The Good Daughter

Forty nine

My stomach churned more and more the closer we got to home. "Please don't tell Elijah."

"You ignored him." Nik glanced at me.

I wanted to say something about how he had gone against Elijah more than once. No, I had to make a deal he couldn't refuse. It was the only way. "What if I convinced Elena to willingly donate her blood to you?"

"How would you propose you do that?"

"That's for me to know." Even though it really was the most simple thing. "Please."

"Without your brothers in the way, would I not be able to do so anyway?" His brow rose.

"She'd fight you at every turn. Just as she is now, and her friends would help." I spun my ring around my finger. "The way she's headed, she'll be a vampire by the end of the year, if she's lucky, and without an heir... All I want is for my brothers to live past this distaste Elijah has for them."

Nik kept his gaze on the road and it was as if I could physically see the gears in his head turning. I sat tense in my seat.

If Nik refused, Elijah would forbid me from seeing them, perhaps even at the ball. But if he accepted, I'd have my work cut out for me. Elena wouldn't just agree to terms.

"You really have grown."

"Glad to know you've finally seen what's been right in front of your eyes."

"Alright. I'll entertain this for now. Know that there will be little I can do if they attack Elijah. Gods forbid they be stupid enough to attack you."

"They'll never hurt me."

Nik's lips pursed. "If I had a sibling I hadn't seen nor heard from in a century and a half, whom I thought dead, only to discover that not only was she alive, but had sided with the enemy and is the enemy's only known weakness, I would destroy that sibling, no matter my previous loyalties."

"Of course you would. My brothers wouldn't dagger and shove one another in a box." I knew I'd fucked up when I saw his jaw clench. I shouldn't have said that. "That was too far, I'm sorry, but my point still stands. Damon and Stefan don't want to kill me."

"Maybe so." Oh god. I knew that tone.

"I know I've screwed up. That I don't deserve your forgiveness for New Orleans." Fuck. Fuck. Fuck. "Please, Nik. Don't take them away."

"Why do you not beg Elijah? Make him tell you no."

"Elijah is blind to any good having them near me would do. He hates them. If I ask, all I'll receive is much of the same."

It killed me to know that the man I'd call father hated my brothers. That given the chance, he'd slaughter them.

"I can't lose them a second time. I'm barely hanging on as it is." Damn it all to hell. My throat grew tight and I pointedly looked out the window, avoiding his eye.

Nik pulled over.

We were in an area where fields stretched out all around us.

Normally I loved watching them pass me by on the way home, but now? I just wanted out of this fucking stuffy car.

"There was a time when you trusted me with more than you do now." The doors unlocked. "I know you're itching to run, don't attempt to go far. I'll offer you as much privacy as I safely can."

I frowned, grasping the door handle. "I do trust you."

"Go. Before I change my mind, little one."

I felt my face grow hot with the effort to hold in the tears. Just a few more moments, Morgan. "Thank you."

He nodded, and I pushed open the door, savoring the rush of cool air.

I used my speed to find a nice, quiet area.

I wanted to- I wanted to scream.

And so I did.