#nudging Silas in the side with his knee is another way to say he kicked her... “softly” lmao

[the-raptors-lore]

Continuation from this!

@alphatimeline-orchid

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"No offense taken," Sirius reassured her unbothered and merely shrugged his shoulders. He's the one who worded it like that; from experience nonetheless.

A sound left him when Orchid mentioned her encounter with camping illagers. It could've been anything from an amused exhale to a scoff.

"No wonder. Most groups are based on- mh, let’s say respect. You gotta butt your heads with them, show 'em what you got, grow some horns. Otherwise none is going to accept you being around," he chimed in to lecture her. It was such a small natural rule he was familiar with from a young age, but Orchid simply didn't experience such.

"Being all…" He pauses again, looking Orchid over. "Soft and passive and all talk doesn't really speak to most." He wouldn't consider her particularly dangerous or physically strong by the looks; and the rowdy and the rough love to pick on those who feign innocence.

[...]

The Allay disrupting Orchid mid speech, the Vex jumping into position, but mostly the sudden wave of dread emitting from them had Sirius alarmed in an instant. Instinctively reaching for the crossbow at his side, stopping only pixels away from it, he registered this wasn't an attempt for a strike but a slip up in Orchid' muttered words.

He froze in place, peering at her. There was a heavy pause as he questioned himself if he even heard right. This couldn't be true, he must've misheard. Such apples can't be crafted if that's what she meant to say out loud.

Still, there is no doubt. Keeping his eyes on her, Orchids expression alongside her little guardians whizzing about like bees protecting their nest spoke for itself. A secret he wasn't meant to overhear.

He slowly dropped his guard again, straightening up ever so slowly. This wasn't the time to interrogate her. Not out here. They've lingered too long in one place for his liking anyway.

"... Speaking of healers. You might wanna see one," he changed the subject almost nonchalantly. Even if he assumed a neutral pose, leaving his hands in the open, away from the weapons at his side, the air felt heavy; too heavy to take a breath or relax just yet.

Without another word he turned and walked up to his ravager, leaving Orchid to herself for a moment. He'd nudge Silas in the sides with his knee to prompt her to pay attention, who in turn decided to ignore him. Chewing on the rest of the hay bale now enclosed in the beast's jaws, she only answered with varied growls and drawn out rumbles, complaining furiously.

Catching his foot in the stirrup, Sirius mounted the ravager in one smooth movement. An easy move while Silas was laying.

Even if he wasn't looking at her, his attention was on Orchid at all times, he listened for movement, her shuffling, the chimes of her companions, any step she'd take, until he turned to adress her.

“Come on. I know someone who can fix you up. I think you'll like them,” he spoke almost too calmly for comfort. Giving her an encouraging nod towards the free space behind him, he outstretched his hand just in case she'd need it. 

Sirius has been considerably nicer than others and had made an effort to help out a stranger, but there's no chance to read his intentions now. Orchid's slip up in words might have tipped the scales to warrant his suspicion, or he truly didn't hear or believe her.

With Sirius' legs crossed once again, sitting on a ravager who isn't too eager to get up just yet, this would be Orchid's chance if she decided to run. On the other hand, if the illager spoke true and did intend to bring her to safety, then this might be her only chance to heal up and rest properly; finally giving her a break from danger.

[ahorribledecision-really]

silaslykos‌:

Normally at Pizza Planet, Silas side-eyed the couples who chose to sit next to each other rather than across, thinking it was a stupid choice rather than a romantic one. Who purposely wanted to sit and crane their neck, having to turn every time they wanted to say something? He had felt that way, until now, of course, happy that she sat next to him, even if the main reason was for his body heat. He’d take it either way, brushing his knee against hers as he got comfortable. He was a touchy-feely guy, even more so when she was around, it seemed. 

“Don’t think I don’t see that pout,” he said between bites of his taco, eyeing her. It could almost make him cave. Almost. “You gotta earn it. Maybe another time I’ll say a little something for you.” There was many a scenario he could think of a good use for it, the perfect time, but he’d keep those particular thoughts to himself. “I do work in the kitchen there. I never said it was a smart or good decision,” he laughed, “but I do work there. Surprisingly haven’t gotten in trouble that much.” It really did surprise him, and he probably should have way more often. “An onslaught huh?” he repeated, raising his eyebrows. “From you? You’re cooking for me? And what will be I doing in return for all these meals, hm?” He smirked down at her, his tongue swiping his bottom lip. “I can think of a few things.”

