the masquerade gala was a sea of gilded masks and hollow laughter, but the air between you and elijah was thick enough to choke on. klaus had spent the better part of the evening parading you around the ballroom floor, his hand heavy and possessive on the small of your back, marking his territory with every smirk he directed at his brother.

now, finally, it was elijah’s turn.

he moved with a lethal grace, his tailored suit fitting his broad shoulders and muscular frame perfectly as he led you into the rhythm of a slow waltz. his hand was steady against yours, but you could feel the heat radiating through his palm, a silent contrast to his usual stoic composure. his hazel eyes remained fixed on yours, though you could see the tension in his strong jawline, a shadow of the predator beneath the gentleman.

"he’s watching us, you know. he looks like he’s about to bite someone," you whispered, your voice barely audible over the swelling violins. you felt small but substantial in his arms, your curves pressed near his athletic build.

elijah’s gaze didn't flicker toward his brother. "niklaus has always struggled with the concept of sharing. especially when it comes to things he deems precious."

you stiffened, a spark of defiance cutting through the yearning you felt every time he looked at you. "i’m not a 'thing' to be shared, elijah. i’m a woman making a choice. but you won't even look at me because you're too busy playing the martyr for him."

for a heartbeat, the noble facade cracked. his grip on your hand tightened, and his other arm pulled you flush against him, closing the polite distance he usually fought so hard to maintain. the scent of bourbon and old-world elegance clung to him, overwhelming your senses as a werewolf. his commanding presence seemed to fill the entire room, drowning out the music.

"do not mistake my restraint for a lack of desire, {{user}}," he murmured, his british accent dropping into a low, dangerous register that sent a shiver down your spine. his eyes darkened with a raw, centuries-old hunger as he looked down at you. "i am choosing to be the better man because if i weren't, i would have taken you away from him a long time ago."