CHAPTER 10

The tall, dark and rather purple was kicking the air beneath him, when Eric lifted him up by his neck. His breathing was cut off in Eric's painful grasp, causing a wheezing sound. The veins in his eyes popped coloring them blood red and his mouth was twisted into a silent scream. His hands desperately tried to fight the vampire's hold. He was running out of time. Lina stared at the scene before her horrified.

She landed a blow to Eric's gut behind her but his hold didn't loosen. She might as well be punching concrete.

"Eric, you will kill him. Stop," Lina hissed. She fixed her gaze on his hand and tried to remove it from the man's neck with her power, but Eric seemed to know that trick was coming. Moving fast he released his other arm around her waist and put it over her eyes while keeping her head pressed tight against his chest. He denied her the eye contact she needed to save the man. A flash of panic ran through her, when she realized he knew how her power worked. How could he know that? Her tiny hands grabbed around his wrist and pulled against it with all her might. "Eric, please!"

"Will you ever do this again, Aislinn?" Eric whispered so quietly that only she heard him. She felt his fangs scrape her forehead, but he didn't draw blood. She froze. "You made the decision to go play with Mr. Chavez, when you knew I wouldn't like it. Did you want to hurt him on purpose?"

Her nails scratched his arm, as she tried to force it off of her. She kicked his legs and tried to twist her body away from him, but he didn't budge. It did her no good. Her strength was nothing against his. She hadn't forgotten that she herself had wanted to strangle the man now fighting for air on more than one occasion, but not this way. Not this way.

"Answer me," Eric growled.

"I didn't," Lina exclaimed hoping it would stop the madness. She willed herself to relax, although the panic of being robbed her talent was making it near impossible.

"Will you ever do it again?"

She bit her tongue.

"Aislinn," he urged her.

" I won't."

There was a loud thump, as the man dropped on the floor, gasped and coughed. She heard violent burping sounds as he struggled against vomiting his guts out. Lina couldn't see anything. She listened as his breathing slowly stabilized and how swallowing was helping him heal. She knew she should tell him she was sorry that her behavior hurt him, but all that got out of her was a weak sigh of relief. She was sorry he was hurting, but there would be a cold day in hell before she apologized for kissing and feeding on that man. She had provoked Eric, but he was provoking her.

"Get out of my sight," Eric said with the coldest voice she had heard. A chill crept up her spine. For all she knew, she could be in for a world of pain. How much she actually knew about this man? She had no idea how he'd react and what he might do. How long did it take for her to go stepping on his toes? She must have left her common sense in Paris along with her survival instinct.

The man stumbled away, hopefully towards a hospital. Nothing happened until he was gone.

Lina felt Eric's other arm back on her waist. His hand slowly stroked her through the light fabric of her dress, while his raw strength kept her pinned against him. He was breathing into her hair. Slowly, she felt his body begin to relax.

He wasn't going to hurt her, she thought. At least not here, not now.

Eric's hand dropped from her eyes, but as she blinked in surprise, he took hold of her chin and turned her to face him. The look he gave her would make any brave man shake like a leaf. It reminded her about his reputation. There were few that had crossed him and lived to brag about it.

"I will strap you on my chest, if that's what I have to do to keep you from going behind my back." His voice was low and calm, but his blue eyes were like ice as they bored into her. His grip of her chin only grew tighter. "I do not share what is mine. Maybe you didn't know that before, but you know it now. I will repeat that treatment to every man you touch without hesitation. "

If she had felt scared for a moment of what he might do, it all evaporated as soon as the condescending words left his mouth. If he was expecting her to nod like a submissive little lamb, he was dead wrong.

"It's almost funny how you keep talking about me like you somehow own me," she hissed back through her teeth. "I'm not your mate yet. You haven't claimed me and you never will. You have no right to hurt others because of my actions. And I sure as hell am not about to join Sisterhood just because you have irrational jealousy issues."

