A/N - SVM Characters belong to Mrs. Harris, original characters and storyline are my own. Always appreciate the reviews and alerts, thank you for taking the time to leave them. A hearty welcome back to some of the readers who have returned.

Chapter 10 The Telepath

Scene 1 - SPOV - I Find

I do not know why I thought the call would come while I was wide awake, or why I was convinced the battle would be deep in some woods somewhere. The conviction must have come from all the training I had gone through to prepare. So color me totally disgusted when I opened my eyes at dusk to sit up and find slime dripping off my shoulder instead of our silk sheets.

I was nude except for my wedding bracers, weaponless except for my fangs which I allowed to descend. My eyes strained to see the place I was in but there was no light to break the shadows. I called a wisp to my hand, its illumination faint but comforting.

"Now would be a great time to be a fire fairy," I muttered as I reached out with my mind testing for other bodies around me. My mental radar came back empty, forcing me to make a decision. Do I sit here and wait for whatever had brought me here or do I strike out, explore and find a better defensible position.

I lowered the wisp to the floor, confirming I was standing in smelly mud ankle deep. I reached arms out to brush slime and moss covered walls and my natural instincts told me from the press of weight over my head, a tinge of claustrophobia, I was someplace underground. All right, time's a wasting, if Eric had been here we would have already been on the move.

The passing thought of my husband brought me up short with a gasp. I had not paid the slightest attention until now so used to the comforting hum of him in the back of my head. Now though it struck me like a physical blow, the hum was gone. I couldn't feel Eric anymore.

"No Oh God no," I moaned struggling and sliding my way through the mud, catching myself on filth ridden walls when I would slip. I had to move I had to find him. I was running now following instinct. The wisp was gone, drawn back into my body to conserve energy, never knowing when I might need everything at my command.

I could not see, instead I reached out with all my senses. I felt the tunnels all around me, deciding in the split seconds I registered them which branches to take, the ground subtly rising and by association drying under my bare feet.

The way out was near, the air had changed the heavy foulness swirled with moments of refreshment. My mental alarm screamed at me, giving me a precious instant to spin and confront the darker shadow dropping from the ceiling.

"Not yet pretty girl," a mocking voice whispered, "you still need to run."

I fought the compulsion and lost, whipped into a ground covering lope away from the taunting creature behind me. Comprehension was dawning; I would not find Eric, at least not my Eric here. I had been called, this was the culling. I had known this of course from the beginning but the shock of losing the bond to Eric had pushed everything else aside.

All right then, I was supposed to reach the surface or where ever these tunnels ended. No need to delay or provide further amusement for the Hound on my tail. I increased my pace to vampire speed counting on pure instinct not to tumble into a pit or smash into a dead end wall.

Then I stumbled from the tunnels and into a clearing almost coming to my knees in surprise. I recovered quickly and rolled to the side to avoid the crossbow bolt determined to find my heart. I responded without thought a thrust of wind leaving my hand, its edge deadly as it scored a slice and a yelp from the formerly grinning Hound. Somehow it had managed to get in front of me and had waited for me to break free from the earth's embrace.

A skintight sheathe of air covered my skin summoned without a thought to shield me from more potential danger. It was not impenetrable but it would do for now, any damage it absorbed would allow me to exist just that bit longer.

I examined what I assumed to be a Hound, the creature whose eyes roamed over me just as studiously. He was tall, not as tall as Eric, but leanly muscled, his body ripped like a street fighter. Heavy weapons were not this creature's forte, knives and daggers, a garrote or maybe poison was how this one fought. I discerned that hand to hand combat between us would be nothing if not brutal.

The Hound smiled, baring a mouthful of razor sharp teeth and fangs. I returned the gesture, my fangs elongating to their full length in a battle display. He laughed and dropped into a neutral, relaxed position running a hand through dark spiky hair, golden eyes glowing with mirth.

"You threaten like a kitten little sister," he laughed. "All hiss and fury, arched up trying to scare away the bad guy while inside you tremble afraid."

I did not respond just waited patiently for him to make his move. The air around me was tense and hummed with power as I sank deeper into myself ready for anything he might throw.

He sighed and grumbled. "As much as I would like to accept the invitation little sister, fighting is not what I am here for."

I flicked a brow in disbelief, my lips twisting in a snarl.

