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Eric's POV

"Well, she's a regular little firecracker, isn't she? She's almost fun to be around, for a breather." Both of us were still staring at the door she'd just flounced through. I groaned internally before shifting in my seat to relieve some of the pressure on my aching cock. I don't know for sure what would have happened if Pam hadn't walked in, but I'm pretty sure I'd be buried in her right now. I didn't know whether to be pissed or pleased my child interrupted when she did.

Pam gave a rueful shake of her head as she looked at me. It almost looked like fucking pity on her face. "I understand your problem better now, Eric. I wouldn't be able to keep my hands off her for two minutes, if she were mine. Have you tasted her yet? I bet she's yummy."

There are times I seriously wish I'd cut out her damned tongue before I turned her. This was one of them. I was in no mood for her games. After near on two hundred years, I knew my child well enough to know when she was trying to goad me into taking the course of action she wanted. She was yanking my damned chain because she could. When she interrupted Sookie and I, the way I'd greeted her - the ridiculously possessive stance I'd assumed - sealed the deal for Pam. She would use that against me, guaranteed. It has been her opinion all along that I should do what she had just prevented - fuck her and claim her as my own. Now she would be insufferable with what she will call her "proof positive".

"Knock it off, Pam. We've more serious issues to deal with." I deliberately ignored her impertinence. "I'm going to shower. Wait here in case Sookie comes back. Then we will deal with Compton. I will talk to Sookie after he is secured." I grabbed some fresh clothes from my closet as I spoke to her. I paused when I got to the doorway of the bathroom, a thought occurring to me. "Did she come here to see me, Pam, or to see the Sheriff?"

"I don't think she knew you were the Sheriff, if that's what you are asking. She never referred to you by name."

I hurried through my shower, thinking over what Pam said. I purposefully avoided telling her more than my first name for a reason. The more I can keep her isolated from the violence of my life, from the vampire world, the better my chances of protecting her would be. I knew where to find her if I needed to. I didn't want her to be able to walk into my life as easily as I had walked into hers. Not until I knew all there was to know about her. Especially her fairy connection. Sophie-Ann didn't intimidate me. I was older and stronger than her. The only reason she was Queen is because I didn't want to be King. Her connection to the Fae could prove to be the biggest pain in my ass.

I dried off at vampire speed and slid into a pair of black jeans and hauled a black Fangtasia T-shirt over my head. As intoxicating as the encounter in my office was, I didn't need a repeat performance. The explosive chemistry between us was reason enough to avoid any more contact with her for now. She wasn't just another human. I had to remember that. Supernatural forces must be at work, it was the only way to explain her many reincarnations, the way she always came back into my life. I'd honestly wondered if I were going mad the first times, if perhaps my subconscious was simply playing tricks on me. Eventually I couldn't deny it anymore. And now here she is again, smack in the middle of my life, and trouble is following her at every fucking turn. She was a vixen, nearly irresistible, but I had to keep my head straight. Some part of me knew that once would never be enough with this one. I couldn't just lose myself in her.

A knock on the door shook me from my musings. Pam's voice called out, "Eric, I think you should come back in here."

I strode back into my office, fastening the buckle on my thick black leather belt. "What is it?"

"It is I, Northman. Please forgive my sudden intrusion. It couldn't be avoided. We have matters to discuss." My head snapped around in surprise. He was standing by the door, keeping a healthy distance between himself and Pam. It had been a long time since I'd physically seen him, but he was as distinguished and elegant as always. He had an air of other-worldliness about him that his tailored suit and mane of well-tended hair couldn't hide.

"Brigant. What can I do for you?" I was surprised to see him like this. He'd never just popped into my office before. I strongly suspected this related to Sookie, but I wasn't going to play my hand too early. There was no way he could know of our connection and I didn't plan on volunteering any information.

"Perhaps this is something we should talk about in private." He glanced at Pam. She rose an eyebrow in my direction. I gave a small shake of my head.

"My child is my confidant, Niall. Whatever you have to say to me can be said in front of her. Unless you would prefer privacy?"

"You've recently become acquainted with a young woman by the name of Sookie Stackhouse." Niall Brigant, Prince of the Fae, looked at me steadily, his face betraying nothing of his thoughts.

"That is correct," I replied carefully.

"My sources tell me your connection with her is quite, shall we say, intimate?" His expression never flickered, but I am sure mine did.

