervous the first time."

Caroline discreetly rubbed her thighs together when she heard a soft moan. The voluminous skirts hid the movement.

"I was starting to think you were not coming," Elijah straightened from where he had been leaning against a tree.

"I wasn't going to," Elena fingered the hilt of the sword.

"You know," he observed the shadows cast over her face and neck by the moon, "typically swords are not used in hand to hand combat."

Elena untied the leather from her belt but hesitated to drop it. She was alone in the woods with a man who was essentially a stranger. There would be nobody to come to her rescue this time.

"Elena."

She met his eyes when her name rolled off his tongue. She couldn't remember if she had actually given him leave to use her given name, but she made no move to correct him. She liked the way the syllables sounded in his deep voice.

"Are you going to put the sword down?"

Elena nodded once before leaning the weapon against a tree. She jumped when he stepped closer and grasped her chin. Her throat constricted painfully as she swallowed.

"Who did this?" Fire flashed in Elijah's eyes. What he had originally taken for shadows he now realized were bruises. His jaw clenched as he squinted at the dark finger prints. "Who did this, Elena?"

Elena relaxed marginally when she realized he was not attacking her, but her shoulders remained tense. She couldn't tell him, could she?

"It doesn't matter," she managed to whisper. "He was drunk."

"It matters Elena," Elijah released her chin.

A determined light entered her eyes. "You offered to teach me," She crossed her arms, "so teach me."

Elijah's mouth set in a firm line as he met her gaze in a heated stare. Every fibre of his being wanted to maim the man who had dared to touch her, but he couldn't without knowing his name.

Elena glared up at him. She knew it was unfair to take out all of her frustration on him, but he was the only one present. If she had remained in her room she probably would have lashed out at Kat and maybe even Adelaide when she returned.

"Tell me who hurt you Elena," Elijah took a step closer and motioned to her throat. "I'll have him arrested," and tortured.

Elena considered it for a minute, but she knew it would do know good. She had told Damon he didn't own her, but the truth was he did. They had been entered into a binding legal arrangement and he could do whatever he wanted to her. If he hadn't been drunk he might have remembered that fact and not run off when Adelaide and the guards showed up.

"No," she shook her head. "It won't do any good." She knew as she said it that he would quickly figure it out. There was only one man he couldn't harm for attacking her. "Just help me make sure it doesn't happen again…"

"Elena…"

"Elijah, please…" she blinked back the tears. At this point she was sure they had not officially dispensed with formalities, but she couldn't bring herself to care. If he was going to call her 'Elena' she would call him by his name. "You were right," she ventured when he fell silent, "I don't have access to a sword when I need one. And I won't have what happened tonight happen again; I won't have another close call."

"He didn't," Elijah cleared his throat and nodded to her legs.

"No," Elena swallowed. Her throat felt like it had the time she had gotten a summer cold. "I screamed and he ran off when he heard footsteps. I was lucky Adelaide was in the next corridor."

Elijah would have to remember to send his thanks to Adelaide.

"Are you going to teach me, or not?" She tilted her head and waited. She was half expecting him to rescind his offer and leave her in the clearing so she was surprised when he nodded.

"Let's begin," he motioned her into the center of the clearing.

The snow crunched under her boots. Elena gasped loudly when his arms darted out and hooked around her waist. She felt his broad chest pressed against her back. One arm locked around her waist while the other wrapped around her shoulders.

Panic settled in her chest. She felt a third phantom hand press between her legs. Her breath came in pants as her eyes darted from side to side… nobody would hear her scream out her.

"Elena," his warm breath tickled her ear, "breathe and think."

Her chest rose and fell rapidly beneath his arm. She forced her eyes closed and took a deep breath that was meant to be calming but came out shaky. Still she followed his directions and continued to breathe in and out.

This wasn't Damon. This was Elijah. Elijah had offered to teach her. Elijah's hands were not wandering. After a second she realized his arms were not locked over her body; the hold he had on her was actually quite loose.

"Can you hear me?" Elijah murmured. "Can you understand what I'm saying?"

"Y-yes," Elena stammered. She took shallow breathes.

"Wrap your hands around my arm," he instructed. "No, not that one," he clarified when she hesitantly reached for the arm around his waist.

Elena swallowed and reached for the arm across her clavicle.

"Good," Elijah nodded. "Tighten your grip and move one hand to my elbow."

Elena's fingers followed his instructions.

"Listen to me very carefully," he inhaled the scent of her perfume. "When I say so I want you to lean forward, bend your knees and pull my arm forward. Repeat that back to me."

"Lean, bend and pull," Elena nodded.

"Good," Elijah's hand splayed side, "use your hips. Otherwise I'll land on my feet. Do you understand?"

Elena nodded. She felt his stubble brush across her jaw with the movement.

"Then do it," Elijah tried not to think about how her hands sent small shocks up his arm, "whenever you think you're ready."

Elena nodded again. She would have been lying if she said it was just to confirm his instructions; the feel of his jaw brushing her cheek was not unpleasant. She closed her eyes and took a deep breath before following the directions.

"Faster," Elijah instructed. He gasped when the wind was knocked from his lungs. He hadn't been expecting her to get it the first time.

Elena dropped to her knees beside him. She leaned over and met his slightly dazed eyes. "I'm so sorry," she covered her mouth with her hand, "did I hurt you?"

Elijah mentally shook himself and sat up. "I'm fine, Elena. I'm just a little stunned. I didn't think you'd manage that the first time."

"I'm stronger than I look," she sat back on her knees.

"I can see that," he chuckled. "I'm sorry if I frightened you."

"Why did you do that?" Elena felt fire settle in her chest. Now that she knew she hadn't injured a member of the royal family she was angry.

"If someone attacks you in the corridor again do you think they will stop to ask for your permission?" Elijah stood and helped her to her feet. "They won't. You'll feel that panic every time until that response is ingrained in you."

"Next time I'll toss someone over my shoulder?" Elena crossed her arms.

"No," Elijah shook his head. "You're definitely not there yet, but you know what to do."

Elena saw him coming the second time. She moved out of the way just in time and threw a punch that never landed.

"We're going to have to work on this too," Elijah nodded to his hand. He caught her other hand when she tried again. "Has anyone ever told you that you have ineffectual fists?"

"You'd be the first," she smirked when he released her hands.

"It is always a pleasure to be the first to do something," his eyes sparkled. He caught her hand again and used her momentum to pin her back to his chest.

Elena's smirk fell when she found herself back in her original position. She forced herself to swallow her panic. It took several minutes for her to calm down enough to slip him, but she managed it.

Elijah's hands remained still as she calmed her breathing enough. He was pleased when it took her less time and only one reminder to 'breathe'.

He showed her the proper way to hit someone and winced when she managed to land a blow to his ribs. She was definitely stronger than she looked. It was a few hours later when the moon had begun its descent that they called it a night. Elijah gave her a ten minute head start after promising to meet her there again the next night.

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