Eric's lip curled up and he bared his fangs. Lina threw her shoulders back, standing as tall as she could. She had almost forgotten that Pam was still with them until she finally spoke up and walked up to Eric. The brunette human was nowhere in sight.

"Yes Eric. She's not a nun and praise the great Lord for that. Although I would buy her the costume, if she'd like to wear one for me," she grinned.

Eric's glare showed that he was in no mood for his child's witty quips. Without moving his eyes from Lina he spoke, "Pamela. You will open the bar tomorrow and wait for me in my office."

There was a hidden message in that statement that only the maker and progeny understood. It had Pam staring at Eric a moment eyes wide like saucers like he had greatly wronged her. Then her eyes narrowed and her voice bordered near defiance.

"I followed your rules to the point."

"You orchestrated this. Don't think that will go unpunished. I will see you in my office tomorrow."

Pam stood still a second before giving Lina a quick glance. Her eyes were surprisingly warm. "Very well."

Lina watched her walk away. Running after her seemed very appealing. She would've liked to get away from this suffocating silence that she left behind. Her skin tingled, where Eric touched her. Her dress had ridden up and he was straightening it like she was a rowdy five year old.

"You and I have a lot to talk about." He sniffed her hair and her neck. Glaring at her lips like they'd betrayed him he snarled, "You smell of that shifter."

Lina snorted. "Let go of me, if it offends you that much."

He did. Lina used that opportunity to put some space between them and took quick steps to the rail of the balcony. She leaned forward and watched the people dance below her, while frantically pulling her thoughts together. Eric moved behind her to sit on the couch. He was wearing his usual attire; black leather jacket and jeans. He leaned back against the headrest and extended his long legs. Both retracted their fangs as a sign of temporary truce.

"Why, Lina?" Eric asked calmly.

She wanted to be anywhere else but in this little booth surrounded by curious onlookers having this conversation. She could guess what he was going to say and she didn't want to hear it. "Is this really the place you want to discuss this?"

"Yes. What we just witnessed will stop here."

Lina directed her glare at the bouncing teenage girls. "Don't feed me your double standards Mr. Northman. I care about them no more now than I did in the 17th century where they belong." She watched the girls giggle and flirt with boys and couldn't stop herself from picturing them on Eric's office table spread eagle.

"It's not like you've been a saint…" she hinted and turned to see his reaction. There wasn't any. He didn't deny it, although she wasn't completely sure he had heard her the way he was staring at her ass. She sneered. "Didn't think so."

"I will stop today," he told her.

"And why would you do that? I'm not asking you to."

"It was disrespectful towards you. And disrespecting you is the last thing I want to do. Believe me or not."

Lina faced him. The way he was watching her was very distracting. Her traitorous body was already gladly forgiving him. Lina bet he could massacre the entire bar and still have her body pining after him. This was one of the times she was glad her heart had stopped a long time ago. At least her dead heartbeat couldn't reveal him how nervous he made her.

"If you have needs, you are to come to me. If it is blood, sex or anything you need, you will turn to me," he said looking in her eyes.

Lina smiled. "Don't lie awake waiting for me."

Eric rose on his feet with intention of coming near her, but he was stopped before he could reach her. Lina built an invisible wall between them.

"I like you where you are. No need to creep over here." He was testing her self-control as it was.

Eric smirked. "You don't trust yourself, little one?"

"I don't trust you. You enjoy overwhelming me on purpose."

His smirk only grew wider. "I can't help it, although your mating instincts are a lovely ally. I happen to like how responsive your body is to mine. Now, I just want to talk to you." He opened his hands as if that would make him seem more innocent.

Lina didn't budge.

"The things I'm about to say are intimate. We can always go back to Fangtasia to have this talk if you want to," he offered.

Eric watched her bit her lip reviewing her options. They were in public. He couldn't do anything to her here or it would become a vampire PR disaster. The wall dropped, but she turned her back on him. With a few slow steps he was standing right behind her.