He smiled and just watched her as she excitedly spoke about the game, laughing at how lit up and animated she got when she talked about something she really liked, turning more to face her on the bench, his jean-clad leg pressed fully against her. “I have actually. I did one of those dinner and show type ones in New York, it was a whole theatrical thing, and then I did a more interactive one where you had a whole role and speaking parts and it was insane and embarrassing, but in that ‘I’m having fun and everyone else looks dumb too so I don’t notice or care’ kind of way.. I don’t remember where that one was. I try to go to escape rooms when I can too, love those. Highly recommend if you haven’t. If you’re a Nancy Drew fan you’ll really love them.” He heard the sound of her empty cup, pushing his half empty one closer to her and gesturing with his head, letting her know she could have some. “And your brother sounds like someone I’d get along with. Could be a dangerous combo, us meeting, if it were ever to happen.” He cleared his throat, “Being an only child, I didn’t have any of that fun sibling stuff, the pranks and ganging up on mom and dad, I feel like I missed out.” He nudged her, shaking his head. “I’m sorry… just making sure I heard you right.. you would beat me? Yeah right. I’m not afraid to kick your ass! None of that going easy stuff here, sweetheart.” He laughed genuinely, the kind where you really felt happy, which was rare for him. 

He hadn’t expected her to notice how warm he was or bring it up, assuming she’d write it off like most people did, as nerves or something, except he never broke a sweat so maybe that was out of the question, pushing his empty cardboard box away, finished with his tacos as he debated how to answer. “Course I’m okay… I’m next to you, how could I not be okay?” His eyes swept her face, seeing the genuine quality she had about her, honest and safe, and he sighed quietly, giving her his hand, palm facing up. “Surprised you hadn’t noticed sooner, cupcake fairy,” he said quietly, wiggling his fingers a little, using his left hand to point to the scars that littered his hands. “Or maybe you did. Seeing as how you’re probably pretty familiar with burns yourself. I hope you’re not, but I’m sure it comes with the territory, huh?” He laughed softly, always nervous to share any part of himself with others, but something told him he had nothing to worry about. “Sadly, it also comes with mine.. having the lovely power that I have. The uncanny ability to set anything ablaze. Well, not anything. But sadly every meal I ever try to cook. There’s a fancy name for it, but it all comes down to manipulation, basically. Fire manipulation.” He looked from his hand and checked he hadn’t completely scared her away yet. “Also explains the body heat. As much as you do make me feel hot,” he teased, hoping she’d be more curious than anything. 

A lover of languages, Ivy clapped her hands excitedly, maybe too excitedly, at the possibility of hearing him speak Greek for her one day. “Je ne peux pas attendre, beau - can’t wait,” she showed off her French, with a swift boop on his nose. “I hope you’ll teach me some.” Her eyes drifted to his mouth, watching his tongue dance across his lips. “I don’t ask for anything in return of my services,” she began, her eyes sparkling in the colored lights around them, catching what Silas was putting down, and bringing her eyes to his before biting her own lip in return, “but I’m pretty open to hearing about whatever payment you’d find most...appropriate.”

Her parents having done most of their traveling before the twins were born, Ivy couldn’t be more envious as Silas continued to talk about all the places he’d gone in his life, New York especially - somewhere she’d been wanting to go since she first saw and fell in love with Breakfast at Tiffany’s as a little girl--she’d have to get over her phobia of flying first though. Ivy listened in awe about the murder mystery party he’d gone to, laughing when he mentioned how embarrassing it could be, “I bet,” she added. 

Ivy politely turned down his drink as Silas offered it, finishing her own and appreciating the fact that he’d even thought to do so. “Oof, I don’t know about that,” she quirked a playful eyebrow in reference to her brother, though it soon faded as she thought about how tense their relationship had become in recent years. “He’s gone--actually in LA right now though, so at least there’s some time before I have to deal with two of you.” She ended it there, eager to move away from talking about that messy detail in her life. Her relationship with her brother wasn’t perfect, but it still made Ivy a little sad hearing that Silas had grown up alone; in fact up until recently, Ivy could never imagine a life without her sibling. She couldn’t feel too bad for him though, because it wasn’t long before he began to threaten her Mario Kart skills. “Ohoho, challenge accepted, buddy!” She poked him in the side, the other hand placed firmly on her hip, bringing it up to point at him. “Next date? You’re on!”

