WAR OF HEARTS ↠ KOL MIKAELSON [1]

4:02

| FOR HOPE, FOR FAMILY:
CHAPTER TWO |

The sun shimmered overhead, casting golden reflections off the pool and the crystal-blue sea beyond. A soft breeze rustled the linen canopy above Rebekah's sun lounger, carrying with it the scent of salt, citrus, and expensive perfume.

"Ah, nice to see you two finally arrived," Rebekah drawled from beneath oversized sunglasses, lounging like royalty as she sipped on what looked suspiciously like a blood-and-tequila concoction. A faint red ring clung to the rim of the crystal glass, catching the light with every lazy tilt of her wrist.

Kol and Rhea had just appeared at the edge of the villa's terrace, hand in hand, both of them tousled, wind-kissed, and flushed from the road—like trouble wrapped in silk and mischief. Kol's grin was smug, his walk loose with satisfaction.

"We took a slight detour," Kol said casually, his voice like velvet over smoke. The glint in his eyes didn't need elaboration—his sister didn't want details anyway.

"Mhm," Rebekah replied, not even attempting to hide her smirk. She lowered her sunglasses just enough to give them both a knowing once-over. "So glad to see the two of you are still as insatiable as ever. Though I suppose it's rather impressive—considering your little lip-locks with Tristan de Martel, Rhea, didn't manage to put Kol off you permanently."

Silence. Thick and immediate.

Kol's smirk faltered.

Rhea's stomach sank.

Rebekah blinked, her smirk evaporating as the tension snapped taut between them. "Oh... oh no. You didn't tell him?"

Kol stiffened. His hand slipped from Rhea's like it had burned him. His jaw clenched as if his entire body was fighting not to lash out.

Without a word, he turned sharply and stormed through the villa's glass doors, his footsteps echoing through the marble interior. The slam of a door somewhere upstairs followed seconds later.

"Gee, thanks, Rebekah," Rhea muttered under her breath, dragging a hand over her face as she walked toward the lounger and sank into the one beside the blonde.

"I didn't know he didn't know," Rebekah said quickly, taking off her sunglasses and turning toward her. "I thought you two told each other everything."

Rhea leaned back, tipping her head toward the sun. Her heart thudded dully in her chest, the memory surfacing like a bruise beneath the skin. "It didn't seem worth mentioning," she said quietly. "The first time was under threat of death, and the second..." She exhaled through her nose. "I was broken. I wasn't me."

The air between them was thick with discomfort, but Rebekah reached out and gently nudged her shoulder with her own. "I believe you, Rhea. And so will he—eventually. Kol may be the king of tantrums, but we both know he's also completely obsessed with you."