"Perhaps. Before I answer any further questions, Niall, I must ask what your interest is in Ms. Stackhouse?" I hadn't been intimate with her in the ordinary sense, but the blood we shared was certainly intimate. What did he know? And why did he care?

"I can trust this information will not leave the room?" This was nothing but posturing. He wouldn't have come here if he didn't trust my discretion.

"What you say remains with us."

"Ms. Stackhouse is my great-granddaughter. My son, Fintan, was her grandfather."

Fuck! A fucking fairy princess? My body tensed as I realized the implications of what he said. What did I have myself involved in? I stared at Niall, my face impassive. I was blood bonded to a fairy princess. This was technically a blood offense. I'd fed a fairy my blood, which could be viewed as an act of aggression by the Fae. I hadn't actually drank from her, but I had tasted her blood. A good amount of blood from her wounds that fateful night. Niall appeared calm, but I couldn't know whether he had a hundred Fae warriors waiting outside.

"I was not aware of her relationship with you, Niall." I started to defend my position, but he waved me off and continued speaking.

"I am not here for vengeance, Northman. I understand the facts better than you think." What the hell did that mean? "I need to know your intentions with my great-granddaughter. I can't get into the specifics right now, but I have reason to believe the child may be in great danger. I need to know if I can count on you to help protect her. I ask again, Northman, what are your intentions?"

"I intend to keep the girl safe, Niall, but beyond that I am not prepared to discuss my relationship with Sookie. Have you asked her the same questions?"

"I have yet to meet my great-granddaughter, Northman. Fintan used great magic to keep the girl hidden from me and we've only recently found her." He paused here and leveled his bright blue stare directly at me. "Do you plan on turning her?"

"It wasn't something I had considered at this time, no." Did I want to turn her? Hell, no. Been there, tried that. Still have the nightmares to prove it. "Are you aware Sookie is here? She's due back here any minute now."

"It's highly unlikely such a conversion could occur, I should warn you, in case you decide to consider it. You will kill her if you try. And yes, I am aware of her location. I will get to that in a minute." Where was he three hundred years ago when I could have used this information? Wait. If she was Fae in this lifetime, was she Fae in all of them? How would that work? She couldn't have carried the same bloodline all this time. It wasn't possible. And she isn't a carbon copy image of herself every time. She's been different every time, with just enough similarities to recognize her for who, or what, she was. Just my luck to get just enough information to tease, but not satisfy. It just raised even more questions in my mind. As if I needed more.

"I will keep that in mind," I replied dryly. He was telling me nothing. What did he want?

"Are you planning on furthering your bond?" Hell. If Sookie didn't tell him, how did he know?

I had thought about, yes. A million times over the last weeks. But did I want to be that tightly bound to another? I was tied ridiculously close to her without any blood magic between us. I don't know. I'd never bonded to any of the others, hadn't wanted to. Maybe bonding would be the very thing to stop the madness? Niall was waiting for my response, and I was uncharacteristically at a loss for words.

"I don't know that, Niall. I have only just met your great-granddaughter." I knew that was the response he was looking for, but it was all I could give. "Why do you ask?"

He silently regarded me for long moments. "As I said, Northman, I fear there could be trouble on the horizon. Sookie is still so very young, years away from her Fae maturity. It is impossible to tell if she will be granted any real Fae powers, she is only 1/8, but with Brigant blood in her veins, she has a better chance than others with so little Fae blood. I've been informed her spark is unusually strong. If she were to come into her powers, it is possible she would have a fighting chance for survival."

I thought about what he said for a moment. He was talking in circles. "I understand how this could be beneficial for Sookie, but what does this have to do with any bond we may have?"

"You have to understand that Fae maturity usually comes at about age thirty for full blooded Fae. Sookie is several years away from this mark. For part-Fae, if they have the spark, it is usually later, sometimes as late as forty before any power manifests itself." He paused and I nodded to him. I understood so far. "Sookie's case is a little more unusual, something I haven't encountered before. Her spark has begun to ignite, Northman, and I believe it is due to your magic sparking hers."

I was dumbstruck. I immediately thought of the bond I had with the girl. It was unusually strong, from what I could tell. Was her emerging magic the reason?