The brunette couldn’t help but join in on his genuine laughter; it’d been too long since she felt this feeling, this happiness - giddiness, even. Silas was... something special. She watched him, how she adored how his eyes crinkled when he laughed, showing that big, to be honest, beautiful smile, but, at the same time, Ivy noticed there was always something behind that smile, holding him back. Maybe it was how much Silas intrigued her that made him attractive, but at this point she seemed to have a list of reasons, none of which made sense to her, but it felt right so she decided to stop keeping count. It’s not like she didn’t have skeletons in a closet of her own anyway, some she didn’t feel particularly discussing with anyone - not even herself.

Ivy was part serious, part joking when she asked about his temperature, but once she did she knew she hit a nerve. What, was the guy dying? “Please don’t tell me this is some kind of a Walk to Remember shit,” she laughed nervously, shifting her weight, “because as cute as that was, there’s lit-er-al-ly no way in hell I’m ready for that...” The once lighthearted mood now thoroughly murdered, Great going, Iv, she prepared herself for the worst of news, when Silas turned over his arms, exposing the scars on hands. It was true, she had noticed them before, but Ivy was afraid to bring up their origin. It was also true that she, too, was familiar with scars but probably, no, definitely not in the way that he thought. 

She smiled at him, a smile she hoped would come across completely true, unjudging, and genuine, and held his hand in hers while he talked. While yes, there was a part of her that felt uneasy by this new knowledge--after all, Ivy didn’t know how well he could control it--but at the same time, if something was going to go wrong, it probably should’ve happened already - especially with how hot things started to get back at the bakery. “Trust me sweetie, it goes both ways,” she smirked in an effort to lighten the mood again, giving a light squeeze to his hand still in hers. Besides, this fire thing could really come in handy with some of her pastries in the future; it was best to keep him around.

“Actually,” Ivy said, bringing a leg up on the bench under her other, sitting on it, as she turned her torso, facing Silas. “I have a... a bit of a parlor trick of my own, so to speak.” She held out out both of her palms, motioning for his other hand, waiting for it to join it’s opposite already there. “It’s kind of crazy, so please don’t, like, freak out or anything. Promise?”

Ivy looked at Silas, giving him her best ‘here goes nothing’ look, and took a deep breath in, closing her eyes as she exhaled, willing herself to find a not-so-horrible memory she’d sorted away in the filing cabinet that was her brain, but not before long, a small smile appeared on her lips, implying she’d found the right one. A single tear slid down her cheek as Ivy looked back up at him, falling down to his hands just after she’d began reciting her mother’s incantation:

♪ Heal what has been hurt Change the Fates' design Save what has been lost Bring back what once was mine ♪

The drop soaked into his skin, and there was a split second where it seemed like nothing else was going to happen. Suddenly a warm, golden glow appeared where the tear had landed, followed by a rush of light now seeming to come from his hands. If Ivy didn’t know any better, she’d assume that Silas was doing his fire-thingy, or whatever it was called, but the light soon faded as she knew it would, revealing his hands to be less scarred than before, the magic only working on his more fresh afflictions. “Now remember,” she sighed, bringing a finger to his lips before he could speak. “You promised.”

[lalainajanes]

Klaroline as mates and Caroline questioning Klaus' sanity and/or thinking he was knocked on the head one too many times in the last thousand years for this to even be a possibility. :]

Everywhere With You

She stumbles, deliberate and maybe too theatrical, wind milling her arms and tottering like the heel’sshe’s wearing are going to be her downfall. They’re not - Caroline spent muchof her early teens prepping for Miss Mystic walking the stairs of her house ina cheap pair of pumps from Payless (getting her mom to buy them had been an ordeal) with a book on her head – butthe creep who’s following her has no way of knowing that.