"I know, pathetic isn't it?" he said gesturing around us. "Perfect set up here, ground not to hard or soft, footing decent without debris to interfere with the dance." He started to pace keeping one eye on me while he explained. "It's what we live for, the Hunt and the battle which follows. The test of your mettle always ending with the taste of your blood, do you continue to exist or fall to ash." He whipped around and snarled at me, faultless body displayed like a Grecian statue. "The Master though, he has a different gauntlet planned for you and your mate. A fight yes, always a fight, but not with me. No little sister," his body shimmered and changed the clearing disappearing around us and reforming on a familiar front porch, "for me there is only the possibility," he finished with the form and voice of my Grandmother.

"You are not my Gran," I denied emphatically.

"No," the Hound agreed. "I am here to answer a question which plagues you. What if your virginity had remained intact when you first met Eric in Fangtasia? How different could your life have been?" Without warning Gran the illusion struck out, cutting my arm allowing the blood to flow. The first spatter upon the ground opened a portal she pushed me through. I found myself standing in the back corner of Fangtasia. The place Thalia usually hovered with a full view of the bar. The Hound reappeared at my side, having dropped the illusion of my Gran, and watched with interest as I walked into the club on Bill's arm.

The Sookie of this potential was nervous, trusting Bill not an inch but determined not to show it, unlike the confidence I had displayed. This Sookie had listened to the warning signals from her instincts and hadn't fallen for Bill's charms immediately, where I had, to my detriment. I watched as the scene played out, the summoning by Eric, the verbal dance and the yearning Sookie felt to dump Bill like the trash he had been for the fascinating Viking. The police raid and the run out back, the goodbyes with Eric and Pam and the ride with Bill back home instead of to the Queen in New Orleans. Bill had a stronger yearning to be between my thighs then answering his Queens commands, he would do things his own way until this Sookie gave up her virginity.

I had expected life to be a great improvement without being under Andre's knife and thumb, but I watched in dismay as this Sookie threw it all away. Instead of growing and becoming stronger, she remained self absorbed and stubbornly defiant. She verbally chastised Eric at every turn, treating him like dirt to be beaten from a rug while Bill appeared to be her white knight despite the amount of blood on his hands, her blood.

Sure Eric and I became bonded but instead of drawing us closer we fell further apart. This Sookie fell for Quinn of all creatures, and teased Alcide. This Sookie pushed Pam to the point, because of Eric, of losing what small amount of friendship they had developed. As for Eric, while Sookie did finally fall for his charms, she only did so when he was for all intents and purposes human. His memory loss and the power and authority that fled with them gave her the excuse she needed to trust him. Once his memories were back, she refused to believe he could still be the same man, dividing him in two. Her stubborn refusal to take the risk with her heart, despite the amount of risk she took with her person, drove a wedge between them. It took a takeover and the return of a week's worth of missing memories for her to contemplate giving him a chance. But then she froze again, running away, blaming him despite his new responsibilities for everything wrong in her life.

Her stupidity almost cost her life, and I wept when I saw the death of Claudine. But that was not all; she acted like a selfish idiot when Eric's maker came to call, towing an insane child behind him. No matter how hard Eric tried, Sookie denied him, pushing him away and then taking him back whenever she had an itch to scratch. The final blow coming when this Sookie ignored yet again Eric's request to stay with him and keep away from Merlotte. She refused, going to a family wedding with Sam, ending up drugged and a prisoner of Freyda, where she was turned ending up quite insane. Without Claudine alive, let alone Niall's involvement to shield Eric, her death under Freyda's fangs destroyed Eric. The breaking of the blood bond more than his mind and body could handle.

I was breathing hard, the unnecessary action instinctive under the weight of so much emotion, blood tears coursing down my face.

I felt the tender brush of a hand across my face and whirled away to crouch snarling at the Hound who would dare touch me.

"So beautiful," he sighed, his gaze heated as it traveled over my nude body. My warning growl seemed to shake him out of his lustful daze for he gave his head a shake and announced with authority, "I find you worthy of the choice."

Another portal opened and he led me through. He flicked a hand my way and the feel of cloth startled me. When I glanced down I found I was now wearing a short cotton tunic. My nakedness had not bothered me; Andre had beaten such modesty from me years ago.

"Thank you," I said.

"I am breaking the rules already. I might as well go all the way."

"What do you mean?" I asked as we stopped before a wooden door.

"I am supposed to appear as your brother Jason for this episode. It would not fool you though little sister, you know the scent and taste of our illusions. If the Master is going to punish me, it might as well be for preserving your modesty too."

