WAR OF HEARTS ↠ KOL MIKAELSON [1]

1:18

[THE RISE: CHAPTER EIGHTEEN]

Rhea picked up the phone, her voice dripping with playful teasing. "What can I do for you?"

A chuckle rumbled through the phone line, the sound warm and familiar. "Come on now, love. You kiss me and now you're tossing me aside like I'm nothing? I feel used."

Rhea's cheeks flushed a shade of red she couldn't quite suppress, a smile tugging at her lips despite her attempt to play it off. "Firstly, you kissed me. I was just returning the favor."

Before Kol could fire off another retort, Klaus's voice interrupted from the background, cutting through the flirtation with the ease of someone used to being in charge. "As much as I'd love to hear your declarations of undying love, we have a rather dire situation at hand!"

Rhea rolled her eyes but kept the phone pressed to her ear. "What's up?"

"Our dear brother Finn has locked us inside the compound," Kol's voice rang out with an edge of annoyance. "And we have not one, but two rather large groups—vampires and werewolves. It's a mess."

She groaned, already feeling the weight of the impending chaos. "Finn's revenge fantasy is getting tedious, don't you think? I'll be there in ten."

She hung up, but before she could leave the shop, a familiar voice called her name, its tone dripping with something far too smug for her liking.

"Finn."

The figure of Finn stepped into her path, his icy blue eyes narrowing in on her. "How lovely to see you too, Rhea."

She crossed her arms, not bothering to hide her irritation. "Is there a point to this lovely meeting, or are you just here to bore me to death?"

Finn's lips curled into a sinister smile. "You know, your brother tapping into that magic could draw some very unwanted enemies." He paused, gauging her reaction. "The ancestors of New Orleans have a message for you and your brother. Join them, in the fight against the vampires and werewolves, and they won't cause you any trouble."

Rhea raised an eyebrow, her gaze unwavering. "You can tell those ancestors to mind their own business and shove their message up their asses."

Finn's expression soured, but before he could respond, she brushed past him and out of the shop, heading toward the compound.

⸻

Upon entering the compound, Rhea slowed her pace, pausing just short of the entrance. She knew all too well that once she crossed the threshold, there would be no turning back. A barrier stood in her way, dark magic pulsing in the air.

She reached a hand out, testing the barrier's energy, but before she could make contact, Kol was there, rushing forward to stop her.

"Careful," Kol warned, his voice low but filled with genuine concern. "It's nasty."

Rhea's gaze softened as she turned to him, her heart skipping a beat as it always did when she saw him. His eyes locked onto hers with an intensity that made her forget the urgency of the situation for a moment.

"My girl to the rescue, eh?" She grinned at him, the tension between them undeniable. "You ready?"

Kol smiled, a flash of mischief in his eyes, and nodded. Together, they stretched out their hands, fingers barely brushing the electric air between them. They began to whisper an incantation, their voices quiet but firm. All around them, the others watched in anticipation, their fates hanging in the balance.

But suddenly, there was a violent shock, and both Kol and Rhea were thrown backward, landing hard on the ground. Rhea looked at him, startled. "What just happened?"