Unfortunately, Oliver was right.

"Are you serious?" Hayley snapped as she and Esmeray burst through the doors of St. Anne's Church. "You're dividing up the city, and the werewolves don't even get a say?"

Diego sat up angrily. "What the hell is she doing here? The only wolf I ever agreed to work with was Esmeray, so I don't know why the fuck—"

"Diego, sit," Elijah said sharply. He looked at Hayley as if slightly peeved. "We are not dividing the city. We're establishing boundaries—"

"No, Elijah," Hayley said, stopping at the edge of the table. "There is not gonna be a peace if the werewolves are excluded. They want a seat at the table. And if they don't get one, I can guarantee that you will all regret it."

She pointed at Genevieve, who was sitting all too comfortably next to Elijah. "I cannot believe that she gets to be here looking smug after what she did to Esmeray. At least Esmeray was trying to include everyone!"

She grabbed Esmeray's arm like a protective mother who went to defend her daughter from a school bully. "We're waiting outside until they're done being unfair."

Esmeray just followed along looking shocked. Within minutes, those gathered inside left, and Hayley marched back in, seeing Elijah alone now.

"Do you have any idea what it took just to get those people in one room together?" he asked.

"Yes, I know," said Esmeray hotly, because Hayley didn't know how to answer this. "I worked with them for weeks and they're difficult, but what I was doing was working, even when I included everyone. Why exclude the werewolves?"

Elijah looked like he was trying his hardest not to be harsh with her. "I excluded them because they no longer reside in the French Quarter. My immediate concern is to end the mounting conflict here. Now, I can assure you once this treaty is solidified, it will expand to include your people."

Hayley scoffed. "And until then, we should tell them what? Sit? Stay? Roll over?"

This time, Elijah shouted. "I would prefer that you both remove yourselves from the process all together!" Seeing the glare on Hayley's face and the hurt look in Esmeray's eyes, his voice softened, and he directed his speech to the wolf. "Hayley, are you absolutely certain that you shouldn't return to the compound?"

Hayley laughed sarcastically. "You think the baby belongs there? You think that's where she'll be safe?"

"Is the Bayou any better?"

"The wolves deserve a voice. Give them one. You know it's the right thing to do." She turned around and marched out the doors, and Esmeray stared up at Elijah, crossing her arms.

"Why?" she mumbled. "Klaus told me that you wanted to do what I'd been doing before I was kidnapped. Why change it?"

Elijah sighed. "The witches kidnapped you because they did not wish the wolves to be included, and sought to use your magic against them and my siblings. If they were going to accept you as a leader, they were going to accept only the witch half of you."

"They almost killed me!" she hissed. "You saw that! You saw Genevieve was willing to let me die, Elijah! She's the one that revealed Rebekah's secret to Klaus and left your sister to die, trapped inside of the Cemetery. There will be no peace unless everyone gets a say. What I was doing was—"

"You gave up," he said, cutting her off. "Esmeray, you gave up, and for good reason. What you were doing was working but not fast enough. You devoted more attention to the wolves than the witches, and they retaliated. It wasn't good enough."

Esmeray looked like she'd been slapped. "Tell me the truth, Elijah," she said coldly. "Why have you been so rude to me ever since you came back from being in the bell tower with Davina? First you doubted that I could do the spell that would have unlinked Sophie and Hayley, and now, you're acting like I was a complete failure."

Truth be told? Elijah was terrified of what she would find out. Since he met her, when he'd promised her she could see into his mind, he'd worried about how she'd react, seeing how he compelled Aurora to leave Klaus. He thought it would be fine that she'd know, because initially, he signed her up for murder. Now, she was in love with the man she was supposed to kill in the first place. Every time he was close to her, he remembered her power, and how easily she could look into his mind if she wanted to. His own fear left him trying to push her away so that Klaus would never know what he'd done.

Did he tell her this? Of course not.

"Hayley," he said quietly. "I know very well that you've been encouraging her to pursue me. You need to stop."

Esmeray blinked. "So this is all because you figured out that I wanted the two of you to be an item?"

"You saw how my brother got when he thought I was pursuing you," he said in a strained voice. "If I pursue the mother of his child, if I betray my morals..."