"The Master?"

"He who called the Hunt, you shall see. He swiped at my shoulder, drawing blood which trickled to the ground, now then follow me." He pushed open the door and led me into the horror I had hoped to never see again.

It was the throne room in New Orleans. Sophie-Anne was perched on the throne and I was kneeling, chained to the floor next to her. The collar and manacles my only cover and Andre stood behind me flicking a iron tipped cat o'nine tails. The Queen was handling the normal requests and complaints of her people. Whenever a shifter or human approached or was involved, Andre would lean over and demand to know what they were hiding. If I did not answer in a speedy manner, the whip would flick cutting into my back and buttocks. During this evening Eric approached, dressed casually and joking with a female vampire I did not recognize.

He ignored me, never glancing my way, just like everyone else I realized. Andre had punished me quite severely, just out of spite and even though the Queens lips had twisted into a knowing smile, no one else paid any attention even when my blood had splattered.

Eric spoke to the Queen, apparently introducing the other vampire, gave a diffident nod to Andre and then strode from the room.

This happened over and over, year after year, Eric a surprising presence often in Sophie-Anne's court, not once did he take notice of me.

I watched again as Sam was collared and my power exploded into activity when my brother's death was announced. I felt again every knife cut as Andre played and the impotent rage of being abused by Compton and the Queen. I felt the beast twisting and yearning in the Sookie of old. I felt the iron burning and the longing to be free to join my family in dust and eternity.

Then Eric attacked killing Andre and the Queen. I burned with my power, fighting myself as the stubborn core refused to grant me freedom. Eric strode into the room where I was held captive, Pam gasping behind him in disbelief.

This Eric though, had eyes which were hard and cold, no laughter or teasing, no soft sensuality in his touch as it ran over my body. His expression was calculating, weighing and measuring, seeing the death I craved in my eyes. His decision made, fangs descend to bury in my throat and drain me dry, leaving me hanging for another to dispose of. Pam was yelling at him, her words punctuated with my name and Nialls. This Eric just shrugged unconcerned. I had wanted the freedom of death and he had granted it.

Freyda would still attempt to take revenge upon Eric for the death of Sophie-Anne, succeeding by using the Necromancer to destroy Pam. The loss of his child would drive Eric berserk, and his fury was barely contained as he tore Freyda into pieces. He did not stop and took over state by state, punishing those who stood in his way.

When his rage subsided he ruled over six states and not an ounce of humanity remained to keep him grounded. Thalia is the one to take him down, hired by Russell.

The images stop and fade away, leaving me standing again in a clearing. The Hound shuffled next to me uncomfortably.

"If he had listened to your silent wish instead of his heart when he found you, this would have been a potential result. He did not ignore you all those time you saw him at court, he was be spelled, he couldn't see you. Your suffering was necessary to give you the strength you needed in the future. He was the one you required to show you what it means to be human." He looked me in the eye, "I find you worthy of his love."

I was still recovering from the visuals and the memories torn to the surface from the last encounter when he paused next to a large tree.

"So who are you supposed to be for the next test?" I asked expecting him to take the form of someone else from my past.

"Freyda your maker," he admitted with a shrug avoiding my eyes.

"What are you?" I demanded.

"A Hound, I told you."

"Which is?"

He sighed, "I could lose my life for this you know." His gaze became thoughtful then hardened with determination. "But maybe I can convince you, and then it will be all right."

"Convince me?"

"To join us," he reached for and clasped my shoulders. This time I did not pull away, feeling if I held myself still he would tell the whole story and information could help me leave here instead of ending up ash. "A Hound is the essence of a vampire. The very blood magic which animates us, drives us, keeps us going for eternity. I was chosen, as are all the others for my affinity with the magic. We allow the Master to shape us, to command us in return for the power we gain as keepers of the blood."

"You were a vampire?" I questioned gesturing at his form.

"I still am...just another aspect," he smiled and teased me. "You of all people should understand. You manipulate the magic in a similar though restrictive body."

There was a sound from behind us and he whipped his head around, dropping his hands from my shoulders.

"Come we are out of time, he will be here soon." He grabbed my hand and the world swirled away.

We reappeared outside of Gran's old farmhouse.

"Why are we here again?" I asked shivering not from cold but from a dread which was twisting in my stomach.

