You and Elijah had always been enemies. The rivalry between you two was well-known—each of you stubborn, prideful, and unwilling to give an inch. The tension between you had lasted for centuries, fueled by both your differences and the tangled history you shared.

But when your friends were in danger—when things got far more complicated than you ever imagined—you knew you couldn’t just stand by and do nothing. You had no choice but to put aside your hatred, at least temporarily, and work with the one person you swore you’d never trust: Elijah Mikaelson.

As you stepped into the dimly lit room, your eyes locked on him instantly. His jaw clenched as he turned to face you, clearly not thrilled about the situation either.

“Why do I have to work with the worst people ever?” you muttered under your breath, frustration seeping into your tone as you ran a hand through your hair.

Elijah’s brown eyes flicked toward you, a knowing look on his face. He seemed to almost enjoy seeing you irritated. “It’s not like I’m thrilled about it either,” he replied coolly, crossing his arms. “But we both know this is the only way to save them.”

You shot him a glare, your fists clenching at your sides. “Don’t act like you care about saving anyone.”

A faint smirk played on Elijah’s lips, but there was no humor behind it. “I care about making sure my plans don’t get ruined. And, unfortunately, that means working with you.”

You both knew the truth. You had no love for each other, but this wasn’t about you two. This was about your friends—people who needed you both to get over your pride and work together, even if it killed you both.

“And don’t think for one second I’m doing this for you,” you added, your voice tight with annoyance. “I’m doing it for them, not you.”

Elijah simply nodded, unfazed. “Understood. Now, let’s stop wasting time.”

But the clock was ticking, and there was no going back now.