"Oh, shut up, Klaus wouldn't hate you for liking Hayley. He feels nothing for her outside of appreciation for her being the mother of his child. Granted, he's terrible at showing that appreciation, but it's there. You didn't need to be rude of me because of that, you could have just talked to me about it. I haven't told her anything recently so don't get your panties in a twist. Don't make me out to be weak, because I'm not weak. If you want to give constructive criticism, do it properly. Don't doubt me and don't tell me that what I did wasn't good enough. Instead, offer suggestions about how I can improve even though I did my damn best. I may not want to be in charge of this city anymore, but I will help you if you need it."

Even after their conversation, she was annoyed.

She'd returned to the Compound, and Klaus had been more than happy to sit on her bed while she walked around, ranting about Elijah and the exclusion of the wolves.

"And then at the end, he just said a half-assed 'sorry,'" she said, flicking at a bit of dust on her shirt. "Said he had to meet with someone named Francesca Correa, who's apparently going to be the new leader of the human faction now that Father Kieran is settling in elsewhere. Also, can you believe that Cami and Marcel hooked up? I overheard one of the vampires on my way here saying how Marcel and 'that blonde' finally got together, and who else would it be?"

Klaus was clearly taken out of the loop suddenly hearing her gossiping instead of complaining, but he leaned forward with interest. "Doesn't Camille live within the Quarter? Marcel was meant to be exiled."

"They must have done it at his place, I don't know. I'm not about to ask her to find out. That's weird."

"How is it weird? You and Damon speak of such things in public. You mentioned the er— plane thing..."

"Okay, but Damon's my best friend and he's been my best friend for ages already. I've hardly spoken to Cami aside from helping her uncle. Plus what if I start talking about sex all bluntly and then she diagnoses me with some illness?"

Klaus laughed. "If you're concerned she might diagnose you with something, I think that's the problem that needs to be addressed, love."

Esmeray raised her eyebrows and came over to him, planting herself on his lap. "Is that so?"

He lay back onto the bed, looking up at her with a satisfied expression. "Yes, it is so."

She dipped down to kiss him, her hair falling down and creating a curtain around their faces. "You know, I'd like to collect on that massage you offered me earlier."

With his vampire speed, she was pinned under him abruptly, face down on the bed, with him behind her. His hands moved over her shoulders, and she sighed, starting to relax.

"When was the last time you had a proper bloody massage?" he asked, doing his best work to unfurl the knots on her back.

"Never... I don't think. I never got this tense when I was living in my village."

"You need to see a chiropractor at this point. I could crack a few bones for you, but—"

"But you might break my spine, and if you're going to break my spine, I'd rather you do it another way."

She could tell Klaus was wiggling his eyebrows even if she couldn't see him. "If you ever actually break my back, I think I'd cry."

"Cry?" he said, as if this was bizarre. "Whatever for? I'd have my blood ready to heal you."

"That's if I don't accidentally die before you get the blood in my mouth."

"I suppose I'll have to be more careful. There goes the idea I had planned for tonight..."

She perked up. "What idea?"

"Oh, nothing," he said with a wicked smile. He didn't actually have an idea, he only wanted her to think that he did.

"Klaus, tell me, please."

"You think because you said 'please' that I'm going to tell you everything, love? I'll have to consider it..."

A knock at the door left Esmeray groaning in frustration.

"Niklaus," said Elijah from outside.

"Go away," Klaus grumbled, his hands moving further down Esmeray's back as he continued to massage. "We're busy, and no one likes a voyeur."

Esmeray could almost picture the annoyed look on Elijah's face. "I need to speak with both of you."

To make a point that they were busy, Klaus slipped his hands under Esmeray's shirt, his thumbs pressing into two pressure points on her lower back, eliciting a moan that she wasn't able to muffle.

Elijah let out an exasperated sigh. "I can sense that you are not in throes, Niklaus, because Esmeray is very diligent about her Silencing Spells. I wish to speak to you about your continued indifference to what I am trying to accomplish."

