Dean was texting me, practically blowing up my phone.

I was so close to finding out where the grimoire was, I could practically taste it. Elijah liked watching me look for it, or at least he didn't help. It was like I was something he'd never seen before, and he was trying to figure me out.

It was creepy.

Though he wasn't stopping me so I'll take it.

Bennett was my top priority, and even though it killed me to be so far away from him for so long, it would be worth it.

Just to make sure he wasn't in danger.

Arms encircled my waist and I found myself pulled against Klaus' chest. He set his chin on my shoulder. "Who is it that's making your phone buzz so much?"

"The real baby daddy to my kid." I pulled a book off the shelf. At least I'd had the opportunity to pump earlier. The grip tightened, though not enough to be painful.

We discovered that as long as I wasn't hurt, the rune was dormant.

Klaus was taking full advantage of it. 

"Relax, I have friends and I didn't come home last night. They're just wondering when I'll be coming back, my child is waiting for me and they only have so much formula." I would have to go home soon, regardless of if I found what I needed or not.

It wasn't good for Bennett.

I'd already been gone for a couple days, and it would take me more to get back to Kansas.

"Then you wouldn't mind if I checked." He'd snatched my phone before I had the chance to hide it.

"Klaus, no." How would he react if he found out I was living with hunters? I reached for it, but all it got me was getting pinned to the bookcase with a hand between my shoulder blades, unable to move. "Please don't."

"Niklaus. Let her go."

I'd forgotten Elijah was even there.

"You'd mind your tone with me, brother. The more time I spend with Maverick, the less energy I have for our traitorous sister."

"The fuck does that mean?" I struggled against Klaus' hold, but it was useless. At this angle, I was getting up close and personal with the book spines.

"You missed it. A witch revealed to me a betrayal that's nearly a century old. My own sister, went behind my back for her lover. She's on the run as we speak, fearful of my temper." Not that I could blame her.

Klaus let me go and I turned in time to see him pocket my phone.

The fucker.

"I've got an errand to run. You'd better be here by the time I get back."

"What are you going to do, you can't hurt me."

He grabbed my jaw. "We both know there are ways to punish you without laying a finger on that delicate skin."

"Fuck you." I smacked his hand away.

"There'll be time for that later, sweetheart. I won't have to make good on my threats if you follow my rules." Then he was gone.

This might be the only time I'd be able to make my escape. "The hell are you looking at?" Elijah's eyes were on me. I could feel it.

"How do you do it?"

"Do what?"

"Niklaus. Most others in your position would meet an untimely death."

I couldn't help but stare. "He likes to assert his dominance." I was an experiment to him, nothing more.

"Even he has his limits. Few can talk to him the way you do, and fewer still have successfully run away from him and survive."

"I don't know, man. I assumed it was his obsession with his hybrids that kept me alive. There are only two of us left."

Elijah leaned back against his seat, lounging against it. "Yes, Tyler Lockwood. Had a run in with that one a few months back. Niklaus killed his mother."

Of course he did. "He killed the mayor?" At least, I think that's who she was. I only got a peek at his life before everything went to shit.

"It was unfortunate."

"Damn." I ran a hand down my face. "Look, I don't know why Klaus hasn't ripped my heart out yet, and personally, I don't really care. As long as I'm alive for my kid." Didn't hurt that the sex was good. "Now, do you have any idea why I have a rune on my skin? Would it be in your family's grimoire?"

"Why would you think we'd have a grimoire?"

I gave him a deadpan look. "Old as you guys are, you expect me to believe you don't have a couple grimoires full of spells?"

He chuckled. "I'm not letting you see them."

"So they're hidden." And they existed. Great. I'd already wasted so much time. "I really couldn't care less about what it is you guys are doing here, or what you're gonna do with the pregnant wolf, I just want to get back to my kid. I can't do that until I know this rune on my skin won't hurt him."

Something passed over Elijah's expression. "It's a boy."

The blood in my veins turned to ice. "What's it to you?"

"You've been incredibly vague about the child. It wasn't difficult to figure out. Niklaus said the timeframe was far too close for any but him to be the father."

I forced a laugh. "That doesn't mean anything. He claims he knows me but I met the people I'm staying with a day after I escaped."

Elijah stood, still calm. "Maverick. Might I remind you that I can hear your heart beat." He offered a small smile. "As could Niklaus, and fortunately for us, you are an awful liar."

Shit.

"Fucking Mikaelsons." I muttered turning my back to him so that I could compose myself.

He circled around to stand in front of me, and pulled something leathery from his jacket pocket. "My mother's grimoire."

"You're just going to give it to me?"

"I would like to meet my nephew, and I know that would require your trust. Niklaus told me which rune you had." He held the pages out. "They're not the originals of course, I made copies. You may have them." When I reached for it, he pulled it away slightly. "This is a peace offering. If you so chose that you would like to repay this favor in kind, I'll come to you."

I'd owe something to Elijah. Not just something, the ability to see my son. "Just give me the damn pages and I'll think about it."