𝕌𝕟𝕗𝕠𝕣𝕘𝕖𝕥𝕥𝕒𝕓𝕝𝕖 𝕃𝕠𝕧𝕖

𝕎𝕚𝕔𝕜𝕖𝕕 𝕎𝕚𝕥𝕔𝕙 𝕀𝕤 𝔻𝕖𝕒𝕕

ONCE KLAUS HAD convinced Dahlia to link herself to him first, the witch had been in a rush to get through with the ritual. They all piled into the truck and traveled to the nearest secluded spot where the woman could do her spellwork in peace, which happened to be an orchard.

Nathaniel took to sitting on the lowered tailgate with Hope and Andrew next to him in their carseat. Somehow, Freya found herself in the back of the truck's bed unconscious. Dahlia moved her after the altercation with the Crescent wolves and Klaus's ultimatum had been dealt with. The witch then proceeded to set up for the ritual to link herself to the immortal hybrid. Klaus leaned against the truck where he had eyes on his children and fiancé at all times. He had not said a word since they parked, nor did Nathaniel.

"You're quiet," Dahlia voiced from where she stood behind the table that held her many ingredients. "Are you having misgivings?" She looked over at Klaus.

Klaus sighed. "I was just looking for a polite way to ask, 'what the hell is taking so long?'" he said with a light smirk.

Nathaniel held back the laugh that wanted to slip through his lips. It was definitely not the time.

Dahlia gestured to the table before her. "Well, we can begin now," she said and caused the hybrid's expression to fall. "Once we're linked, I'll no longer have to sleep a hundred years again. Your concerns for my status will ease, and I'll finally be able to focus on the two Mikaelson children."

Nathaniel glared toward the woman when Dahlia glanced over him. The witch had another thing coming if she thought he would just go along with the children being linked to her.

Klaus glanced over his family. His expression tight. Nathaniel caught his subtle nod as he pushed off the truck. He did not return it, but he held his gaze until he finally turned away. He had a plan, he just knew. Nathaniel just hoped that it worked.

"I will only need one drop of their blood," Dahlia said as Klaus walked over to the table, "and then their power shall be mine also."

Klaus stood across from the witch, looking over his shoulder at the unconscious woman in the back the truck. "What do you want to do about Freya?" he asked.

"She served her purpose," Dahlia said and lifted her gaze to the crescent moon high in the sky. "So, tonight, at the moon's apex, I'll end her life, and once our link is severed, the bond that I share with your family will become permanent."

Nathaniel ground his teeth together at the woman's words. He needed to get out of there. They needed to get as far away from Dahlia as they possibly could and never look back. The witch was completely psychotic.

Klaus gave Dahlia a condescending smile. "Best get on with it, then," he said as moved around the table to stand next to the woman.

Dahlia did not retort, holding her hand over the table to take his. Klaus tightened his grasp around her palm, but she seemed to not care as she began to chant.

"Medareno sometswar. Medareno sometswar."

Nathaniel watched from the tailgate as the two chalices sat in the center of the table began to fill with blood. It ran over the rims, pouring down to the infinity symbol drawn on the flat surface in salt. Dahlia continued to chant, forcing the blood to merge through the symbol. Nathaniel jumped when they both disconnected and gasped.