A/N: I dont own anything, just playing with the characters. This story starts right at the end of Dead Reckoning. O and I borrowed Alan Ball's version of Lafayette because I love that character's guts. *laughs* Im putting it as M for the later chapters and language. This will eventually get to S/E but I kinda want to make Eric suffer, just a little, cuz hes being a little dumb and needs a stupid smack to the head. And I'm gonna jump POVs. I just think it's more fun that way. So read it, review it. If ya think of something interesting you'd like to see in this story line, let me know, I love fresh ideas. (It's not beta'd so all the mistakes are mine.)

Chapter One

SPOV

I took my morning coffee out onto my porch to enjoy the sunshine and do some hard thinking. The past few days I'd been running on pure instinct, with no thought as to how it all would affect my future. Well, why worry about the future when you're not even sure if you're going to have one, right? But I survived the whole mess, so now I had to deal with the consequences.

The good news is both Victor and Sandra Pelt are no longer issues. But Victor's death left more questions than it answered. Would Felipe retaliate? Who would take of Victor's job as regent of Louisiana? Would Eric be punished for killing the king's man?

And what about Eric? I knew that Eric didn't tell me everything, that's understandable, given how much he's actually involved with. But to keep his 'arranged marriage' from me? I could help feeling betrayed…again.

Bill, Quinn and, now, Eric. I had to shake my head and remind myself that I wasn't trying to have a pity party, just trying to get my thoughts in order.

I really did need to take Pam's advice and start truly looking out for myself. I sighed, thinking of all the problems that lie ahead of me. I really can't put my trust in Eric anymore, not with the possibility that he may be giving up his area to marry a queen.

You know, after he set me aside, not unlike Bill was planning to do when the vampire-ho, Lorena, gave him a call. (Well, she did torture him and I staked her but Bill's motive was still to pension me off like a kept mistress.)

I felt the wave of anger roll over me that always accompanied that memory. I had given Bill everything I could. My heart and my body and my trust but he'd been more than ready to abandon me when a pretty vampire came along.

And here I was again. Different vampire boyfriend, different vampire ho, same story. But now, I had a little warning so I get to watch as Eric chooses between me and this other woman. Yippee. And when he did leave, I would be unprotected. Any vampire could come and try to force me into being their little telepathic pet. That thought made my stomach turn. There had to be some way for me to be able to just be my own, without the constant fear that I would be scooped up by the next powerful vamp that came along.

Then there was the fact that Merlotte's had been slowly losing business. If Sam lost much more he would have to shut the place down. I'd already dipped into my savings to help him out. But I had my own bills, things that I really needed. A new car was on the top of that list. My old Malibu just hadn't been the same since I'd run over Sigebert to save both Eric and Felipe's asses. That made me really bitter.

Something had to give.

I jumped when I heard my phone ringing inside the house and I was tempted to just let the machine get it, but I wasn't sure if Dermot was home, so I rushed to grab it, just in case. "Hello?"

"Morning, Sookie. Sorry, if I woke ya." It was Alcide and he sounded tense and little angry.

"No, I was already up. What do you want, Alcide?" I asked tersely. I still hadn't forgotten coming home to find him in my bed, his smooth attempt to try and seduce me helped along by Amelia and Claude.

"Jannalynn told me about what happened with Sandra Pelt."

"Super." I really wasn't sure where this conversation was going and I wasn't about to say more than what was needed to get him off the phone.

"The pack owes you thanks for stepping in before Jannalynn got shot." He said with a large side of grudge.

I really couldn't stop my impolite snort, "Really? Cuz I'm the only reason that crazy bitch was here in the first place."

I heard Alcide sigh. "No, Sookie, you weren't. Debbie went after you because of me; you had to do what you did to her to defend yourself. Any sane person can see that. And from what I hear, you've had other run ins with the Pelts and made them a fair deal. Sandra was just as crazy as Debbie and looking to blame someone."

