I moved around the table, setting out plates and forks.

Bennett was asleep and the baby, potentially babies were relatively inactive. Which was great, little fuckers were already kicking me in the ribs.

"Planning a dinner party?" I jumped at the voice.  Kol stood by the door.

"Gods, you're just like your brothers. All fucking silent until it's too late."

"Consequences of our lovely childhood, I'm afraid. We were raised on the belief that children were meant to be seen, not heard."

"That's awful."

"Such was life." He held his hands behind his back, and I couldn't help but see Klaus in the movement. "A birdie told me that you have some nefarious little plot."

I felt the blood drain from my face. "What?"

"Yes."

"I have no idea what you're talking about." No, no, no. This could ruin everything. Klaus only needed one more dose.

And both he and Elijah would be back any second.

"Really, I applaud you. It is quite the plan." He started rounding the table. "None of us would have suspected you."

"Kol, what-"

"Don't try to lie to me. Marcellus practically told me himself when he let his little witch in on it."

"You can't tell them. I need Klaus to be unaware until it's all over. I'm just trying to protect the babies."

He chuckled. "Relax, Darling. I'm going to help you."

"What?" I froze.

Kol pulled a dagger from behind him. It was gold and long. "This is what I intend to stab him with when you've successfully finished poisoning him. It will render him immobile, and he'll be unable to hurt you."

"What about Elijah?"

"Oh he'll have the regular old dagger. I found Niklaus' stash." He tucked it away in his jacket. "Regardless, you need help and neither you nor Marcel can administer the dagger without dying yourselves. You need an Original on your side and I fully support giving my elder brother a timeout."

"Okay." It's not like I had another option. "Welcome to the team, I guess."

"What team?" Klaus and Elijah walked in.

Perfect.

"We're starting a book club."

"A book club?" Elijah's brow rose. He unbuttoned his suit jacket, laying it to rest on top of the chair he usually sat in.

"I didn't know Maverick was such a connoisseur of Shakespearean literature." Kol nodded and I was grateful he was going along with it. "We all know the man himself was a bore, but at least a few of his works were something."

Klaus' eyes narrowed at me. "Then why is your heart racing?"

I swallowed. "He just scared me a little bit, that's all. You Mikaelsons are annoyingly light on your feet."

The boys exchanged a glance and Klaus shrugged. "Might I remind you that you are one of us now."

"Au contraire." I shot back, letting out a breath. They'd bought it. "I don't think I'm a million years old or an Original."

Klaus approached, wrapping his arms around me. "Hilarious."

"Now, I made dinner for everyone, so if you guys are all done with your business or whatever, can we eat? I'm starving." It was the last leg of the plan.

One more night and it would be over.

The stress of it all couldn't be good for my babies.

Any of them.

"What brought this on?" Elijah pulled out his chair.

"Well, I was raised to be the perfect housewife. I cut out most of it, but I figured why not do the whole domestic sit down once." Before everything changed. At least I'd have this.

"Let's sit then." Klaus pulled me down with him.

"I have to go get the food."

"We have people for that." He tugged me further onto his lap.

"There's plenty of other chai-" Klaus nipped at the bite mark on my neck, and my breath caught in my chest. Shit. I cleared my throat. "I don't have to sit here."

Not that I truly mind doing so.

It felt good to be off my feet. My ankles were already swelling. "And what do you mean there's people for that. Are you saying I made all that food for nothing?"

"You and Hayley have a preference to make things yourselves. We do not." Kol plopped down in his seat. "A long life of luxury makes menial tasks far more annoying."

"Fine, whatever, but this is my dinner, so I'm going to get it without inconveniencing a bunch of compelled servants." I tapped Klaus' arm. "Let me up."

"Absolutely not. My pregnant wife isn't carrying anything." He tightened his grip ever so slightly.

"I'm not an invalid."

Kol leaned against the table. "I'll have you know the staff is paid rather well, better than any job in this area."

Elijah moved toward the kitchen and disappeared around the wall.

"Certainly not." Klaus ignored his brother. "Though my point still stands."

I crossed my arms. "I'm barely halfway through my pregnancy, it's not even bad yet."

The eldest original re-emerged with a tray of food and behind him were several men I didn't even know existed.

Holy shit.

Had they been here the whole time?!

"Enough arguing, shall we eat?" He set it down at the center of the table.

Had they heard?