SPOV
I wake to light knocking on my bedroom door and know it's still early. I groan as I wiggle free of my husbands' tight embrace and make my way to the door, throwing on a robe before opening the door to peek into the hall. Preston is standing before me with a wide smile and I close my robe tighter and flush at the sight of him.
"Good morning, Princess," he tells me with a low bow. "I'm here to start your weapons training," he informs me as I nod.
"Okay, let me get dressed real quick and I'll be right out," I tell him, shutting the door before rushing around the room, grabbing a pair of leggings and a tank top. I dress quickly and soon join my fae instructor for my next lesson. I follow him through the palace to the large yard. He sits down on the grass and motions for me to join him.
I sit and he holds out his palm to me. A glowing orb appears, floating just above his skin. "This is your greatest weapon against your fae adversaries, Princess," he informs me as I nod in understanding. This is the same light Claudine had showed me before and I've been looking forward to learning how to use this.
I hold out my hand and concentrate, but nothing happens. I look up to him in puzzlement and he gives me a warm smile. "This is different than using your protective light, Princess," he explains as he scoots himself closer before pressing himself against my back. He wraps his muscular arms around me, placing his hands over my own and my heart flutters at the close contact with this handsome man. I find I have to take a deep breath in order to concentrate.
"Instead of visioning this in your mind, you must feel it here," he says, gently placing one of his hands over my now racing heart. "Your light is a part of you and you pull it from within yourself," he explains softly. "Now, close your eyes and reach within yourself; search out that which you love most, Princess."
I close my eyes and take a deep breath, focusing on my mates and my daughters and the love I have for them; thinking about all I will endure in order to keep them safe. "Open your eyes, Princess," Preston whispers against my ear and I open them to see a white, shining orb hovering above my own hand.
"I did it," I tell him excitedly with a grin and he kisses my cheek chastely, making me blush.
"I knew you could," he tells me with a stunning smile before he stands and takes my hand into his, helping me up from the ground. "Now, I'm going to "pop" around the yard and I want you to aim for me, Princess," he tells me as he pulls his shirt up over his head. I take in his muscular physique and am practically drooling as he gives me a smirk. Damn, faeries are just way too sexy I think to myself as I shake off my reverie.
He "pops" himself away and I concentrate on my emotions, bringing the glowing ball to my hand and searching out with my Supe senses for him. I hear the familiar "popping" to my left and toss my ball in that direction, seeing it fly off through the air, missing him completely. "Shit," I whisper as he smiles at me.
"It's okay, this is why we're practicing," he tells me and I nod. He's right, better to miss now than when my life is in danger. He "pops" away again and I hear him behind me. I spin, throwing my ball and see it rush past him before exploding in the grass. "That was close!" he calls with a chuckle and I grin. I think I'm getting a handle on this.
This continues for a while, with me throwing near misses until he "pops" before me and I slam him square in the chest with my light, sending him flying backwards before he lands hard on the grass. "Preston!" I yell as I run to check on him. My heart is pounding. Please, God, don't let me have killed my instructor.
I kneel before him and see his chest rising and falling and let out a relieved sigh. "Preston, are you alright?" I ask as I run my hand over his smooth cheek. His eyes flutter open and I give him a small smile. "I'm so sorry," I tell him earnestly as I help him sit up, letting him rest against me.
"That was some hit, Princess," he tells me with a light chuckle; he groans then, clutching his chest. Shit.
"Are you sure you're okay?" I ask in concern.
"I'll be fine, let's just take a little break, I hadn't expected your light to be so potent already," he explains as he lies back across the grass and props his head up with his crossed arms. I blush once more at the appearance of his exposed chest. Bad Sookie! You're a married woman! I clear my throat and concentrate on his sparkling, brown eyes with their enchanting, yellow flakes.
"So, I met one of my Valkyrie sisters last night," I tell him and he grins up at me.
"This is good, so what did you think of her?" he asks with a raised brow and I giggle.
"She was nothing like I'd expected," I admit. "But it's good to know I have an extended family who's willing to help keep me and the girls protected," I tell him with a smile.
"Was she able to inform you about your Valkyrie heritage, Princess?" he asks curiously and I sigh.
"She was, I'm not sure I learned anything really useful, except for finding out I won't be able to wear Cartier anymore," I tell him as he looks puzzled. "Valkyrie are weakened by gems and diamonds; we can be hypnotized by them," I tell him glumly. "But at least I don't have fae weaknesses as well," I tell him with a shrug.
"You certainly are unique, Princess," he tells me as he squeezes my knee.
"I guess so, but I wouldn't mind being ordinary right about now," I tell him with a smile and he chuckles lightly before he stands to his feet and helps me up once more.
"I want you to keep practicing your light orbs, Princess, and your next lesson with be transporting," he informs me as he brushes a strand of hair behind my ear. "Remain strong, Princess, this will all be over soon," he tells me as he places a tender kiss to my forehead and "pops" away.
I check the time and see that I need to get ready for my night out with the girls. I make my way through the palace to our bedchambers and ready myself for my evening, strapping my dagger to my thigh with a holster Eric gave me for it. I turn in the mirror to make sure it doesn't show and strike a pose. I feel pretty powerful with my strengthening powers and I pity any faerie who approaches me now.
I make my way to Eric's office and kiss my mates as they're preparing for their kingdom meeting. "Have fun tonight, Lover, and be safe," Eric tells me as he hugs me tightly.
"I will," I assure him as Godric pulls me against him.