Caroline lets herself crash into a light pole, makes a showof catching her balance, and throws her head back with a laugh that’sboisterous and supposed to sound slightly drunk. She closes her eyes andfocuses her hearing waiting for whoever’s been on her tail to make a freakingmove already.

She usually sticks to blood bags, because that’s what goodvampires do, but tonight she’s willing to make an exception. If some creep’sgoing to pick her as an easy mark Caroline’s going to make sure he regrets it.

She holds her breath, her hair spilling down in messy wavesto cover the red of her eyes and fangs she’s let out. She’s sure someone hadbeen watching her, that the rustling of leaves in the trees that line thispathway back to her dorm room had been caused by something other than animalsand the wind.

Nothing moves, now one ambles out of the woods or speeds upthe path.

Still, Caroline knowsshe’s not alone.

It’s been a weird couple of weeks.

The transition to college life hadn’t been as smooth asshe’d always expected. She’d been so excited at graduation, ready to have akickass summer and tackle college. She’d convinced her mom to take a quick tripto the cabin with her and they’d had a great time talking and watching moviesand lounging on the docks. She’d started to feel jittery then, almost likeshe’d forgotten something important, had wracked her brains for what it couldpossibly be.

Repeatedly, even when she’d known it was silly.

When they’d returned home she’d scrubbed the house from topto bottom, organized and rearranged until her back ached (no small feat givenher vampire status) hoping to put the feeling to rest.

Nothing had helped and her bad temper had continued to grow.She’d mostly managed to keep a lid on it, her mom’s odd hours helping. Carolinecould manage a sunny smile and genial chatter for the hour or so they spenttogether at meals. Still, she’d caught the worried looks her mother wasshooting her, had to brush off and redirect concerned questions.

Caroline had started taking long walks, plodding through thewoods that surrounded Mystic Falls trying to figure out what was wrong withher.

At first she’d chalked up her moodiness to the fact that shewas lonely. Bonnie was gone for the summer, Tyler’s return date unknown as heseemed reluctant to leave the pack he’d befriended and Elena too wrapped up inher weird Damon thing to have muchtime for her. Caroline had tried to get a jump on her classes, purchased hertextbooks (required and supplemental)but when it came time to sit down and read them her brain just wouldn’tcooperate.

She was constantly restless, could barely get four hours ofsleep in a night, consumed extra portions of blood and binged on Cheetos tocompensate.

She’d desperately hoped that things would get better onceshe was settled at Whitmore. She’d planned to dive into extra-curricularactivities, hoped that being busy was what she’d need to feel normal again.

Six weeks into her semester she was forced to admit that allthe clubs she’d joined and committees she was a part of hadn’t helped as muchas she wanted them too. It was a littlebetter, true. She could get through a lecture, was on top of her homework. Hersleep schedule was still a mess and she had made zero new friends. Caroline’sold ones weren’t big fans of her either at the moment.

The feeling that something was off was like an itch, aconstant nagging irritant that she just couldn’t figure out how to fix. Maybeshe was just looking for another outlet and she’d imagined the eyes she’s beenfeeling on her all evening.

Caroline groans aloud, forcing her fangs away now that itlooks like she’s just a paranoid nutjob. She sits and flops back onto the grass(she’s in no hurry to get back to her room, she’s been snappy and extra cuttingwith Bonnie and Elena lately and they’re really not having it anymore, not thatCaroline blames them). She’s tempted to scream but settles for kicking herheels into the ground for a moment, shaking her head and clenching her fists.

She’s too old for tantrums but it’s not like anyone elsewill ever know.

She relaxes with a sigh, scrubbing her hand over her face infrustration. “Maybe I’ve been cursed or something,” she mutters. “I’ll getBonnie to check. If she’s stilltalking to me.” A noise from the treeline breaks into her self-pity party andCaroline tenses, rolling over and digging her hands into the ground in case sheneeds to spring.

She expects a smarmy frat boy, his hands up like he’s not athreat (which he wouldn’t be, but still) even as his eyes rake her over.

She does notexpect a giant freaking wolf.

The wolf’s golden in color, thickly furred and powerfullybuilt. It keeps its head is down, its pace sedate, no hint of teeth oraggression visible as it pads in her direction. “What in the…”

She’s just gathering herself to run when its head lifts, asif it had understood her words, meeting her gaze directly. Caroline deflates,because the tiny bit of hope she’d had that it was just a wolf (its size made it unlikely but a girl could dream) –something that she could outrun – is dashed.