"You have always called your telepathy a curse, the reason for all going wrong in your life. You were convinced in the past that if it had not existed, you would have been able to live a normal life. Here now, is one of those possibilities." He grabbed my hand and sliced the palm, squeezing to urge the blood to spill forth. Just like last time events began to swirl and form before me.

I was a kid again, laughing and playing with Jason. My Dad watched us fondly while my Mother had eyes only for my Father. I didn't have to deal with any of the doctors, but I still lost my parents to the flood though seeing through an adults eyes, and one who can sense magic, I noticed the flood was everything but natural.

I ended up with Jason at Gran's just like before. This time I did not have to put up with the teasing at School. Jason did not have to protect me and we actually grew apart as we discovered separate interests. We still acted like a brother and sister, but he grew jealous of the attention I gathered from his friends, and tried to avoid being around me.

I was popular in school; doing all those girly things I had only dreamed of. I had tons of boyfriends and casually tossed away my virginity. I went to college, got a degree, and came back to teach elementary school. I never became friends with Sam, only occasionally visiting the bar, preferring the clubs in Shreveport or Monroe instead.

Without my telepathy there was no reason for vampires to take an interest in my life. I didn't meet Bill, or Pam or Eric. I married a guy I met in Monroe, we had twins and then I lost Gran to a heart attack. The grief was enough to trigger my spark for the first time.

Claudine and then Claude appeared in my life, introducing me to Niall. I was ecstatic to find new family, Jason was extremely jealous of the attention I was getting. He got drunk one night and came rampaging to the farmhouse. He smashed the door in and when I tried to get him to leave, he attacked me, putting me in the hospital.

I was slow to recover. The damage had been done and he was no longer welcome in our home. My family became split. The twins did not understand why their Uncle Jason could not see them anymore. I became more withdrawn, not understanding what was happening to me as my power developed and too afraid to ask Claudine for fear of driving her away too.

Of course once I discovered I was a fairy, I had to be told about shifters, vampires, demons and all the other creatures formally locked away in fantasy. I was warned to keep away from a place in Shreveport called Fangtasia and given the low down on how irresistible we were to vampires.

My husband drew further and further away from me, and then died in a freak car accident. Somehow he had managed to roll the vehicle, ending up upside down in a ditch and drowning in six inches of water.

The twins were devastated and blamed it on me. Then Claude popped into the house one evening, looking extremely frazzled and warned me the Fae had gone to war. Why should that matter to me? The other me asked him. My great grandfather had enemies, and they now knew about me and my children, potential hostages to use against the Prince.

I didn't believe him, didn't take the precautions or heed his warnings. First my daughter and then my son disappeared, their little bodies found discarded weeks later. The final blow came when I stumbled up my porch from trying to drink myself into a stupor, right into the waiting arms of Neave and Lochlan. It did not take them long to break me, discarding me just like the others in a farm field near a road.

The amount of Fae traveling through the area had drawn the attention of the vampire Sheriff of Area Five. There were too many human deaths connected to the Fae during his watch. He was out and about the evening I was killed. He saw the assassins pop into the field and watched them dump my body.

Before the field faded into the ether, the Hound allowed me to watch as Eric gathered up my broken body, tenderly brushed my hair from my bruised face and whispered.

"What a shame."

I shuddered once then turned to the Hound waiting patiently at my side. I had never been so thankful for my telepathy.

He spoke quietly, "I find you worthy of your future."

I followed him back into the center of meadow, facing the dark entrance to the tunnels. I stopped a few steps in front of him and turned holding out my uninjured hand, figuring it would be the one he would draw blood from.

The sight which met my eyes was not what I expected. He was kneeling at the feet of a large vampire, head bowed. The vampire grabbed him and in a few short seconds drained him dry, discarding his husk (I guess Hounds do not ash or turn to goo) before striding toward me.

I dropped to a crouch warily but he disappeared before he was within an arm's length. I glanced warily around the area, my attention diverted to the tunnels when I heard the sound of steps approaching.

There were three forms solidifying from the tunnels darkness, three females. One split off to the right, stalking toward me her movement savage, predatory. The second female moved to the left, seeming to float just off the ground, power crackling and swirling around her. The third stepped deliberately up the middle, her small body lush; her eyes carried a penetrating weight. From only feet away I could feel her mind pressing against mine. This fight, for it was becoming increasingly apparent that this would be my last test, was going to be interesting.

The Telepath seemed to be the spokeswoman. "The Master has promised whichever one of us destroys you he will reward with power beyond imagining. We will no longer have to share with one another, we will be free."