He leaned forward. "I will not catch you by surprise, Aislinn. You will know the exact moment I'm going to take you. I will never take you against your will. That's not the type of man I am, as you're about to find out. I believe that a few weeks from here, things aren't going to as difficult between us anymore. You will learn about me as I learn about you," he said in her ear. "I forgot to tell you how beautiful you look in that dress."

He trapped her between the railing and his body. His arms rested against the railing on both sides as he leaned over her. She could feel the evidence of his less than stable control pressed against the small of her back. It was scary how he made her resolve crumble more every time they saw each other. Mating was said to come naturally. She was more and more afraid how right they were to insinuate that. Her subconscious kept whispering how right it felt to be near him like this.

He spoke to her, "I will give you time. You will finish your duty to the Prince and keep Sookie safe. I will help you with that. However, she's not going to be your responsibility after the fairy war is over and you are not going back to being an enforcer. I will discuss about your obligations to Queen Meng Xi of Japan, but ultimately they'll have to heed to my wishes. My claim will override any sworn allegiance and your blood promise to your former kin."

It was his overbearing words that kept her sane. It was easier to hate him, when he tried to patronize and boss her around. She opened her mouth to yell at him, but his finger touched her lips and shushed her. Arrogant, high-handed asshat. She could come up with a dozen new ways to end him that would bring her pleasure.

"When the Faery portal is closed, I will claim you. I've decided I want you with me and I want what a mating bond could give us. I want to know you and I want you to want me as much as I do you. I suggest you stop fighting us now, because it will save your energy and stop distracting you from your duty."

It was becoming harder and harder to breathe. She was glad she didn't need oxygen. Panicking was much easier and controlled that way. She knew this was coming, but hearing him say it brought on an anxiety attack of a whole different scale. His words were seductive. His hard body pressed against her felt heavenly. He was her own personal siren, but the things he wanted to offer her, she wasn't sure she wanted. First of all, he could take her freedom, he could quite possibly kill her and if his character was anything close to what Sookie had told her about him, she would want nothing to do with him.

"If you try to escape, I will come after you. If I find that you are still scheming against me, I will take you away from Sookie before you are able to finish your job. Do not try to hire someone to harm me, because that would only make me angry. You will not touch any other man, while you're still living at Sookie's house. You will report me any possible threat against you and keep yourself from doing anything radical that would put you in danger. I will not force you to have my blood now, but if you're not doing this for me, I will," he said. "I need to know that you're not going to disappear because of this fairy war."

"What do you want really, Eric? Is it my money? I can give you more than your weight in gold is you'll leave me be. My family has great riches. I make a good income from managing Mirage. Or if it's my power, I will give it for you to use anytime you want without putting up a fight. I do have obligations in Asia and Paris, but I would drop everything, if you needed me. Just don't force me." Lina was pleading again and she hated every second of it. It made her feel vulnerable.

"Hush now, I don't want your money, little one. I have already heard these offers once before and I didn't take them then," he said and then he laughed grimly. "I was also offered your cousin."

Sookie. "I can't offer you her. Her life isn't mine."

"And it won't be mine either."

Who had offered this? Who had the power to offer any of these things? She froze, when it finally hit her. Niall. How could Eric have found a way to contact him? The thought seemed impossible. That Niall knew about her situation here in Bon Temps and hadn't offered to help her? He wouldn't do that to her. Not after everything she had done for him. Not after centuries of risking her life for him and his agenda. He would find a way to get her to Faery, if her life was threatened in any way. He would do anything to help her and that included turning the public opinion about her in Faery. He was her grandfather. He loved her. Now he hadn't even called her to see, if she was ok. Or if Sookie was ok. She had thought it was because of the war.

"How did you know that my power depended on eye contact?" Lina rasped.

He confirmed her fear. "I know your grandfather and I know much about your kind."

"You know Niall?"

