Chapter 1

Eric's POV

I have been helping the Prince fight his enemies for four years now. Niall the Prince of the sky fae, and only remaining true prince of the fae, had requested my help. It was and still is very rare for fairies and vampires to work together but he made an offer I could not refuse. Niall's enemy Breadon, of the water fae, was raising troops to attack sky fae, any fae half breeds, and any of Niall's family. Naturally Niall took these attacks very personally. He became desperate when Claudette, one of his triplet grandchildren, was murdered by Breadon's henchmen, Neave and Lochlan. That is when he came to me. He was willing to share with me the locations of the major portals nearby. Fairy blood is a delicacy to vampires and is a rarity to taste. In my over 1000 years on this Earth and I had only tasted fairy once before. Niall explained that he would be hiding a few relatives that were half breeds but very dear to him in Louisiana. He knew that Breadon and his people would try to get to them as one of them was Niall's favorite and chosen heir. He wanted me to wait in ambush at the portal sites to block this threat. Niall was certain that if I kept the portals blocked I would not only protect his family but would be a great aid to their war. How could I refuse? A buffet of fairy blood for me and for my most loyal it was the most exciting thing to happen in the last several decades. Not to mention the value of the prince of fae owing you a few favors. I fly around outside this portal for my shift waiting and watching. Though I am king this is one task I would never miss out on. The crossings have become fewer and further between the last year but not few enough that we abandon watching. We even had a pact with the local were pack, they watch during the day and they get to eat the prey or hold it until night for money from the vampire coming on duty.

I fly out wider and notice the house by the cemetery. I have looked upon this house, many times, over the last few years and wondered about its inhabitants. I always see lights but rarely see any movement inside. No one ever leaves the house or enters the house after dark. There is a large garage that is kept locked up so I have been unable to determine how many people live here. I have noticed a delicious smell here but I have not been able to place what it is. It has become a curious game for me to spend part of my shift each week trying to discover what I can about this house and its people. Tonight the strangest sight greets me as I make my regular pass by this house. There is an angel kneeling and crying in the cemetery. She has a slight golden glow or aura that lights her, like the moon. She has long blond hair the frames her waist in natural curls. Her form is petite but buxom. Her hands are covering her face as if to hold the tears in and keep them from falling. She looks to be no more than in her young twenties, it is hard to tell with fairies. She senses me as I draw closer, interesting as I have been completely silent, and turns her face to meet mine. Her blue eyes are the color of sapphires and shine with tears. My ancient dead heart skips a beat and breaks. This is not my normal behavior but I am unable to stop myself from sitting beside her and pulling her into my lap. I hold her and rock her and say soothing things to her in my native tongue. She was reluctant to trust me at first but her emotions won out and she clung to me and cried. When her tears finally stopped, I asked her "Why my angel, are you crying? You are too beautiful to shed such tears. Tell me what has caused your suffering and I will kill it or fix it." I was not prepared for the musical delight that graced my ears. Her voice was like butterflies and bells. The sound of her voice alone had me bespelled.

"I am alone now. My grandfather left me here with my grandmother for protection. He has not been back to check on me because it is too dangerous. Now my grandmother has died and I am alone. I am sure that I can do it. You know, live on my own but I never wanted to and I certainly did not want to now. Plus, it is very lonely out here and being alone and in danger is a very bad combination I believe. Gran always helped me stay out of trouble. I haven't left the house at night for four years. Gran knew that was when it was most dangerous. So, I might be smart enough to know that being alone right now is bad but I am not smart enough to stay inside. My lesson is further learned by the fact the only person I have encountered on my first night out of my home in four years, is a vampire, one of the only three things that my grandfather told me to avoid."

She sighs heavily and sheds a few more tears. I realize I have been holding her and rocking her still with my hand rubbing her back and running through her hair to comfort her through her explanation. You could call it comfort but it could have been my own, I felt strangely at peace sitting here this way. "How did you figure out I was a vampire, and how did you hear me approach?"

"I have some talents. I am not sure that I should tell you about them."

"What if I tell you some things about me?"

"Alright."

"My name is Eric Northman; I am the King of Louisiana."

"I have heard that name. Do you know Niall Brigant?"

Thor's hammer, is she one of his relatives. Of course she is. Everything she has said makes sense; the scent, her appearance, and her allure. The first woman to spark curiosity in me and that could possibly hold my interest, would of course be the one creature denied me. Then again the Prince isn't around, and he does owe me a couple of favors if my calculations are correct, and as she has plainly stated, she is alone out here and unprotected. I guess you could say it would only be right for me to help. "I know the Prince very well; in fact I have been in the area the last few years helping to keep the dangers at a minimum for some very important people."

"There is only one of those persons left. My brother was killed for a human crime that he did not commit and my grandmother died of a stroke. It has been a devastating couple of years. I miss Faery. My name is Sookie Brigant. Niall is my grandfather."

"Sookie… that is a beautiful name. Will you allow me to help you? I really cannot stand the thought of you being alone and I feel I have failed in my mission to aid in your safety if your loneliness and endangerment is the result."

"What can you do to help me?"

Oh, I could do so many things to help her but I simply say, "I will bring you with me. Breadon's forces will never enter a nest of vampires in search of you and none of the vampires will mess with you if you are with me, I am their King and none of them can touch you without my permission, not that I would ever allow anyone to hurt you or touch you. We will try to get in contact with your grandfather as well; perhaps my lines of communication are not as closely watched as yours."