Klaus shrugged, not ceasing his massage over Esmeray's bare back. "To put it bluntly, brother, I don't give a damn about what you're trying to accomplish. Those people will never truly be at peace. They had Esmeray, and they disrespected her. I'd rather be here at her side ensuring no one else can hurt her, than out there with you pretending I'm concerned about whether the vampires can play dolls nicely with the witches. It's difficult trying to unite a community that has a history of mutual loathing."

Esmeray giggled, but Elijah was displeased. "Spare me the platitudes, Niklaus."

"A perspective, then?" offered Klaus, slipping his hands under Esmeray and cupping her breasts to bring her to kneel in front of him, her back to his chest, which made her moan once again as he started to fondle her. "If you want peace, you must begin with the werewolves. A hundred years ago, they had a run at ruling this city. As of late, all they've had is time to watch their enemies tear down that legacy."

"All the more reason why their enemies are reluctant to bring them to the table," said Elijah. "And Niklaus, do you really intend to have me listen to whatever is happening in there instead of simply coming out to have this conversation properly?"

Klaus smirked, grinding his body into Esmeray's and causing her to pant lightly, unable to contain her arousal. "Take a page from Bienville, brother. If the table's the obstacle, remove it. Do you recall in 1720, the Governor's desperation to secure our help to build the cities first levees? We sat with him, and refused his offer, and so, he plied us with wine, with corseted women, and with raucous camaraderie until he had his yes."

Elijah paused for a minute, and Esmeray had a feeling he was smiling. "Are you suggesting that I throw a party?"

"That's exactly what I'm suggesting," said Klaus before he abruptly peeled away from Esmeray, leaving her dissatisfied. He winked at her from the doorway, ignoring the flustered look on her face. "Find a nice dress, love, because this won't be continuing until after the party."

Alright, two could play at that game. With a huff, Esmeray had indeed gone straight to find a dress. But once she heard Klaus had left his room and gone downstairs with Elijah to prepare for the party, she'd gone to see the suit he'd picked out, and had put a spell on it, returning to her room with a smirk on her face.

"These infernal pants are bothersome," said Klaus later in the evening as he escorted her downstairs. The Mikaelsons sure knew how to go all out for a party. The witches, werewolves, and vampires had all been invited, but Esmeray wasn't occupying herself with whatever was happening between the factions.

"What's bothering you about it?" she asked innocently. "Did you forget to cut off a tag?"

Klaus didn't immediately suspect her. He held her in front of him, grinding his hips into hers, letting her know her spell had the desired effect. A clever Mind Spell that would leave him thinking and feeling that his pants were too tight because of an actually non-existent arousal. If he was going to leave her feeling needy, she'd do the same.

"Dance with me, if you're not going to tell me what's wrong," she said, pulling him onto the dance floor. She took one quick look around. There was Jackson and Oliver with Hayley. Elijah, with the woman she suspected was Francesca Correa.

She made a point to press her own hips against his, taking advantage of the crowd to really make personal space a myth in this situation. With that, Klaus was able to figure out what she was doing, and in a moment when she turned to face away from him while still letting her hips move into his, he wrapped his hand around her throat, dipping down to her level so that he could whisper in her ear.

"I should have known my clever little werewitch cast a revenge spell," he said, making her breath hitch as his other hand moved over her stomach. "Give me one good reason why I shouldn't go public with it."

Esmeray's eyes widened. "You wouldn't dare."

"Oh, I would dare, love. I wouldn't even be fazed by all the stares. If there's one way to show everyone you're all mine and I'm all yours, this is it..."

"Don't," she whined, though it didn't sound like a terrible idea. Maybe just not with this particular crowd. "I'll take the spell off."

"No, actually, you won't. I can tolerate it for awhile longer. Just know the threat stands." He winked and pulled away, walking toward the stairs. She wasn't sure what he was doing for a second, until she saw he was following Jackson. Narrowing her eyes, she decided to follow, surprised Klaus wasn't killing him.

"What's going on?" she asked, seeing the two in Klaus's art room, where one of his unfinished paintings was waiting for the next round.

"Klaus invited me," said Jackson, standing a bit closer to Esmeray as if he didn't fully trust Klaus. "Not sure why." He gestured around the room. "So, is this where the great Klaus Mikaelson says something poignant, and snaps my neck?"

