CHAPTER NINE
arguments and resolutions

"Absolutely not." Elijah's definitive tone sounded across the sweet little tea shop, causing people to glare at us.

Henrik had suggested that we all go out for lunch to get out of the hotel, which was starting to feel suffocating. I had readily agreed, thinking that a public place would be the perfect place to talk to Elijah about possibly finding Klaus. I knew that it was potentially an ill-advised idea but I at least wanted to have a conversation about it.

The tea shop was quaint with pastel blue walls and chairs that didn't match. It was not very busy at the moment, with only two other tables occupied. We sat at a small table, with Elijah opposite me and Henrik beside me. I couldn't help but think it was the perfect place for a date but I put that thought to the side, seeing as the atmosphere we had created was extremely unromantic.

Since we were surrounded by people, I presumed Elijah wouldn't want to make a scene.

I was wrong.

"After everything I have told you, how could you possibly imagine that finding Klaus is a sound idea?" he said, glowering at Henrik. His tone was hard but his manner was the epitome of calm as he proceeded to sip his tea. "You should never have gotten her hopes up, Henrik."

"This is not just about Morgana, it's about me!" Henrik argued, "Klaus is my brother and my best friend!"

Elijah let out an exasperated sigh, "He is not the man you remember."

"I think that it is definitely worth talking about the possibility of finding him, Elijah." I said calmly.

His gaze softened when they landed on me, his tone completely changing, "I do not want you to be hurt, Morgana."

"You said it yourself, he wouldn't hurt me!" I argued, tilting my head to the side. I narrowed my eyes at him, daring him to dispute me.

"I also said that he would take you away from us." Elijah pointed out. I scowled as he carefully placed the tea cup onto the table and adjusted his cufflinks, something I noticed he did often, almost obsessively.

"There is no proof that Klaus would do that, only your skewered opinion!" I sighed, knowing that this argument was going nowhere. Elijah was just as stubborn as I was and neither of us were willing to compromise.

"I just want to talk to him." Henrik said, looking down at the table, a painted expression on his face. I placed a hand on his knee but it did nothing to sooth Elijah's next comment.

"Absolutely not, I thought you were smarter than this, Henrik. You're putting your own selfish desires first instead of prioritizing the safety of our mate." Elijah said sternly and I straightened in my chair. Henrik exhaled sharply and I could tell that he did not like his brother talking to him like that.

I absolutely hated arguments. I spent so many years in the foster system lying awake at night because it was impossible to sleep over the sound of shouting. Raised voices immediately put me on edge and listening to Elijah and Henrik argue made vulnerable emotions rise to the surface. Elijah and Henrik would never talk to me in the way they were speaking to each other.

Needing to get away from the toxic environment, I got up and left. Henrik called my name but I ignored him as I rushed out the door. I chose a direction at random and began to walk. I heard the door open behind me but I kept on walking even faster, basically jogging at this point. All of a sudden, I crashed into someone. I was about to apologize when I realized it was Elijah.

I jumped away from him with wide eyes, glancing towards the door, which was at least 20 feet away by now.

"How did you get here so quickly?" I asked, stunned.

"Vampire speed. We can move extremely fast." Elijah explained and my face heated. I couldn't help but wonder how useful that could be in the bedroom.

"Oh." I replied breathily.

"I apologize for raising my voice in front of you, Morgana." he said with sincerity. Elijah was a proud man but he was not too proud to apologize to me.

"I understand that these are incredibly unusual circumstances for you and I think that you are handling everything admirably. Having a mate is new for me and my instincts are screaming at me to protect you. The thought of Klaus hurting you causes me great pain."

"You may be my mate, Elijah, but you can't control my every move." I told him, "I will come to you for advice but ultimately, the decision is mine and mine alone."

"I just want to protect you." Elijah said, once again adjusting his cufflinks.

"Elijah, we barely know each other!" I tone him delicately, "Things feel very intense because of this bond but I haven't known you long enough to build trust between us."

"I admit that things between us have gone rather quickly and I accept full responsibility for that," Elijah nodded thoughtfully, "Under better circumstances, I would have wished to court you slowly and shower you with affection. Unfortunately, you met me when I was the worst version of myself. I hope that I can eventually gain your trust, Morgana."

"You can still court me and shower me with affection!" I said with a small grin, "Just don't try to dictate my every decision."

"I cannot promise that I will not make errors in judgment, but I promise that I will try my best."

"Thank you, I know that will be difficult given your control issues-"

"Control issues?" Elijah said, frowning at the term, "I have perfect control."

"Yes, that's my point," I deadpanned, "You have an obsessive need to control everything around you. I'm not a psychologist but that fact has been evident since I met you."

"Am I right in thinking that you want me to see a psychologist about my... control issues?" he asked with a frown.

"No!" I said hastily before reconsidering , "Well maybe, but don't do it for me, do it for yourself."

Silence fell between us for a while before Elijah said, "I'll think about it. Would you like to see a therapist?"

"I mean, I probably should at some point. I desperately needed it in my teens but I could never afford it and-"

"I'd be more than happy to pay." Elijah interjected.

"No, you don't need to spend your money on me, it's not important." I rambled, starting to feel rather flustered.

"The mental well-being of my mate is extremely important."

I was saved from answering when Elijah looked over my shoulder and I turned to see Henrik approaching us.

"What took you so long?" I asked.

"I had to pay and I'm not used to using American currency." Henrik replied with an embarrassed grin, "Are you alright, Morgana?"

"I'm fine," I nodded at Henrik before directing my attention to Elijah once more, "You and Klaus were close once. Put aside your pride and find a way to forgive him."

"I think you seriously underestimate his wrath." Elijah clenched his jaw, clearly not happy to be back on the subject, "After all, he buried my siblings at sea."

"But why did he do that? You keep saying that to justify your hatred but you haven't explained why! Why did he bury them at sea?" Henrik asked, "Do you even know or do you just not want to tell me?"

I placed a calming hand on his shoulder.

"Niklaus is a bad man, Henrik." Elijah said, not answering the question.

"You're not exactly a saint, Elijah. The first day I met you, you beheaded someone. You do not have the moral high ground here." I informed him.

"Surely there's a compromise," Henrik said to his brother, "How about I go and visit him to let him know I'm alive. I won't say a word about Morgana. Then, if all goes well, I might be able to convince him to undagger our siblings."

"Klaus is paranoid and might suspect that you are an imposter. Remember, you are mortal, Henrik." Elijah said with clear concern for his brother and my heart clenched at the thought of him in danger.

"That may be so but I am also a witch, the son of one of the most powerful witches ever." Henrik said and I could tell that he had won Elijah over. They both looked at me and I nodded in agreement.

"Then it is settled, I'll have some people find his whereabouts. I know he's in North America but I am not sure of where." Elijah said with a nod.

I couldn't help but grin at my mates.

I was going to unite our family.