"Yes, and you should be pleased to find out he has already given me his blessing."

Her small hands gripped and dented the railing. She squeezed her eyes shut trying to shut out the harsh pangs of betrayal. Niall had agreed without even asking her if she was ok with it. He was handling her like common currency. He probably made a lucrative deal with Northman and traded her away. It was getting absurd, her thoughts ran a mile minute and she seemed to grow more furious by the minute. She took a deep breath. Compartmentalize the sadness away and focus on anger.

Lina felt his finger tenderly stroke the hill of her cheekbone, sliding up her nose and across her forehead. His finger traced her upper lip. "You are not going to Faery, when the Portals close. I have his word."

"Do you hate me some much that you have to do this to me?" she spat.

"I don't know you well enough to hate you, but I'm pretty sure I never could."

Her voice was picking up volume. "You said it yourself. You don't even know who I am. How could you want a total stranger?"

"I know a lot about you. I know that you have survived by yourself more than 250 years in a world foreign to you without a maker to guide you. I know you learned to take care of yourself quickly and learned to protect those near to you. Especially your close friend Isibil, who is also a mated vampire, and your cousins, who you still do business with. I know you are cunning, brave and intelligent. You do what you have to do to stay alive. You have a successful career, the most renowned vampire enforcers are said to respect you and people around the world admire your work and talent. I have seen you dance Aislinn. I can see how passionate you are about it."

His hand rested on her stomach and caressed her hipbone. He hid his face in Lina's hair and breathed in her scent.

"You take care of your dancers like they are your family. You pay them handsomely and look after their health and family. You've never turned your back against your own kind, even though they exiled you."

He softly drew his nose up her jaw, pushed her hair away from the left side of her neck and licked her pointed ear. Strong shivers rode through her body and she couldn't stop the whimper. He pressed tighter against her back.

"You are the most beautiful woman I have ever seen with more strength than most men have."

Lina was losing the battle. Her body molded against his until he cocooned her in his arms. She had to concentrate, but nothing had ever been this difficult. One moment he spoke of possession, another about being proud of her and taking care of her.

"You want something that I can't give you," she said.

"Yes you can, if you tried. You've done nothing to learn how your life could be if you were mine."

"You conveniently forget that I know how a mated couple works. I've witnessed it first hand and I despise it. You could take my free will. You will be able to command me and control where I go, who I see and what I do. You're now asking me to give up my whole life for you. Well, Eric, I have already given up so much that I barely have anything left."

His hand caressed her throat, when he tried to soothe her. She felt like a small, frightened animal he was trying to tame. "I'm not taking your life. I'm giving you a new one. One in which you don't have to trust only yourself to keep you safe."

"But you will never let me go," she stubbornly objected.

"Quite possibly no."

She felt his hand on her leg travelling up, his fingers trailing her inner thigh. They came dangerously close to her panty line. She heard him groan as if in pain. He took his hand from under her dress to keep her covered from curious eyes, but he placed his hand directly back cupping her through the dress. Her breath hitched and eyes widened. Her pupils dilated.

"You are going to be wet for me. More wet than you've ever been for anyone else and only I can make you come as hard as you will. Your body already submits. What is stopping your mind, Lina?"

He softly rubbed her through the fabric. Her breath came out as pants. It felt too good. She was burning.

Her voice was hoarse. "You promised me time."

Eric was back lapping her ear. "You have to get used to my attention. I'm not going anywhere. Let go of your control for just a little while."

"No, not here. Not here." She smelt her own arousal permeate the air. Her fangs snapped down in hope of something to bite.

"And what you did earlier was ok to happen here?" he murmured. "Let go."

A bright flash of a camera caught their attention.

Two paparazzi were taking pictures of them from the dance floor below. The two eagerly spoke to each other and Lina could see them mouth Eric's name and what was more alarming, they even knew hers. Those pictures could not end up in Europe. She was a very private person and never revealed anything from her personal life to the press, when they interviewed her about upcoming tours and shows. Her mind cleared because of this threat. She was getting those cameras.