"I'm not here to kill you," said Klaus, feigning offense at this accusation. "After all you have done for Esmeray, I am quite inclined to let you live. In fact, I'm here to offer you a gift."

Jackson huffed. "Out of the kindness of your vampire heart?" He quickly acknowledged the reproachful look on Esmeray's face. "I know he's your boyfriend, but I don't fully trust him."

"Our hearts are more similar than you might realize," said Klaus, smirking at Jackson. "You see, long before I evolved, mine beat as a werewolf. I know your power. I know your burden. I'm here to take the latter away."

"You want to make me a hybrid?" said Jackson in disbelief. "I put my Pack first, and I'm not gonna let anything compromise my family line, especially becoming some bloodthirsty vampire parasite. The only hybrid I have no problem with is Esmeray. You're another story. She's told me enough and I respect that you're her family, but in that same way, I will respect and protect those who are my kin."

"That pride, that sense of loyalty? Well, that's exactly why I haven't snapped your neck yet. You accepted Esmeray when she needed support, and I am grateful to you."

Jackson was now confused. "Well, if you're not gonna kill me, then what the hell do you want? Don't tell me you're going to give me a talk about staying away from your girl. It's not like that with us."

Klaus laughed lightly. "What I want is to give you back the city that was taken from you. How is that for poignant?"

Jackson narrowed his eyes. "Why would I trust someone who's conspiring behind his own brother's back?"

"I'm not trying to undermine Elijah's venture. I'm supporting his vision, the same way I supported Esmeray. Vampires destroy life to survive, witches are only as powerful as their dead, but the werewolves have thrived because their strength comes from family unity. The safety of that unity is what I want for my unborn child. The painful truth is, vampires are the antithesis of unity."

"So what, after a thousand years, you're finally ready to embrace the other half of your family tree? Maybe the other half doesn't want you. We all know that you only behave when Esmeray's with you, and that's not enough."

"The other half will want me perfectly fine once they return to the Quarter, just as Esmeray planned."

Jackson was curious as Klaus moved to grab a wooden box from his desk. "You got a plan to back that up?" asked the wolf, observing as the Original pulled out a ring.

"My mother was a very powerful witch," said Klaus. "I watched her craft all manner of magical items, but her most prized possession was this ring. I hadn't seen it for one thousand years, and then it turned up hanging around the neck of a werewolf— a direct descendant of my biological father who happened to cross my path just days before Esmeray was rescued from the witches. I believe she gave him this ring as a way of freeing him."

Esmeray was surprised with this news. "How so?"

"Daylight rings shield vampires from the sun. So, why not a moonlight ring to protect werewolves from the curse? Think about it! No more breaking bones, no more losing control to the beast within. I fear, however," he looked at Esmeray, "this may only work on regular wolves, not hybrids. But this, love, this is the way to help your people."

He placed the ring in her palm. "This ring will give any wolf who wears it the ability to channel their extra strength all the time. Their bite will become lethal every hour of every day. Full control over their powers. I have the spell that makes the rings, all I need is to determine what stone is bound within it. What I want is for the wolves to return to the Quarter. I want the wolves to be given a voice. And if other wolves come to settle in, then I wish for them to acknowledge Esmeray as their Queen. Only under her rule will I be on my best behavior."

Esmeray had a look of complete admiration in her eyes as Klaus looked at Jackson. "Do we have a deal?"

Jackson nodded. "What do I have to do?"

"For now, just give me your contact information," said Klaus, holding out his phone. "I will contact you with instructions. In the meantime, return to the party."

As soon as Jackson had given Klaus his number, Esmeray pulled him into a hug.

"You're not angry, love?" he asked, looking a bit confused.

"Why would I be?"

"I kept this a secret from you for a month. I worried you would not take it well."

"I don't mind, Klaus. You're right— that ring probably won't work on me. But for the other wolves? This is perfect. And it's best you waited until after the Crescent Curse was broken to show them off. This... I really am thankful that you were able to find something like this. I think the stone may be black kyanite, and if we can get enough of them..."

Klaus chuckled lightly. "Well, not to sound like Moses, but with this, your people will be free." He then frowned at a slightly different sensation in his pants. "You undid the spell."

"Of course I did," Esmeray said before pulling him in for a kiss.