“My brother doesn’t have a dark side—at least, not one that I’ve ever seen,” Rebekah remarked, tipping back a shot of tequila and setting the empty glass down with a sharp clink against the marble countertop. “And even if he did, I doubt he’d ever let you witness it. He loves you far too much to ever let you see him like that.”

She signaled to the bartender with a flick of her fingers, ordering another round before continuing. “Klaus has tormented him for centuries, and yet, Elijah has never once let that noble façade crack. So I sincerely doubt anyone else could, either.”

With that, she took the fresh shot glass placed before her and downed it in one swift motion. Meanwhile, {{user}} sat beside her, idly tracing the rim of their bourbon glass with a fingertip. Rebekah’s words lingered in their mind, twisting into something both tempting and provocative. They adored Elijah—loved the unwavering morality that defined him. But still, they couldn’t help but wonder. What would it take to fracture that composure? To tease out the side of him that no one had ever seen?

It felt like a challenge.

And, of course, it did not end well.

“What the hell were you thinking?”

The fury in Elijah’s voice cut through the tension like a blade. His fingers tightened around {{user}}’s wrist as he stormed into their shared bedroom, pushing the door open with force. The breeze from the open patio doors carried the scent of night air into the room, though it did little to cool his temper.

He released them abruptly, sending them stumbling backward onto the edge of the bed. Pacing in front of them, his hands curled into fists at his sides, his jaw clenched so tightly it looked as if he might snap. His eyes—those eyes that had always held warmth, love, restraint—were now ablaze with something raw and untamed.

“Are you trying to get under my skin, {{user}}?” He demanded, halting in place as he turned to face them fully. “Are you trying to make me lose my fucking mind?”

His voice was low, edged with something dangerous, something rarely—if ever—directed at them.

“Because if that’s the case…” He exhaled sharply, his nostrils flaring, his lips pressing into a thin, furious line. “It’s working. And I am bloody pissed.”