"You would do all of that for me?"

She asks this as she is still being petted and rocked while sitting on my lap. I will apparently do anything for her. "Of course dear one. Do you like to fly?"

"I do like to fly but have you ever popped before?"

There is a glint in her eye. If she means teleport I have not and was not aware that fairies could teleport others as well as themselves. I most certainly did not believe that a half breed was capable of this. I suppose this would go a long way to explain why she is Niall's favorite. SHIT! If she is Niall's favorite then she is meant to rule and that means he will definitely come looking for her. Wait a minute where did that come from. I am simply offering my assistance not trying to hide her away. Although, if she …stop stop stop. "No, I have never popped before."

"Ooh, ooh okay. Just close your eyes and think of where we need to go."

Without any hesitation I did as she said not sure how it mattered. I felt dizzy and disoriented, but when I finally quit spinning enough to open my eyes I was gazing into her beautiful blues, with her still in my arms, and standing in my office at my home in Shreveport. "You are quite talented Sookie. I do not know the requirements for your care; you must tell me what you need. My day man, Bobby Burnam will get whatever you wish: food, clothing, etc. You could even make him a list of things you want from your house and he can fetch them for you."

"I will make him a list for my house and a different list for the store. He can get it all tomorrow; I can take care of my needs this evening."

"Oh?"

"Well I can create what I need."

"What do you mean?" I had seen many fae perform many feats of magic but I had never witnessed them calling food or clothing into existence.

"Well I need only think it and I got it. I must be careful not to wish for cosmic stuff because grandfather says it throws the fates out of whack."

What she is speaking of is not a power I know of. Fairies are capable of summoning objects to themselves that they have knowledge and possession of. Sookie is speaking of willing things into existence. Incredible. She looks innocent but her ripe body begs to be ravished. She holds vaults of magic and speaks of it as if it is nothing. What a contradiction. "Well then do not spoil yourself, but I admit I would love to see you do this. I have never seen it before and it is rare when you have lived as long as I to be able to see something new."

"Alright."

She pulls away from me and I reluctantly allow her to stand on her own two feet. I move to the couch and sit and she turns to face me. She has a thoughtful look on her face. She brightens as inspiration strikes and she stands before me in a red silk nightgown that reaches the floor. There are only two thin straps holding the sheath on her. In her hand is a plate with different cheeses, fruits, and bread on it. In her other hand is some kind of pink bubbly smoky liquid. She was a goddess. I decided in that moment I would do anything to keep her here. She did not realize she would not be leaving. I whisked to her, scooped her up bridal style, and had her in my secret resting chamber before she could question what I was doing. I set her down in the center of my emperor sized custom made bed that was adorned in red silk sheets. I took the plate and the glass from her. She moved her lips to speak but I touched my fingers to her lips, and then moved them to select a morsel for her and bring it to her mouth. She looked at me strangely and accepted the food. My dead heart was singing. She had fed from my hand, you'd have thought I had tamed some wild animal, but I could not help the pride that swelled in me when she allowed this. She had submitted to me without even a struggle, she was made for me! She continued to let me feed her and she was covered in the most delicious blush from the tips of her ears to the top of her breast. The food was nearly gone when she spoke.

"Thank you that was nice. No one has ever done that for me. It was different, but nice. I am rather tired; could you show me where I will stay while I am here?"

"Dear one, I promised you that you would not be alone. You will stay with me. Besides this is only my area home not my permanent residence. Come closer to me dear one let me hold you. I liked when you were in my arms." She blushed deeply.

"I liked when you were holding me too. I have never lain with a man before. I am not sure if it will get me into trouble."

Oh it was most certainly going to get her into trouble and me too! "Dear one, your grandfather will not be upset that you sought comfort and shelter with an ally; it is a smart move in your position. I am not offering anything other than comfort Sookie." I gave her a look that said she hurt my feelings with her lack of trust. She blushed and slid across the bed the small distance between us. I wrapped her in my arms and inhaled her scent. It was intoxicating. She smelled like vanilla and cinnamon and something exotic. I heard her inhale my scent deeply as well. She hummed with pleasure at my smell. My chest rumbled with a purr at her reaction to me. I lay on my back and pulled her to my side. She rested her head on my chest and I stroked her back and traced her curves. "Sookie, I am glad that I found you today. I believe I was lonely too, I just did not realize until now. Because right now, I cannot imagine you not being always by my side."

"That is real sweet Eric. I do not believe anyone has ever said anything so nice to me."

"People are mean to you?"

"Well never grandfather, and grandmother and Jason were nice but I frightened most folks with my powers. I have most fairy powers and a few that I don't know the origin of. My magic scares many of the fae on both sides of the conflict in Faery."

"Sookie I do not care what you can do, you are an angel, allow me to care for you. It would make me feel like I had done something right in regards to your protection."

"Eric, I will stay with you until my grandfather can be found and have this sorted out."

She practically hums the last statement as sleep claims her. I did not believe it was possible for her to be more beautiful, but in her sleep, she relaxed completely and her tears had stopped. She was absolutely mesmerizing. Her soft tanned skin smelled of the sun, her scent of vanilla and cinnamon swirled with the scent of fairy in her relaxed state. Interesting she must mask herself when awake. I could lay here and just enjoy her scent for centuries. She is mine, for always. I hold her close to me as I succumb to dawn's pull.