The door opened and Kol moved near silently until he leaned against the balcony railing. "That was quite the chat."

I wiped at my cheeks, voice unsteady. "Well, Nik got what he wanted. No more Tyler."

"He'll at the very least be alive. Unlike your brothers, which is offering more than anyone else in the family has gotten. Tyler Lockwood earned enough favor to grant him his life after you broke his heart."

He was right.

It was the lesser evil.

I shifted, realizing that I did still have Tyler's jacket and that I'd have to return it. Even though it offered comfort I very much needed. "Do you think Elijah would honor it?"

"Niklaus has Elijah's ear as much as Elijah has his. There's always a chance he won't, but I think for you, he will."

"He seemed pretty intent on killing them earlier."

Kol hummed. "I'll admit this is uncharted territory. You've never fought Elijah this hard on the death of anyone that's harmed you. He's very used to ensuring your safety in every regard."

I tugged Tyler's jacket tighter around me. "I wish that it didn't have to be like this."

Kol leaned his head back, and for a moment, said nothing. "Of course, there's the other bit of the conversation. Particularly New Orleans."

My stomach dropped. "I can explain-"

"Betraying the family? Darling, it only makes you more of a Mikaelson."

So he didn't know I used the witches. Good. That was... that was good. Until he did know. "You're not mad?"

"Granted summoning Mikael was an incredibly stupid move, and not a mistake even I would dream of making... credit is due. What you did took balls."

"Really?"

"Next time let me in on it. I'll gladly help you one up Nik or even 'lijah." He bumped my shoulder. "Preferably without the destruction of where we live."

"Oh please, you love destruction."

Kol chuckled. "That I do. I also like being comfortable and being on the run, isn't comfortable."

"Tell me about it. I was so fucking paranoid."

"Ah, but you were running from Nik and Elijah. Two people who love you very much. True, they would've been furious, but Mikael has made it his life's mission to destroy us and anything we hold dear."

I crossed my arms. "Still. I wasn't very interested in getting daggered."

His head tipped. "Alright. I'll give you that."

A comfortable silence settled between us and he shifted until he was facing the party, and I was watching the darkness.

There was little else besides the soft hum of the music or the steady chirp of crickets.

"How do I make Elijah see this is a mistake?"

Maybe the damage wasn't entirely permanent.

"That's the trick. Once he's set his mind to something, there's no changing it. It is partially why you were adopted in the first place."

My brow furrowed.

"You were so afraid of everything we did. Elijah though, he was the most determined. He wanted to give you everything we never had." Kol's breath fogged out ahead of him. "So in short, the answer is no, there is no convincing him, something you already knew."

I spun my ring, nearly losing it over the balcony.

"Then again, stranger things have happened. Not even discovery from Mikael has ever made Niklaus undagger us all, especially Finn."

Certainly not in the time I'd known them.

"What if..." It was insane even suggesting it. "What if we daggered Elijah?"

"You're not seriously asking that of me." He lowered his voice, glancing at the door as if we'd know if either Nik or Elijah were listening. "We would both go in boxes for the rest of our immortal lives."

"I know. But before that, I could give my brothers an actual chance." It also had the added benefit that maybe Tyler could forgive me.

"And if we are successful, we are the very thing we hate about Nik."

"Please, Kol." I begged. "Even you have to admit that Elijah isn't himself. You saw how he acted. Elijah doesn't yell and never at me."

He crossed his arms. "Say I agree, how do you plan on daggering him? Nik keeps them under lock and key."

"They have to be somewhere. Buy me time."

Kol's eyes narrowed.

"C'mon. Don't tell me you haven't been itching to cause a little chaos."

He hesitated. "You're sure this is what you want. After it's done, there is no going back. Whatever consequences, one of which might still include the death of your brothers, you're willing to take that chance?"

I'd have almost everything that I wanted.

"Yes."

"No."

"'Why?!" So close.

"Nik is a spiteful, vengeful creature. I will not be party to this plot." Kol nodded to himself as if he weren't damning Stefan and Damon. "And you'll let this die or so help me, I'll tell Elijah."

"Fuck you." I moved to walk away and was caught by the arm.

"Don't do anything you'll regret, Morgan. You'd do well to remember Nik and Elijah have long memories."

"I'm going to save my brothers. If you stop me, I'll find a way to die. It might not be tonight. Or in two weeks, but there will be a point, eventually, where your guard slips and I'll be gone."

His hand withdrew as if he'd been burned. That's when I realized the music had stopped, and there was a faint rattle of chains.

No.

I spun around, speeding toward the doors.

"Morgan wait-"