"Get off me," she whispered to Eric. He was still holding her standing unmoving as he stared at the two men. Lina couldn't decipher the look in his eyes. "Eric, I will hurt you if you don't move. Now!"

He snapped from whatever coma he had temporarily fallen into. He stepped away from her, but stopped her from going after them.

"I'll get those photos."

He took off in vampire speed and Lina followed him downstairs. He snatched the cameras from the stunned paparazzi's hands and removed the memory cards stuffing them into his pocket. Without saying a word he handed the cameras back to the men, took hold of Lina's hand and started dragging her outside. This manhandling was getting to the last of her nerves. She jerked her hand away and crossed her arms as they strode out of the bar.

"You will destroy those memory cards," she commanded.

"Yes," he responded casting her glance. They were in the parking lot and Lina was glad to get to her car. Sookie must be home already.

"Did you like the flowers?" he asked grinning.

"Yes thank you they were very nice, you shouldn't have," she replied monotonically.

"Did you read the card?"

"No."

"That's rude."

"I am rude."

She walked to her Mini that was parked right next to his Corvette and opened the door. Eric walked to the other side of the car and looked inside.

"Why in hell would anyone buy this thing? It looks pathetic."

"No bashing my car."

"I don't think I could even fit in this thing," he muttered mostly to himself.

"I know, isn't it great," she said eyes gleaming. She absolutely fucking loved this car.

Eric gave her an amused look. "Before you go you need to know that I'll be picking you up tomorrow at Sookie's house after sunset."

"Whatever for?"

"You're going to help me take down some witches. You should know, because you got us this job."

Lina wasn't hundred percent sure what he was talking about, but she had a hunch. She decided to play stupid and stare at him eyes blank.

"Don't be coy. I know you went to visit our formidable king with your stories. He didn't need to tell me who had been manipulating his tiny mind. He bought those stories so well. I was angry at first. You really thought I wouldn't know?"

"Fine." She climbed in her car and slammed the door shut. She started the car and drove off.

What happened next she hadn't exactly planned. While driving away from the club and musing over what had happened, she made a snap decision and took a fast left driving into the parking lot of a gas station. She didn't have a tail anymore. She was pretty sure the shifter was fired. Leaving her car locked tight, she jumped out and took off in the air.

Eric reached his home a twenty minutes after watching his mate drive off. He was deep in thought and dug out his phone. The Corvette locked itself behind him, when he walked to the massive front door of the three-storied house. There was one new message waiting. One message he had been waiting for the whole day.

"Monsieur Northman. I ran into a few problems. I discovered that she lives in Italie 13 that is the southern part of the 13th arrondissement with highest residential skyscrapers of Paris. Her apartment is the penthouse of a 38 floor building without any fire escape and with high security against any intruders. Her apartment door requires vampire blood to open and a 7 digit combination. That I have been able to crack, but the problem is that the apartment is a rental. As a vampire you need the permission to enter from the real owner, as you very well know. I could get a human inside the place, but we still need either Mademoiselle Collett's or the owner's permission to touch or move her things.

"But getting to the real owner is another trick entirely. He is imprisoned in a psychiatric hospital in Saint-Maurice. No visitors allowed. I'm sorry Monsieur, but she seems to know what she's doing.

"I've looked inside the apartment. She doesn't own very much and the interior design is very minimalistic. Only items that are attention worthy and might mean something to her are the expensive paintings and a grand piano in her living room. I will send you a list of all items and inform you again, when I reach the real owner. Au revoir."

He wasn't sure, if he should be happy to learn that his mate really knew how to keep herself safe or pissed that she had made all much more difficult for him. If he had been paying attention, he would've noticed something quietly land onto the roof of his house. Lina checked her own phone and saved the address to her GPS system just in case something went very wrong.