Two years later.

I stood in the shade, watching dozens of painters create their various works of art. This was my one day off a month. The one where Elijah swooped in to spend some time with Hayley and they watched the kids.

It was difficult to take care of a werewolf pack that only turned into humans once a month, especially since I was not apart of their ranks, they knew I was an outsider.

But they'd helped protect me and the babies when hunters would try and wipe out the Crescents, so at least we had some sort of truce. Bennett and Hope had taken their first steps, which would've been an otherwise happy occasion if Hayley had been able to witness her daughter reaching the same milestones my son was.

Thank the gods for technology.

"Not one of your usual haunts." Klaus stopped at my side.

"Stalker." I teased.

"Perhaps I'm not very interested in having my bloody neck burn every time you find someone decently attractive."

"No, you don't get to be jealous when mine has been hurting almost as much." We were hurting one another, that's all this was. I took a breath. "If you'd just let Freya break Dahlia's spell, then I could leave entirely."

"You're itching to escape."

True. "Maybe I just don't like settling down in one place too long. Is that such a crime?" It kind of made me jittery.

Klaus moved closer to me. "And maybe you're afraid that the Crescents are going to drag you in, trapping you in your precious wolf law once again."

I swallowed. "That's- you're wrong. I'm not part of any pack."

"Oh? Is that why you smell of Jackson Kenner?"

"He's just letting us stay in his house because it's the safest place for the babies."

He hummed. "Is it not reminiscent of an alpha taking in a stray?"

I needed space. I sidestepped a metal pillar, and I felt like air was returning to my lungs. "You're wrong. Even if they made me marry, wolf law prohibits two mates, they'd have to kill you."

Klaus grabbed my arm, dragging me to a nearby alleyway. "The Crescent pack is known for their unconventional methods. As far as I'm aware, Jackson still hasn't found himself a mate. Something that's unheard of for one his age, you told me so yourself."

"You're right, this is all one big scheme for me and Jackson to get married. Fuck all to the laws in place." I threw my hands up. "Every wolf is beholden, especially alphas. If the council caught wind that you were even suggesting..." There was a look in his eye that I didn't like. "Klaus, no. Don't fuck with the council. They're not like the factions, they can and will wipe out the Crescent wolves if they're deemed a threat. Right now that includes Hope and Hayley."

"What would you have me do, hmm? Continue to let my children be raised in a godforsaken bayou?"

"You know what it would take."

"You're presuming my sister would be able to match Dahlia's magic. That she would be able to override one of the most powerful witches this world has ever seen."

"She could." Klaus turned away. "Freya learned from Dahlia. If need be, she could channel me."

"No." I could see his jaw working. "Absolutely not."

"Why won't you just give her the chance?" If anyone could find her. Freya hadn't been seen since Dahlia exploded.

"You'll disappear." He said it so quietly I barely caught it above the noise of the city.

"I don't have to." I moved forward. "Klaus-" whatever words I meant to say were swallowed in a kiss. I returned in kind, cradling his face in my hands.

He pulled back, resting his forehead against mine.

Though short, it was the first time in two years he'd even gotten this close to me. He'd always kept his distance, and I missed him.

As fucked as this all was, it's nice to know he didn't entirely hate me.

Then he was gone, like he'd never been there at all.

I touched my lips, they tingled.