Good thing she’d never deleted Klaus’ number. She’dconsidered it often over the summer, his words, the weight of them, ringing in her mind. Her last love was a long waysoff and she had a long list of things to achieve before it was something shecould even begin to consider.

She’d stared at it in the darkness of her bedroom, duringthose nights where sleep just wouldn’t come, thumb hovering over the screen andunable to make the final tap that would erase him, put him out of her reach. Atthe time she’d been annoyed at herself, at the tiny voice that insisted shedidn’t want to make it impossible tocontact him.

Turns out that tiny voice totally had her back because itwas entirely possible she was going to get chomped on tonight.

Again.

Caroline gets to her knees, holds her palms up and speakssoothingly, “Nice, wolfy. Good boy. I know we’re like, mortal enemies orwhatever, but I’m really not that tasty. Promise. The amount of artificialcolors and flavors I’ve been ingesting lately is really going to screw up yourdigestion. Trust me.”

It snorts, almost like it’s amused, but doesn’t halt itsapproach.

She stills when it gets close, breath coming out in analarmed huff as its snout nudges at her hip. She swallows back a yelp when shesees its jaws open – because those teeth were no joke – but he merely bitesdown on the hem of her denim jacket, tugging firmly in the direction of thewoods.

Caroline swallows, and tries to sound confident, “Uh, nooffense but I’m going to have to pass. I’d rather my body be found, you know?Have a nice funeral.”

He lets out another noise, this one impatient, dropping herjacket and licking her wrist. “Ew,” she squeals, pulling away. “Slobber, much?”

The wolf’s clamped down on her jacket again and this timeit’s less of a tug and more of a drag. She debates ditching it and making a runfor it but that seems like it’ll only piss off the werewolf – not something shewants to do. She might have an advantage in the woods, she knows the trails(running has been one of her attempts to cope with her never-ending ennui) andif she could just get up a tree she’d be able to call for backup.

“Okay, okay.” Caroline climbs to her feet. Her jacket’sreleased and the wolf circles behind her, cold nose nudging the back of herknee. She turns and gives her best unimpressed look, not that it gets much of areaction, but she starts walking towards the trees. “Kidnapped again. Notawesome,” she grumbles. Though she has to admit that this wolf might be hermost pleasant kidnapper yet. He hasn’t even growled at her.

She tries to speed up but the wolf stays on her heels.Caroline’s never been herded before but she can safely say she’s not a fan. She recognizes the path hedirects her too, knows it’s one of the ones that leads to the backroad on theother side of the forest. She’s taken aback, having anticipated he’d force herdeeper into the woods and not towards civilization. The trees are spindliertoo, unfortunately, nothing that she can scale high enough to get away fromsnapping teeth and claws.

She tries to stay calm, ignores the more rapid beating ofher heart. Caroline reaches into her pocket, grips her phone tightly. Maybeshe’ll get lucky and there will be a car she can flag down on the road. Thewolf bounds ahead of her at the edge of the forest making a beeline for thelarge black SUV that’s parked on the shoulder.

She should make a run for it but her feet won’t cooperate,random pieces of information clicking rapidly into place.

She knows thatSUV.

She hears a sharp crack before she can say anything, followedby the crunch and squish of bone and cartilage and sinew shifting. She takesthe few paces forward so she can see the transformation, just to confirm whatshe’s begun to expect.

It’s quicker than she’d expected, more quiet too, only a fewharsh exhalations as Klaus shifts into the form she recognizes.

Well, mostly. She’d never seen him totally naked before.

Except for those dreams that she pretends she doesn’t have.

Her eyes drift down his back before she can think of why sheshouldn’t let them, noting the parts of his anatomy she’d not had the chance toperuse that long afternoon where he’d been trapped in Silas’ mind game. It isn’tuntil Klaus stands, a graceful movement of muscle and skin that she can’t helpbut be a little mesmerized by.

Something he clearly notices if the unbearably smug littlesmirk he wears is anything to go by.

She whirls, crossing her arms and straightening her spine,“Yeah, I’m going to need you to put on some pants.”

