BURN FOR ME - Niklaus Mikaelson

She swallowed, the words still trembling in the air between them. "I just need to know that what I'm sacrificing means something."

For a moment, Klaus only stared at her. The room felt too small, the world too quiet, like even the air was waiting for his response.

Then his voice dropped, low and rough:

"Please, Monroe... don't turn your hesitation into doubt for me."

He stepped closer, and the heat of him was overwhelming. His hand traced the line of her jaw, his thumb brushing her cheek with a reverence so at odds with his reputation it made her breath catch.

"Yes, I will do all of those things for you," he went on, voice steady, dark, certain. "I will kill for you, lie for you, tear the world apart stitch by bloody stitch-all because I am Niklaus Mikaelson. The big bad hybrid."

His mouth curled-not as a joke, but as a promise.

"And if the universe dared to take you from me, I would drown it in fire and scream at the gods until they gave you back."

His other hand slid down, gripping her waist, pulling her against him until there was no space left at all.

"But for you-Monroe Prejean-I will do something far more terrifying than violence."

His forehead touched hers, breath mingling, eyes burning with something too fierce to name.

"I will burn."