I was stunned. I'd always thought that on some level Alcide truly did blame me for have to kill Debbie, but I guess he was too busy blaming himself. "Either way, no thanks needed. And I really do hope Jannalynn is ok."

It was Alcide's turn to snort. "She was fine by the time she got home. If it were slightly different circumstances I think she would have enjoyed herself."

Oh, yuck. Sure, I'd ended up killing people but I could never have enjoyed myself. "Is there anything else you wanted Alcide?"

"Are you still with Eric?"

Oh, joy. The million dollar question. Am I? Are we? "That's really none of your business."

I could almost see Alcide jaw tensing in the silence. "I want to take you out, on a date. Look, I know we've both changed but there's something here-"

"No, Alcide, just no." And before he could say anything else I hung up.

I shook my head before I went to get ready for work. I still had no idea what I was going to do but until I had a clue I needed to just lose myself in a normal routine.

When I pulled up to Merlotte's I could already tell that it was going to me a slow afternoon. Only Jane Bodehouse's car was out front. I smiled to myself thinking that one side benefit of killing Victor was that maybe, Vic's Redneck Roadhouse would have to close and Merlotte's would pick up again.

I was walking to put my stuff in Sam's desk when Lafayette caught my eye, "We's dead in here today, hookah!"

I gave him the brightest smile that I could manage, "I'm sure it won't be like that for too much longer."

Lafayette gave me one of his long, dissecting looks. I knew that he was seeing right through my façade (Thank you word of the day calendar). "You come talk to me, go tell Sam you're here then get your little white ass back here, you feel me?"

I almost told him no, that I was fine. But what I really needed was someone to talk to. Someone who wouldn't judge me. Lord knows, Lafayette was the last person to look down on anyone. So I nodded.

After throwing my stuff up and freshening up Jane's drink of the day (whiskey sour) I walked back into the kitchen. All Lafayette had to do was nod at me and it all came tumbling out. Well, most of what was wrong any way. By the time I finished, I was sitting on the floor crying my eyes out. All Lafayette had done was listen, occasionally ask me to explain something. Then he knelt down in front of me, so I had to look him in the eyes. "You's been holdin' way too much in, for way too long, baby girl. It's 'bout time you broke."

He didn't say it in a mean way. Just matter of fact. And he was right. I had been holding on to too much. And now I was sitting here on a kitchen floor, broken. So I just leaned in and hugged him. Needing to feel the reassurance that I was still alive.

After a few minutes of Lafayette just quietly holding me, he pulled back and said, "Now, doll face, yous gotta build yourself back up. That's the point of break downs ya know, the rebuilding that happens after."

"How? How do I even start?" I started sobbing again, feeling so lost.

"Girl, you start with you."

"What?" I asked, confused.

Lafayette just looked me in the eye, and in a matter of fact way said, "Before you can start taking on everyone else's shit, which you always do, Sook, you gotta get yours handled. You know why all them want you." He tapped my forehead gently. Lafayette had never doubted my ability. "Yous got something they want, they need. That makes you the power, not them."

I shook my head, thinking of all the things they could do to me. "Them threats they toss at you like Mardi Gras bead in the French Quarter, shouldn't mean shit to you."

"But they can kill me before I even have a chance to blink!"

"Then why ain't you dead?" He put his hand under my chin and made me look him in the eye again. "They sure could kill ya. Don't mean they will though. Cuz then, theys don't get nothin outta you. You's the power, baby girl. Think about that."

"Ok, I'll think about that. What about Eric? What do I even say to him?"

Lafayette got up and started making me something to eat while he said, "Psssh, hookah, what about his crazy ass?" He pointed to me with the tongs he was using to grab lettuce. "You tell him what I'm about to say and I swear for God I'm gonna cut your pretty hair while you sleep and make a wig but sound like to me… That's a man whose clean forgot how to keep a real woman. Sure, he can get any girl he wants. That's cuz he's hotter and richer than the devil. But can the man keep the smart ones around?"

"So, what, I just walk away from him?" Oh, God, could I even do that?