His laugh is soft but she hears him opening a door,rummaging around. The quiet jangling of a belt and the whisper of fabric followshortly after. Her foot begins to tap without her permission, her impatiencegrowing as questions begin to whirl. She wants to peek over her shoulder(because seriously, how long could it take?Pants, shirts. Easy peasy).

“I’m decent, sweetheart,” he says, after an agonizingly longtime.

She spins on her heel, “I highly doubt that,” Carolinespits. He’s got his arms lifted, fiddling with the ever present cords he wearsaround his neck and this time she keeps her eyes trained firmly on his face andnot on any lifting his shirt may ormay not be doing.

Klaus grins, amused. “Perhaps you’ve a point.”

Her eyes narrow as she takes in his complete ease. It justwasn’t fair. “Decent people don’t scare other people half to death by being acreepy stalking giant ball of furry death, Klaus.”

He sobers, if only slightly. “I apologize if I scared you.It wasn’t my intention. I didn’t mean…” he trails off and it might be the firsttime Caroline’s ever seen him stop to consider his words.

“You didn’t mean what?”she presses. “What are you even doinghere? New Orleans sounded pretty freaking great when you described it. Did youpiss everyone off and get kicked out or what?”

His eyes light up, “Ah so you did get my message. I’dwondered.”

She hopes it’s dark enough that Klaus can’t see her facebecause she knows it’s possible she’s blushing a bit. She’d listened to hismessage more times than she’d ever admit, had a hard time tamping down thewants it brought out in her.

There was plenty of time to explore the world, she had toldherself. Her mother only had a finite number of years and the least Carolinecould do was get a college diploma she could brag about before she had to gooff the grid with her never aging face.

He continues, leaning back against his SUV, not waiting forher to reply. “And while I wouldn’t say I was kicked out of New Orleans therewere several people who were most displeased with my behavior.”

“Did you try to murder them? Because that’s not the way tomake friends and influence people, Klaus.”

He hums, lips quirking up in a smile, “Debatable, love.However as a matter of fact I did not. I merely got a bit… moody.”

“You?” Caroline gasps in mock surprise, laying her hand overher heart, “Well I never.”

He sighs in exasperation but it’s playful, pushing away fromthe vehicle and walking towards her. “After one particularly rousing fightRebekah told me that if I didn’t get out of her sight she and Elijah would teamup, find a witch, and smother me in my sleep. Repeatedly.”

Caroline shrugs, “You kinda have something like that coming,don’t you think? Given the whole dagger thing.”

“She found those. Unfortunately. Leaving me no other optionbut to retreat from the house.”

“And what, you came here? That’s an awful long walk.”

“Not directly. This was nearly a month ago. I headed out tothe Bayou, turned, wondering if some time as a wolf would help my temperament.”

“And did it?” Caroline asks, curious where this story wasgoing.

“I never got a chance to find out. I couldn’t turn back.”

“But you just…”

He shakes his head, “I went back to the house, had a greatdeal of difficulty communicating my dilemma to Elijah, as I’m sure you canimagine. Eventually, he got the gist of it, found a witch.”

“And the witch turned you back?”

“If only it were that easy,” Klaus says, the twist of hislips wry.

She’s about to ask what exactly that means but he steps a little closer, reaching out and wrappinghis fingers around her wrist. It’s gentle, something she feels like she canbreak if she needs to though she has no immediate urge to pull away. Herquestions stick in her throat when his thumb flutters over her pulse point, hereyes widening in shock at the jolt it sends up her arm. When he speaks againit’s quieter, with a hesitance that’s uncharacteristic, but he’s close enoughthat she doesn’t need to strain. “What do you know about mates, Caroline?”

“Mates,” she repeats slowly. “I know it’s about the leastsexy word for significant other there is. And that Dawson’s Creek made ittotally gross. Just because a boy thinks he’s your soulmate doesn’t mean heowns your hymen.”

He’s still touching her, and she still doesn’t mind, hisface relaxed and filled with a fondness that’s hard for her to look away from.“In terms of werewolves, love. It’s old lore, something I myself discounted soit’s reasonable that you’re unfamiliar with the stories.”

“Werewolves have mates?”