"You want to tie your kin, your blood, to a vampire?" This was the part I didn't understand. Niall and I might have a cordial relationship, but vampire and Fae are natural enemies. Fairy scent is irresistible to vampires, and their blood highly intoxicating. If it weren't for Niall's ability to mask his scent, our relationship wouldn't have survived over the years. Why the hell would he want this?

"It wouldn't be my first choice for her, no. But if it is fated to be, I would and do choose you as the vampire." Fated? Was this my fate?

"It was one exchange, Niall, and not a true mutual exchange, either. It is my understanding this connection we have will fade with time if we leave it be. Her fate doesn't have to be tied to me." I tried to put as much conviction into my words as possible, keeping my tone as cool and impersonal as I could. I wish I felt as much conviction within. The very idea of her not being tied to me was doing unwelcome things to me. I wanted to break something.

"I'm sure that would be the case if she were human, Northman." He continued to stare at me, but I swear his expression softened just a tad. "You will have to ask Sookie for her reasons behind her decision, but when you exchanged blood, she accepted the bond." He stopped speaking, regarding me with an unfathomable position. "A Fae bond shares many similarities with your vampire bonds. The Fae only bond when they meet their chosen, their soul mate, if you will. And that type of bond, Northman, does not fade. I can't tell you with any certainty what your bond with my great-granddaughter is, because the pair you are an unknown. You have created a hybrid bond, when you blended your magic with your blood. You are without precedence, especially when you factor in Sookie's emerging spark."

"And you want to encourage this spark?" I ignored the chosen soul mate talk for now. This was cutting uncomfortably close to home. He must be wrong. Sookie didn't even know she was part-Fae. She had never met me before I saved her with my blood, creating this bond. How could she have chosen me? Impossible. I started to wonder what was taking Sookie so long, though. If she didn't return soon I would send Pam to look for her. "You want her bound to me for life?"

"I believe it would benefit both of you should Sookie's spark fully ignite. Her powers could be very limited, but they could be immense. As you know, the Brigant bloodline is one of the oldest and strongest in existence. If she can access a fraction of what is potentially available to her, she will be formidable in her own right. As for the bond," he paused and shrugged then, a very human gesture coming from a fairy, "as I've said, Sookie has chosen you. She will always be tied to you. I can't change this, and even if I could, I would only do so if she asked me to. If she is going to be involved in the supernatural world, she will need a strong partner. Together, you could wield great power and influence, vampire. There are worse possibilities."

"I will need time to think about what you are asking. I barely know this girl. You are offering fairy tales, quite literally. I will think about what you have told me, but I can't promise you anything until I speak with Sookie further. I need to know who you are tying me to for eternity, Niall. This is a major decision." My brain was in complete overdrive now and it was becoming harder and harder to maintain my composure. This conversation was making my head hurt, a strange sensation for a vampire. Where the hell was she, anyway? I was suddenly feeling uncomfortable. She was gone far too long already and Compton could be arriving here any minute. I didn't want her to run into him here. I looked at Pam, who had remained quiet as a mouse through the meeting. It must be killing her to hold her tongue like this. "Check on our guest, will you Pam?"

As Pam slipped through the door to check on Sookie, Niall leaned forward in his seat. "I understand. Just don't take too long to decide, Northman. More hangs in the balance than what I can tell you now. When the time is right, you will understand why I have approached you as I have. Do not take my words lightly. Together, you could be invincible, do you understand me? Apart, you are vulnerable. Think on this." Niall stood to his feet, smoothing the fabric of his black suit as he rose. I was about to question him further when Pam burst back into the office.

"Eric. We have a problem. She's gone, and I think Compton has her."

I jumped up, making my way to the door, the Prince momentarily forgotten. "How much of a head start do they have? Who's here we can count on to help track them?"

Pam had just started to explain what she knew when Niall interrupted her.

"Take it easy, Viking." He laughed then, an unexpected sound. "I knew you were the right vampire for the job. Don't worry about Sookie. I told you, I know exactly where she is."

Astonished by his words, I spun around quickly and took in his smiling face. Shifty fucking prick! If he had taken her, I would drain the bastard dry. I leaped towards him, my hands reaching for his neck.

Sorry this isn't longer, I was really hoping to get Sookie's POV in here, too, but I have to end it here for right now.

Next chapter is just about done, though, and I will be posting it soon. I'd love to know what you think of Niall's revelations! Please let me know.