"I love you, My Sookie, we shall be here upon your return," he tells me with a warm smile. I wave my goodbyes and make my way to the palace exit to see Rasul waiting for me.
"Good evening, your Majesty," he tells me, bowing his head with a grin. "I've spoken to your Valkyrie sister, Eir, she will be keeping watch over you as well tonight," he informs me and I let out a sigh of relief as he takes my arm and leads me out to meet Pam and Amelia who are waiting for us in Pam's pink minivan.
We get into the backseat together and Amelia is excitedly rambling away about the dresses she's been looking at while I'm keeping careful attention to our surroundings, nodding to her as she continues her instructions for the evening. We pull up to the first shop and Rasul steps out, taking in our surroundings as I stretch out with my telepathy in search of any odd thoughts.
We get out together once he gives us the all clear and I look across the street to see Eir leaning against a light pole. She gives me a mock salute as we enter the shop and I flash her a grateful smile. "So, I was thinking we should keep it simple," Amelia tells us as Pam shoots me annoyed look. Amelia pulls out a hideous blue gown that would fit in perfectly at an eighties prom and Pam's jaw drops as I break into a fit of giggles.
"You've got to be fucking kidding me," Pam tells her with a grimace as Amelia joins me in my laughter.
"Oh, Pam, you know I wouldn't do that to you," she tells her with a grin and Pam huffs as she proceeds to search through the racks.
"What about this one?" Pam asks us, pulling out a studded, red leather dress with a devious smirk to make Amelia blanch. I just shake my head at the two of them as I continue to rummage through the dresses, absently listening to them bicker about hemlines and appropriate "wedding cleavage."
I find a pale blue, lace covered dress that looks like something either of them might wear and hold it up before them. "How about this?" I ask as Amelia beams.
"Oh, go try it on," she tells us excitedly. Pam finds one in her size and we make our way to the dressing rooms together. I pull off my sundress and Pam's brow rises at the sight of my dagger.
"A girl's gotta be prepared," I tell her with a shrug as a mischievous grin crosses her face.
"Never a dull moment with my favorite breather," she tells me as we pull on the blue dresses for Amelia's inspection. We zip each other up and exit the room to hear Amelia clap excitedly as she begins jumping up and down.
"Oh, they're just perfect, you both look so cute," she tells us as Pam rolls her eyes, making me elbow her. She just shrugs, but Amelia doesn't seem to notice as she's excitedly talking about flowers and caterers. I smile at my friend. I'm just so happy to see her in such a joyful mood.
Pam and I enter the dressing room once more and are helping each other out of the lacy dresses as we hear the sound of thunder rumbling outside. This can't be good. We look to each other with mirroring shock before throwing on our other clothes at Supe speed and rushing from the dressing room together. Rasul is standing at the front door, attentively taking in the scene from outside as we hear the unmistakable sound of fighting filtering into the shop.
"Amelia, stay here," I tell her as Pam and I rush to Rasul's side. I look out the window and see Eir with a man lying at her feet, her boot crushing his neck. "What happened?" I ask Rasul and he looks down to me with a smirk.
"It seems one of Breadan's followers traced us here and I was about to attack, when your sister there charged at him. I think she's got everything under control now," he tells me with a wide grin. We cautiously exit the shop together, leaving Amelia behind as we start to approach Eir.
As we get closer, I see both Pam and Rasul struggling to control their bloodlust. Shit. "You guys stay back, let me go talk to Eir alone," I tell them as they reluctantly nod and take up station near the minivan. I cross the street and rush to Eir who's casually filing her claws as her army boot is crushing the fae assassin's larynx.
"Hey, Sis, caught this slimy fucker sneaking up the alley; figured we could get some useful information out of the pipsqueak," she tells me with a malicious grin that leaves the street lights glistening over her sharp fangs.
"Sounds like a good plan, but I have a couple vampires with me who are gonna lose their shit if we drop any fae blood," I tell her as she nods in understanding. She reaches down and grabs the unconscious faerie by the throat.
"We'll take him to Val Hall; me and the girls will pump him for whatever he knows, you coming?" she asks with a grin. I nod to her. If he's after me, I want to be there to help with the questioning.
"Let me just tell my escorts, be right back," I tell her as she tosses the fae into the trunk of her purple stingray corvette. I rush back across the street and see Amelia has joined Pam and Rasul by the van. "So, Eir and I are gonna head over to the Valkyrie compound to interrogate the fae spy," I tell them, seeing concern etched upon each of their faces.
"Your Majesty, I need to stay with you at all times," Rasul tells me and I give him a soft smile as I pull out my cell, dialing the guys. Godric answers and I explain to him what has taken place.
"I want to go to Val Hall to help with the questioning," I explain, "But I don't want to risk Pam or Rasul going into full bloodlust on me." I hear him sigh as he tells Eric the problem.
"Fine, Lover, but you stay with one of your sisters at all times, understand?" Eric tells me in defeat and I grin.
"Deal," I tell him before we hang up. Rasul and Pam are shaking their heads at me, but I just chuckle. "Hey, she was able to take him out by all herself, I'll be just fine with my Valkyrie sisters," I tell them before they reluctantly agree to let me go with Eir. I hug Amelia and rush back across the street before getting into the flashy sports car with my Valkyrie sister.
"You ready for some fun?" she asks me as silver flashes through her green eyes.
"Hell yes," I tell her, knowing my own eyes match hers as we speed off into the night together.