Klaus nods, “I was skeptical too. But the witch insisted,even under Rebekah’s very dire threats, and I thought it wouldn’t hurt to tryher suggestion. Reasoned that I could always find someone more competent lateron.”

“Okay,” Caroline drawls, knowing she’s missing somethingfrom Klaus’ expectant gaze. “So what happened next?”

“We drove to Whitmore. I weathered Elijah’s incessantcomplaints about the fur on his upholstery. We parked outside your dorm roomand I was finally able to change back.”

Her jaw drops, a staccato burst of laughter spilling fromher. Klaus doesn’t even twitch, eyes knowing and patient. “You’re saying thatI’m…”

“Tell me, Caroline, did you feel off this summer? Pricklyand not quite yourself?”

How could he know that? “I…” she splutters for a moment, “Iwas just adjusting, you know? Things haven’t exactly been sunshine and rainbowsfor me, you know? I’m not…”

“My sources tell me Tyler hasn’t returned. That he’s met alovely young werewolf in his travels and seems loathe to leave Carson City.”

“That,” Caroline snaps, tugging her arm away from him, “isnone of your business.”

Klaus holds up his hands, dips his head in contrition,“Apologies. But I wonder if you’ve missed him like you used to. Or has itchanged, grown more distant?”

A small thread of alarm grows in Caroline at his tooaccurate words. “How do you know that?” she hisses.

“Call it a hunch. And you’ve not taken up with any of thecollege boys who seek you out.”

She throws her hands up, “Okay, seriously. How long have youbeen stalking me? That’s not okay, Klaus.”

Klaus’ eyes flash gold, a hint of temper in the set of hisjaw, “I had little choice, Caroline. I have no desire to live as a wolfindefinitely. I’d not have disturbed you, I haven’tdisturbed you, but tonight I couldn’t help it. The pull to you was stronger inthat form than I had anticipated and I couldn’t resist it.”

She digests that, studying him warily, “How long have youbeen here?”

“I arrived your first week. Right around the time yourirritability became a little more manageable, I’d wager.”

Bonnie and Elena had been alarmingly close to joining forcesand snapping her neck just to get some peace those first few days of sharedproximity, Caroline knew. It was only the easing of the varied extreme moodsshe’d been experiencing that had led them to back off. At the time she hadn’tput much thought into the change, just relieved she was functioning at areasonable level once more.

“So you’re saying I felt better because you were around.Because I’m your…” she can’t say it. It seems too crazy.

Klaus has no such issue, the word spilling out crisp andfirm, “Mate. Precisely. Proximity eases the worst of the symptoms though you’llstill be off unless we have regular contact.”

“Contact,” Caroline repeats, slightly dubious.

Klaus watches her carefully, eases back into her space. Heskims his fingertips up her arm, leaving a trail of goosebumps in his wake, andshe fights a shiver. She shouldn’t wanthim to touch her but she body aches for more now that he is. His palm settleson her neck, slipping under her hair to cup her nape. She knots her hands inher skirt to keep from reaching out to him, thanks her lucky stars her bra hasa molded cup. “Physical contact,” Klaus elaborates, low and with an edge of roughnessthat has her stomach clenching.

She takes a shaky breath, tries to gather her splinteringthoughts. “You’re insane. I can’t…”

He takes her other hand with his free one, tangling theirfingers together. “I know this isn’t something you’d planned for, Caroline. AndI truly meant to stay away. But I couldn’t.”

She can’t think, not with the way he’s touching her.

Caroline grits her teeth and takes a giant step back,shivering for an entirely different reason, feeling cold and a return of thatprickling uncomfortableness. Klaus’ body goes taut, his stance widening as hefights to stay still. She takes a deep breath, “I’m not sure I buy this.”

His snort is derisive but she shoots him a quelling look, “Iadmit you’ve made some sense and some of your arguments are… persuasive. But Ineed to think. And do some research.”

He looks like he’s about to protest but she cuts him offquickly, “You’ve had time to think this through. I get the same.”

His expression conveys his displeasure but he nods, a shortjerk, and his eyes never leave her face. She takes a step back, “I’ll call you.When I’m ready.”

Klaus’ makes a soft noise of assent. “Fine,” he replies. “I’llbe waiting.” The words play on a loop as she retreats.

It was probably a bad sign that she found them comforting.