So I was thinking that it may help to have a review of the story so far:
Chapter One: Sookie goes through extreme measures to cut off the bond even though Eric pleads for her not to.
Chapter Two: Eric returns to see Sookie months before Chapter One.
Chapter Three: Eric has sex with Sookie even though he is confident that he doesn't have emotional feelings for Sookie.
Chapter Four: Sookie knows that Eric has dismissed the possibilities of feelings for her. Sookie can control the bond though Eric is unaware of it. Sookie talks to Alcide about working at the Were Summit set to occur in three weeks. Sookie does all she can to keep Eric's mind on her, trying to make him realize what he could have with her.
Chapter Five: Eric wakes up to Sookie's lust. He continues his day trying to sate himself but cannot find any way to please himself. Eric approves Sookie working at the Were summit.
Chapter Six: Sookie goes to Fangtasia after having a liquid mixture meant to bring out all of her fae qualities.
Chapter Seven: She is attacked by Pam and then Eric cannot resist her after he saves her. He ends up almost draining her dry. Sookie declares her love when she wakes up and tells him she is willing to die for him.
Chapter Eight: Eric's depressed and feels guilty over what happened with Sookie. He goes with Sandy to file a report but she is missing.
Chapter Nine: Sookie returns bruised and injured worse than when Eric leaves her (admitting she has been in the fae realm). They argue about his position in her life and Niall. He takes her with him so they can go to the Were summit together.
Chapter Ten: Eric tells Sookie that he loves her, but does not seem to mean it. He takes care of her by giving her blood and sleeps with her.
Dead to Me: Chapter Eleven, BPOV
Niall.
He remembered entering the name into his database five weeks ago. Somehow, a collection, to bid the monotonous days, had become a network breaking down several different supe communities. He had learned by now to keep this to himself; there was no reason for anyone he loved to be hurt by his curiosity. Everyone knew that he loved her, unconditionally, and he would not let her come to risk because of his Technicolor world. So there he was, in a small room hidden behind the refrigerator. The walls were covered with panels of plasma screens, sensitive to his cold touch.
He had wanted to use his bedroom but decided that his best memories in this home were there, with her. So, how could he let something like a growing, priceless database, be the thing to stop another memory to be made there? She could, would, be back there in his arms, moaning underneath him. He shouldn't even be thinking that way. Just her, there, to keep him company, play scrabble, talk about her life, is enough for him.
His concentration was drawn back to the illuminated faces. There was the creature, under the disguise of a man he had seen at the Bellefleur wedding. Had she known all along—through their entire relationship? It was impossible. She wouldn't have hidden anything from him. Her trust issue may have existed before him because of what she heard, but she always gave everyone a chance. His guilt washed through him again. Could he be what Eric had said to her? Her grandfather? She hadn't disputed it.
He knew that Sookie could sense his presence around his home every night. Every night he (day?)dreamed about her coming out to confront him. He would give her some excuse—he had heard a howl under the full moon, news of a kidnapping in the area, anything. She would say that she knew when he was bullshitting her now, and if he still wanted her she would have him. She would tell him that she would never be able to forget but that she could forgive him. The dreams kept coming even after hearing her screams under Eric's manipulations.
He had wanted to run in there and save her, but he was smart enough to avoid that beating. He told himself that he didn't want to humiliate her, not that he couldn't bear to see her spreading her innocent body out as a feast for his sheriff. He was sure Eric could smell his arousal and release when he exited her home, but hadn't heard anything from the bastard since.
He had subconsciously brought her face to the center most screens and paired it next to fairy's face. He forced the screen into something he had never thought it would be—a family tree, her family tree. He looked at the faces below Niall's and tried to match similarities in bone structure to Sookie's glowing smile, pronounced cheek, symmetrical brows. Who was her father? Who did she belong to, certainly none of these fairies? She was his.
He knew he was hardening, but the idea of her blood rich in fairy, too rich for him to savor when they were together, made him want to go to her. It hurt him to leave her the night before, peering through her window at her naked body free to Eric's gaze. There was nothing sexual about it; she was in pain. He could tell from the swell of her cheeks, and their argument was vague. He was too caught up in how he would make Eric suffer to listen to them—but grandfather, that he caught. He knew Sookie's history and this certainly was not the storyline he had studied.
Bill brought up Niall's history. The Prince. Indeed. Bill brought up the fairy's talents—masking scent. The battles he had fought in, and continued to scroll down the list, aware that this was just as long or longer than Eric's interface. Underneath the wars and battles was one word: Enemies. The list, men of all supernatural worlds, numbered two or more for each battle or war Niall was involved in. Bill couldn't help but recognize that maybe she was destined for danger and that was why he was drawn to her. How long would it be until someone had put two and two together?
Obviously, Eric wasn't being too careful about who knew. Things were coming together, hours after he had heard the news. Claudine, the forces that would avenge Sookie's death the night of the takeover, her telepathy, everything finally made sense. Bill set the screens to sleep and moved everything back into place.
He showered his arousal away with a few tugs and dried at vampire speed. He knew if he hurried he could visit a donor before he arrived for security at the summit. She would be there. He adjusted himself underneath his khakis—maybe his donor wouldn't mind a bit of recreational fun with him. He hadn't been with anyone since Selah and the takeover. His dedication would appeal to her if he informed her, which he intended to do. He couldn't keep himself in check around Sookie—smooth-- if he didn't clear the pipes, as you will.
He was reaching for his car keys when something dawned on him. Enemies. He jerked the refrigerator out of its place ripping it from the socket. He banged on several more keys and scrolled down once again. Enemies. Fourth down from the list, chronological order, the man he hadn't known still existed until a run in at Fangtasia days before—looking for Eirikr, the man said in a thick accent, one that was too ancient and foreign for Bill to place. She would be his again.