He looked at me for a minute. I think he was gauging what to say, I could have picked it out of his brain, but that would be so rude. So I just waited until he said, "Maybe. If the two of yous can't find a way to meet in the middle. If you can't make yourself be happy with what he can give, then yea, you walk, hell don't walk girl, run. Cuz staying a relationship that's all secrets and bullshit ain't even really a relationship."

I just sat there, numbly staring off into space trying to process everything he just said. Was he right? I let my thoughts run wild while he continued to make me a nice chicken salad. When he was finished he handed it to me and said, "You think. You think about you and the rest fall where it may."

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EPOV

I rose about half an hour before true sunset... I almost, impulsively checked the bond with Sookie, before I remembered that it had been cut. I felt its absence like a blade in my stomach. I missed knowing how she was feeling, where she was, if she was safe.

I grabbed my phone with an internal growl, already knowing what to expect. There is was, the email from Felipe's day man, informing me to expect the kings tonight at 11:30 to answer questions regarding the death of his regent. I had known when we killed Victor that De Castro would have to come to us, if nothing more than to reassert his domain. Pam and I had briefly discussed what needed to be said when this happened. In all the basics, we would be truthful. Victor had come to my club to enjoy and evening of Bubba's singing and a fight broke out between his people and my people. We had all the area vampires backing up our story, even those that were supposed to be loyal to Victor.

The big question was who would be named regent in Victor's place? No one other than Victor stood out as a leader, but then again Victor had made sure of that. I know that Felipe will not trust anyone under my command, not after what happened.

And then there is the nagging problem of the queen of Oklahoma, Freyda. With her incessant reminders that we are arranged to be married. She thinks it is a good match and is anxious to have it finalized. On the one hand, a marriage to her would solve a myriad of my problems. I would no longer be under the rule of another and I would be in a better position to protect… Sookie.

I laughed, grimly. Oh, yes, marrying Freyda would help me protect the one thing that I would surely lose by marrying her. How tragically poetic.

"Pam." I said quietly, knowing she would hear me. We had ended up resting in Fangtasia's basement after supervising the cleanup. She appeared in front of me, silently.

I waited for one of her casual, snarky remarks and felt odd when none came. She just stood in front of me, waiting for her orders. This was very un-Pam like. "We need to alert the area vampires to be here at 10 to prepare for the kings questioning. Also alert the staff that we will be closed, and make sure we have enough blood to keep everyone happy, since we won't have live donors."

"Yes, Master." Pam said and turned to leave. There was a tone in her voice that I hadn't heard in decades. I stopped her before she was out of sight.

"I thought we had resolved our issues, Pamela."

Though she had stopped, she didn't turn to look at me. She stood facing the door that lead to the clubs main floor. "I'm sure you did, Master."

"What would you have me do?" I roared. I hated hearing that tone of detachment directed at me. It was a sure sign that a storm was brewing beneath the surface.

"Release me." She said so quietly, I almost didn't hear her.

"What?"

"Master, release me. When this meeting is over release me."

I sighed. The past several weeks had been very difficult on her. In this moment I could see all her pain in her eyes. Perhaps sometime apart would benefit us both. We had been at each other's throat of late. But I would miss her company. I would miss her. "Very well."

I watched her walk out the door and released a sigh. Everything I had was falling apart.

I reached for my phone again, needing to call Sookie, needing to hear her voice, have her soothe me. The meeting with Felipe gave me enough of an excuse to call. I waited, impatiently, as her phone rang and rang. Voicemail, of course, would the damn woman never answer her phone. "Be at Fangtasia by 10. De Castro will be here to deal with Victor's death." I almost hung up but had to add, "All is well, lover, do not be afraid."

I walked to my office, I had much to think about but my phone rang. I couldn't help the surge of hope that it was Sookie, but of course it wasn't. "Good evening, Majesty."

"My dear Eric, I've told you to call me Freyda."

I pinched the bridge of my nose and tried to find a neutral topic. "How are you this evening?"