"Free..." the Fae and the Beast whispered in agreement.

The three of them attacked as one. They might brag about being separate, but they knew greater numbers gave them the advantage.

My mental shields barely held against the telepath's first salvo. I found myself silently thanking Neave and Lochlan for making my weaknesses apparent back in Scotland. The Fae tried to knock me off my feet with a rush of wind, the beast waiting for the loss of footing to make a strike.

I managed to deflect her magic, focusing it on the Telepath instead, smiling grimly when she slammed into a tree and collapsed. She was out, but not finished, at least not yet.

I had to turn my attention back to the two in front of me, ducking the lunge from the Beast, meant to rip my head from my shoulders. I retaliated with a slash to her shoulder, and then used the momentum to sweep around and kick her feet out from under her. A draw of power and I left her surrounded by a stasis field while I took on the fairy who remained.

She was fully powered up, blazing from head to toe. I wasted no time in matching her, attacking first with a wicked breeze. She blocked, drawing up a wall of air to surround her, and then sent attack after attack my way. We battled back and forth across the meadow. Blasts of wind and air tearing the ground and the trees and brush around us.

I felt the Telepath stir, felt the moment she attacked and realized the mistake I made not finishing her off when the Fae used my distraction to free the Beast. I had a shield of my own surrounding me, strong enough to hold off the Beast and absorb the other's magic, but it was weakening, and defense had never been my strong point. Eric had always served as my shield, there to protect my back.

They were beating me, wearing me down, and dividing my attention between them. They were going to kill me.

The Fae had been shielding the other two, and for some reason dropped the one on the Telepath. I don't know if she had become weaker or decided to hoard her magic's. I didn't care and focused my attack fully on the weakest link. The Telepath realized she was in trouble and hit me with all she had. I felt my mental shields crumble and the first cruel twist of her fingers in my mind.

She started to rip through it, leaving me screaming in agony desperately calling on my power. The dervish answered my summons, and like the time it took care of Compton, it lifted the Telepath from her feet and turned her into nothing but thinly sliced meat.

One down two to go, I told myself as I dodged the blow from the Beast. I split my attention between her and the Fae, managing to trap the Fae in a stasis field, knowing full well it would not last long.

The Beast came at me full tilt and I tapped into that side of myself, feeling my fangs elongate and the power of the blood magic rush through my muscles. This was a risky move, as I could no longer use the Fae magic but the only way I could see taking this one down. She just shook off any spells I could cast against her now thanks to her fairy friend.

We clashed and spilled to the ground, hissing and snarling, each looking for the killing blow. I managed to throw her off of me and she landed on her stomach, before she could flip over and up right, I was upon her, my fangs sinking into the back of her neck and severing her spine. She collapsed with a whimper and I finished to job by ripping out her throat.

Two down and one to go. The Fae had managed to break my spell as expected, but stood their clapping mockingly, instead of assisting her fallen comrade.

When I cocked a brow her way she just shrugged her shoulders and smiled, displaying a fairies serrated teeth. "Only one of us is to survive, what care I if she fails? It was a waste of my magic to try to help them in the first place, they were weak."

"Must be my turn then," I responded letting my beast fade and calling again upon the magic of the Fae.

"You cannot beat me," she declared as she dodged the lance of air I threw at her. "You do not embrace your full power, the others leave you feeble."

"If you say so," I answered calling upon my power and bringing it fully forth. "I guess we are going to have to find out."

The two of us destroyed the meadow and the land around it. Hurricane, tornado, dervish and sandstorm they all answered our call. Winds with the bite of steel and the edge of glass sought to slice and dice. We were both bleeding profusely, power beginning to sputter as we hit our last reserves. Our duel had gone on for hours and I could feel her ready herself for a final attack.

I managed to deflect it, sending the power smashing into the tunnel entrance bringing it crashing down and turning it to dust to match the rest of the landscape.

She stood there breathing hard and cackling. "Stale mate," she said with a laugh.

"Oh I don't think so." I said as I leapt. She desperately tried to hold me off, but she was not a warrior. She was not versed in physical damage, and though her teeth did indeed latch into my shoulder and she did try to tear me off, she was no match for me. I had her sweet hearts blood pouring down my throat from her torn neck and when she was dead I stepped away and licked my lips delicately.

"I do not need magic to survive, and survival is the key here."

