"So get this, it looks like you guys were cursed with a combination of a linking spell and a sophisticated version of a bloodlust curse."

I paced in the twins' empty nursery. "Is there any way to break it?"

"Usually it's blood for blood. You'd have to find the person they anchored the spell in. My best guess? It's one of you. Had to be someone they knew would get killed first."

"Why would that matter?"

"It has to be blood from the vein." Okay, so I'd been right about that.

"That doesn't make sense. I broke Klaus' curse, but I assumed it was through the bond. He didn't drink my-" He had. When he nipped my lip.

"You said Esther made Klaus' blood yours and your blood his, right?"

"Yeah, in the vows."

"Wouldn't the bond push through that? Either Klaus is the anchor to the spell or you are."

Lovely. "How's it going? With the angel stuff?"

"Bad. We think we can close the gates to Heaven and Hell permanently. They still want the battle between Michael and Lucifer."

"Determined little fuckers, aren't they?"

Sam laughed. "Definitely. Listen, Dean's expecting me. I was only supposed to be doing a quick supply run to the bunker."

"Thank you for doing this. I know you idiots are busy."

"You call us any time there's a problem and we'll come running. Dean's been itching to take down an Original."

"Will do."

"I mean it, Maverick. Even if it's to babysit. We want to see you."

"Not so sure Dean feels the same way." I stuffed my hand in my pocket and began following a line in the rug.

"He's only being a hardass because he doesn't want you to turn out like our dad. Not saying you would."

"I'm sensing there's a 'but' somewhere in that head of yours."

"You do like being on the front lines, and sometimes that comes at the expense of your kids."

I didn't do that. I hated leaving my babies behind, and I even pulled back from hunting in order to take care of them.

"I'm just saying that maybe it's not such a great idea to have them so close to Originals and their problems. Or us for that matter."

"I can't tear them away from those that love them." That and Klaus would never let me know a moment of peace if I tried to leave now. Though it would be the optimal time to do so, while his focus is on his siblings.

No. Maverick. No.

"Its obviously your decision, but as someone who grew up in the life, I wanted nothing more to escape, all it did was drag me right back in again."

"And as someone who grew up in the life, you should know better than anyone that it isn't a choice. My kids will always be Mikaelsons."

They can never escape it.

Neither could I.

"Listen. I get it, I really do. I know you're just trying to help." I moved toward the door, heading for the stairs. "You have to trust that I'm trying to do what's best. Their safety influences every decision I make."

"We do trust you." His phone made a buzzing sound. "Sorry, Dean's calling. I'd still be open to talking about this after we're both done dealing with our issues."

"Stay safe out there."

The line went dead, and I was left with a heavy feeling in my gut.

Fuck. Dean thought I was acting like his dad. Is that why he'd been so short with me?

I marched down to the basement, biting into my wrist until it bled, and then forced it over Finn's mouth. "Drink."

He shook his head.

"He won't so long as you're Nik's wife." Kol drawled.

So he was awake.

Yay.

"The alternative is the box. Klaus will dagger you if you don't." I warned.

"He'll do much worse if we blood share with you."

"Shut up your vampire, Davina."

The witch hesitated. "Who put you in charge?"

I pulled my wrist away, turning to face her. Camille and Hayley watched from the sidelines. "What did you say?"

"We've been following your orders all day. Nothing's changed." She crossed her arms. "You wouldn't have been able to do anything if it wasn't for my magic."

Gods, she was an arrogant little shit.

"And let's not forget the last time we were supposed to follow your lead. It got Kol locked away for two years."

Hayley exchanged a glance with Camille, though they stayed silent.

"Alright. You lead them, little witch. How are we supposed to break the curse? I have a lead on an answer, do you?"

Her mouth opened and closed.

"That's what I thought." It'd taken Sam hours to find it, some footnote in a book, maybe he'd even called, what's her face. Rowena. That's what her name was. I turned back to Finn. "It's not blood sharing if I don't drink your blood. So unless you want to be in a box for the foreseeable future, you're going to drink."

He gave a small, almost imperceptible nod.

Perfect.

I bit my wrist and held it up to his mouth. Veins descended down his face, and he began to swallow mouthfuls of my blood.

His eyes flickered. Back and forth. Blue to hazel.

But his eyes remained blue.

Shit.

"It's not working." Camille observed.

"Clearly." I got my phone and sent a text off. "I need Klaus." It did raise the question, why had his eyes flickered if Klaus' blood was the cure?

Was Esther literal when she said we had each other's blood?

"What's happened?" Speak of the devil. Klaus searched the room until his gaze fell on me. It locked in on my wrist, and the still healing wound.

"Let Finn drink from you. I have a theory and I want to test it."

Finn's lip curled. "I'll not be doing that."

"It's cute that you think you have a choice."

Klaus rolled up his sleeve. "Not that I disagree with your methods." He held his arm up to Finn's mouth. "What if this does not work? Do you intend on making my brother a lab rat?"

Finn rolled his eyes but did bite Klaus' wrist.

"Watch."

They flickered again, but remained blue.

I snatched the cup off the ground beside Camille, and cut my arm again, allowing it to drip into it. Then I moved to Klaus, doing the same to him.

Klaus stepped out of the way, and I tipped it past Finn's lips.

His eyes flickered, before fucking finally falling back to hazel.