As soon as I left her house, I went to Fangtasia. After an hour, Pam insisted that I retire to my office. Apparently, my mood was so black, that even the vermin that usually enjoy being mistreated were afraid of me.

Shortly thereafter the phone rang. It was Victor Madden. He informed me that he and Sandy would be arriving the following evening with two humans for Sookie to question and, that I should make her available. Since it was an order from de Castro I could hardly refuse.

I slammed the receiver down after he hung up, then picked up the phone and threw it across the room. It imbedded itself in the wall. I stopped, shocked at my own behavior. I had not lost control like this in hundreds of years. The woman was driving me insane.

Pam came in at the sound of the phone crashing into the wall. She looked at it, arched her eyebrow at me and waited for me to speak.

"Madden is demanding that Sookie be present tomorrow night. Summon her here for nine o'clock."

"If she refuses?"

"If she refuses, go fetch her."

Pam, never one to miss an opportunity to tease, asked "Shall I replace the phone tonight or wait until after she has left tomorrow?"

I smiled a bit at my child then. "I suppose I will need a new one." Then I threw myself into work. The bond pulsed and throbbed, (was that sorrow?) but I ignored it. After a while it was quiet and I thought that she must be asleep. I frowned at myself, and wondered if I would ever stop checking the bond for what she was doing or feeling.

The next night I was still in a foul mood. I was angry with Sookie and had no desire to see her. I was thus even angrier at Victor for, effectively, forcing her on me this evening. As the area sheriff, however, I had no choice but to be present while they were engaging my asset.

I told her once I did not like having feelings. This was why. I also did not like the fact that I did not see what she was doing for what it was. It was like finding out about Sophie-Anne's plan to annex Sookie and, that Bill, Bill of all people, was able to hide it from me. I felt the fool and that is something I work very hard to never be. Something I cannot afford to be.

Since she entered Fangtasia on Compton's arm that night, my life has been irrevocably changed. Until that night my life was where I wanted it. I have lived a thousand years because I never sought to make myself a target, like Sophie-Anne. I ruled my little slice of Louisiana with relatively little incident. But since that night, I have been involved in scheme after scheme, shot multiple times, lost my memory, was nearly blown up and, barely survived a hostile takeover. Although none of it was Sookie's fault, she always seemed to be right at the epicenter.

And when I was prepared to give her my heart, she threw it back at me. Twice. It was not to be bourne. Everything with her was a fight. I have never known a woman to challenge me like this. Everything must be bargained for. Every inch gained with deft maneuvers to assuage her pride.

Enough!

If she would not yield, I was done with her.

I felt her arrive and, despite all my anger and wounded pride, I found myself eager at her proximity. When I saw her in that dress I felt myself harden. Despite my rage, or perhaps because of it, I have never wanted her more. I tamped down the lust, using my anger as a mallet, and strode to the table where she stood talking to Victor and Sandy.

I gave my courtesies to both Victor and Sandy, then said, "Sookie."

It took every ounce of will I still had not to look at her.

"Eric." Her voice sent frissons of desire running through me. I dredged up my anger and held to it tightly.

I looked at Victor, "how can we help you?"

Sandy began to explain about the thefts at their casino and their belief that the two humans with them were involved. My gods those two stank of fear and sweat. Then Sandy did the unforgivable, she turned to Sookie and asked for her help. She did not ask me, the sheriff. I felt my anger rise to new levels and my fangs almost began to come down. And then I was stunned once again.

"Eric?"

Sookie was deferring to me? I looked at her, scanning her face for another deception, but she looked like she meant it. She had fooled me before, so I reserved some suspicion.

"On one condition. Sookie will only do this if she has a guarantee that any humans involved in this are turned over to the proper authorities. It is our agreement."

I kept my eyes on Victor, and he nodded his assent. I stepped back to give them room to begin their interrogations. Something about Victor's scent held me a bit. I stayed close. I wanted to see how this played out.

Through the bond I felt her revulsion and fear. I finally turned to watch her. Pride battled with anger and pain as I saw her deftly deal with the man called Robert and, maintain her calm as she described the miscreant's deeds to Victor and Sandy. I looked away before she could try to catch my eye.

It was her sudden lurch of fear that shot me like an arrow to the table. Thankfully, Sandy had been closer. The rage I felt, the desire to rip this human's head from his shoulders, nearly blotted out everything else I had been feeling. She was mine! How dare he?!

Victor put up a hand to stop me and his reasoning was correct. I battled for control of my anger. Mine? She was not mine. I had to remind myself that she made certain of that.

I stepped away again, after Sandy had dragged the broken-armed human away, to allow them to proceed with the remaining human. When they were finished, I heard Victor once again insult my authority by stating that they would use her again in this capacity. I had just stepped up to Pam to reassure her (as my child she was very attuned to my anger), and was about to turn on Victor, when Sookie surprised me once again.

"You will have to talk to Eric about that."

Sookie was granting me the authority to make decisions regarding where and when she could be of use? Come to think of it . . . "Pam, did you have to go fetch her this evening?"

"No. She was eager to come."

Another thing to ponder.

Then Victor dropped a bomb. "Sookie, the King and I know of the circumstances of your bonding to the Viking. Our information indicates that perhaps this bond is not to your liking. As such, the King has authorized me to invite you to come to Las Vegas, as his special guest. As Northman's liege, he can order him to release you from service to him. It would not end the bond, but may make things easier for you."

I went rigid. Clearly my new King was seeking to test my resolve. To test what he overheard me tell Sookie the night we were attacked by a crazed, vengeful Sigebert. Given her obvious desire to maintain an emotional distance from me, I half-expected Sookie to jump at the opportunity. I was stunned to feel her anger at the offer, but more stunned at her reply.

"I don't know where you get your information, but I am quite happy with my situation. I have no desire to be anywhere but here!" Her voice was pure venom.

She's happy with her situation? I was dumbfounded. Once again the woman was proving to be a riddle, wrapped in a mystery, inside an enigma. But I had little time contemplate this. I had to deal with Victor.

"Sookie, I don't think your services are needed any longer. You are free to go home. I must speak to Victor alone."

I did not need to see her leave. I felt her walk out to the parking lot. Curiously, a few moments later, I saw her brother walk in and head for the bar. However, I had no time to deal with him. I turned to Victor, my fangs down.