"Oh, quite well, since I've been regaled of your prowess in battle, my intended."

"Ah, so I assume that you have been made aware that Victor has been ended." There must be a spy in my circle. How else would she know this so quickly?

"Oh, yes, the news was quite pleasing. One less road block to our union."

"There are still other issues, Majesty." I was trying to stall. We both knew it.

"Eric, I understand your reluctance. But truly you can bring your telepathic pet and child." She was trying to sound coaxing. I hated when women did that.

"I just need more time. I must deal with the issues left from Victor's demise."

I heard the unnecessary sigh of impatience. "Very well. We shall speak again, soon." With that she disconnected.

A decision needed to me made. And soon. She would not buy the stall tactics forever.

Pam entered, without knocking, which was a little more of her normal behavior, so I let it slide. She had changed into her favorite lilac track suit, if she weren't so pale she could easily pass for a normal housewife. "Sookie will arrive as requested, Master."

That caught my attention more than anything. "She called?"

Pam's face remained classically impassive. Like she was stone. "She called me, yes."

"Why did she not call me?" I hadn't even realized that I asked that question out loud until Pam answered, in an extremely sarcastic tone.

"I'm sure I have no idea why, Master."

"Pamela!" I growled.

She just gave me a level look. "She called after she left the shifter's bar and asked me to tell you she would be here, as requested. Then she hung up. She was quite abrupt."

I said nothing as Pam turned at left my office, slamming the door behind her. It was moments like this that I deeply regretted the severed bond. If we still had that connection I could sense her mood, send her some form of reassurance. As it was, I was powerless. With that thought, I flung my desk against the wall and howled with rage.

I just sat in silence after that, until I heard the others arriving. I heard Bill and Bubba as they passed by my office door.

"You sure Miss Sookie's okay? I smelled a lot of blood out by her house." Bubba was asking Bill nervously.

I was out of my door in an instant, glaring at both men, "What do you mean, Bubba?"

My sudden appearance startled the poor simple vampire more than Bill, who answered, "He was just telling me, again, about the blood he smelled near Sookie's house." He gave me a calming look, "None of it was hers, Eric."

I nodded and went back to my office and searched through the wreckage of my desk for my phone. The call to Sookie just went straight to her voicemail. Infuriating woman.

Pam entered ten minutes later, again without knocking. "Everyone is present."

With the door open I could catch the faintest scent of my sweet Sookie. I nodded to Pam as I passed her to go out the bar. I couldn't help but search out Sookie in the small crowd and had to bite back a snarl when I saw her standing next to Compton, smiling in a tantalizing yellow dress. She looked like a ray of sunshine and she barely spared me a glance as I walked up to her. "Hello, wife."

Bill nodded to me, understanding the message, Sookie is still mine. And he went to join the other. "You look positively radiant this evening, lover." I leaned in to breathe in her delicious smell.

All Sookie did was snort. "Let's get this over with."

I sighed, internally. Her mood had obviously not improved. None of this evening would be easy, it seemed. I lead Sookie to a chair where I could easily see her and she could be protected by me, Pam and Compton, if it came to that. "De Castro will be arriving within the hour; he is coming to question us about the event leading up to Victor's death. Please be respectful while being as honest as possible."

I heard the door slam open and then Felipe's voice. "That's good to hear, Northman, as I detest lies."

Then the King came into the room, followed by several armed guards. He walked until he stood directly in front of Sookie's seat and too my astonishment, greeted her first, "My dear, Miss Stackhouse, it has been too long."

I had to watch silently as he brought one of her hands to his lips. I hated that he was touching her. But now was not the time to make waves. He continued to speak to her as if she were the only person in the room. "I trust that you are well?"

Sookie blushed prettily and said in a voice just above a whisper, "I am now, sir. Thanks to Eric and everyone else here."

I wished she could have felt the surge of pride I felt at her words. She is magnificent.

Felipe looked at her steadily. "Come, Miss Stackhouse, we will go to your Mr. Northman's office and you will tell me your tale, hmm?"

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