I lifted her dead body and carried it to the center of the meadow, laying her down gently, regretting the loss of her life and the others.

I didn't hear him until his fangs were sliding into my throat draining me. He supported me as I slumped to my knees, holding me gently as he savored every draw of my blood. When he was finished he sealed the wounds and cradled me gently in his arms, staring down at me with eyes filled with stars and lightening crackling around his head.

"The blood tells the tale my little one. The blood sings of your courage and your compassion, your ability to adapt and maintain focus, it screams of your rage. The blood tells me you are worthy."

A bloody wound appeared on his neck and he raised me to it. "Drink Sookie, for this is your reward."

His blood called to me and I could not resist, gulping down mouthful after mouthful of the Blood of the Hound mixed with his Elder's blood. The power arced through me, filling every pour, reservoirs once empty now over flowed.

I frowned at him in confusion when I was finished, his features starting to coalesce into a face found only in mythology and last seen in Rhodes.

"Zeus?" I asked as he helped me to my feet.

His laugh was rueful, white teeth with a hint of fang flashing behind his beard. "I was not sure if you would remember, let alone recognize this form. Yes little sister I am Zeus, Elder of the Clan of the same name."

"What are you doing here?" Of course I wasn't thinking straight, how stupid it was to be questioning a vampire of such power.

He gave a full belly laugh, "Our brother thought to take advantage of the culling, tried to stack the deck if you will in his favor. Why should I let him have all the fun? Besides this is the only way to let you see what we have to offer you. If you wish it one day."

"What become a Hound?"

"If you wish."

"Why did you kill the other?"

"Because he broke the rules. He knew the risks. No matter, I took his blood and gave it to you along with mine. The culling is complete as it should be. So will you join us or do I return you to your mate?"

"If the Hound broke the rules what about you and your brother?"

"Oh don't worry, there will be consequences for us down the road, but we will gladly shoulder them. Amun offered your mate a chance to be an Elder, the offer is there indefinitely. I will do the same for you as a Hound, is this acceptable?"

I nodded relieved I would not be forced. The blood magic called to me but my love for Eric was stronger.

He smiled at me and touched my brow, catching me and easing me to the ground as I fell. "Sleep Sookie," he whispered. "You will not remember a thing until all is finished. I look forward to seeing the Hound standing at the Elder Viking's side. Something tells me Amun doesn't realize how long he will be waiting for his replacement. Enjoy your eternity with your lover little sister, it is a rarity you two share."

I opened my eyes to find a worried Eric hovering over me where I lay sprawled across the couch in his office at Fangtasia.

"Hey you," I whispered with a smile, groaning when my body refused to answer my command to move.

Eric held me gently in place. "Shh lover, stay still. The transition seems to knock you for a loop." His fingers gently brushed the mark on my neck, his love brimming in his eyes and racing through the bond which had reopened.

"I can feel you again," I purred in satisfaction.

"As can I," he murmured as his hands traced down and over my body looking for additional wounds, of course I was naked.

"Not that kind of feel," I chastised as I slapped at his shoulder.

His chest rumbled with laughter as he lifted me so he could slip underneath and cradle me to his chest. "I missed you."

"How long was I gone?"

"Two days."

"Did we lose anyone else?" I asked with a concerned frown.

His lips tightened and he nodded. "Indira found ash on the floor in Felicia's apartment when she went to meet her for a night out."

Poor Felicia she had tried so hard to be a good vampire, always doing as instructed. She was a nice person, just not very strong willed. I would miss her.

"Any others?"

"No one else has been called, at least not yet."

I sighed, "Take me home Eric, please."

"As you wish lover," his nose wrinkled in distaste as his eyes filled with amusement. "You could really use a shower."

"Eric!"

I was too exhausted to do more than slump against him as he cleaned me from head to toe and everywhere between. When we slipped into bed I clung to him like a burr, a part of me fearing he would be taken away.

"Be here when I rise, please Eric?"

"Of course," he soothed. "Rest now."

I slipped into downtime and then to my rest when the sun started to rise. What little Eric had shared with me on the drive home indicated things had reached their peak. There were fewer vampires disappearing, more states were checking in. When the Hunt moved on to the other states we would be able to start recovering and hopefully more intelligence would start trickling in. If only it was just the politics we had to be concerned with. The fire fairy Prince had not responded to Niall and Carmichael had gone missing. The clincher though, Viola of all vampires wanted an audience with Eric.