Disclaimer: I don't own anything created by CH/AB, but Lexie & co are all mine.


"Lexie…sweetie…wake up!"

I was having one of those pleasant dreams. You know the ones that leave a big smile on your face even in your sleep. Everyone is happy and there are no clouds in the metaphorical sky or problems on the horizon. My life was the complete opposite of those dreams, so I liked to enjoy them whenever I could.

The annoying voice interrupted me again. I was eating a lovely cheesecake. It was blueberry. It was one of those cheesecakes that melted in your mouth and made your whole body tingle with pleasure, almost as good as sex. Not quite, but almost.

"Go away…I want to finish my cake." I mumbled.

The annoying voice was back with a vengeance. "Lexie, you need to get up. Its two hours until dark. You're leaving tomorrow. Hades' wants your ass as soon as it's awake, and I promised Pam I'd wake you up." That was Kassie's voice. Why was Kassie in my house?

Suddenly reality came crashing down, chasing away the remainders of my lovely dream and leaving my mouth tasting like last night's junk food Eric made me eat rather than the orgasmic dessert. Reality did suck sometimes.

I groaned and batter her away. "Ok…ok. Give me a minute." After a slight pause I heard Kassie make her way back into the living room. I must look like shit because usually I couldn't get rid of her that easily.

It really did take me another five minutes before I mustered up the energy to haul myself out of bed. My head wasn't swimming as it had been last night. My limbs stiff and achy, but moving. A good start.

I tried tapping my power but it was still too low for me to make anything but the weakest of connections. They really did a number on me last night. Anger fuelled my movements as I scrubbed myself awake under a cool shower. I put on a soft cotton short jumpsuit with a bikini top underneath. I wasn't sure what time it was right now, but it was hot, humid and I was in no mood to make pretty.

I was feeling a whole lot better as I put up my hair in a loose bun, although from the dark circles under my eyes I didn't look it, yet.

Cresil was lounging on one of the couches and Kassie in turn lounged on top of him. Both set of eyes glued to the tv that was showing Buffy re-runs.

Cute. Then cynicism hit. Just how long would that last? Both were such free spirits. Then again, who am I to put bad mojo on their relationship? It was their business, as long as both were happy my motto will be 'whatever'. Deep down I enjoyed watching them get so cosy. They were good together, really good.

Maybe we could do a double date when all my crap is wrapped up? Yeah, right.

"Hey, Cresil. Kass, did you get it?" I asked while I zoomed in on the steaming coffee calling to me from the kitchen counter.

Before passing out last night I sent her a message. There was only one thing that could restore me completely. Ambrosia. It was one of those myths that humans actually managed to get right, ambrosia did exist.

"Yep. You owe me big." She tried for a stern glare and then grinned. "Lucky for you that your best friend is a rebel. You also owe Killira for sneaking it out of the safe."

I winced. The list of people I owed has certainly gotten longer in the last couple of weeks. To think I wanted a quiet life. I padded to the fridge and got out the small metal container. A container that would be priceless should anyone realise it was on earth.

Ambrosia is a liquid distilled from flowers growing in Olympia, it was the only thing that got the gods drunk and demi-gods on a tripping higher than heaven. It had an interesting side-effects too, such as giving intense pleasure to those of less than pure blood variety.

Yes, poor me will be in ecstasy for a few hours, depending on how long the healing took. That aspect couldn't be helped. Lucky for me, there were a few hours left before sundown.

"Thanks Kassie. I'll see you guys in a bit. You'll hang around for a while right?" I asked as I slowly headed back to my room.

Cresil and Kassie both sported identical grins since they knew exactly why I was running back to my room. "Sure thing. We'll wait till you're…done." I wasn't about to deny them the ride.

"If you ruin my couch you are paying for a replacement." I called over my shoulder and closed the door on their snickers.

I bypassed the bed going straight through into my bathroom and up to the wall opposite the large window. I pressed on the tiles. A sequence only known to a few people since my list of trusted friends has grown ever shorter over the years.

The door slid inwards soundlessly and I walked into the dimly lit room. This was my sanctuary. It was located exactly in the middle of the house, my private space. A light-tight bedroom, a safe place should I need to hide something or someone. It was sound-proof, light-proof and most importantly magic proof.

The décor was sparse, but I didn't need much in here. A California king sized bed, two side tables and a small tall boy. No tv or any other electrical gadgets. The colours were earthy, soothing and gentle on the eye. I breathed in the cleansed air which was kept fresh by a special spell I learnt from an air daemon. Lucky it didn't need any power to keep it sustained; stale air is putrid at best.

Ambrosia has a strong effect on the divine; on half-breeds the effects are more intense. Either way the aftershocks of my drinking would drive every functioning body in twenty miles to a sexual orgy. Nobody was immune to the powerful aftershocks. Drinking it in here will dampen the effect to maybe less mileage, or less intensity. Never the less I knew my two guests will be having a rocking good time.

I settled in the middle of the bed, took a deep breath and upturned the vial. I felt the liquid burn a sweet path down my throat and spread like molten fire through my body. My limbs started to tingle as it entered my blood stream, and then the first orgasm hit me and I was well on the way of being lost to ecstasy in no time at all. Over…and over…and over.

I came to exactly one hour later, fully charged and clear headed. I've always thought it was weird how quickly one recovered. You spend an hour having the most intense pleasure possible and then, snap, you're focused, alert and ready for ass kicking. Not that I was complaining, about any of it. I really did enjoy the side effects of being able to heal and recharge this way. Ambrosia sure beats any and all of the human medicine, even daemon medicine.

My phone rang almost the instance I became aware of my surroundings again. I checked the screen. Eric. It dawned on me that he may have felt some of that through the bond. I doubt even the magic of my sanctum could have shielded him from my orgasmic rollercoaster.

"Hello Eric." My voice sounded calm, collected and more like I was in the middle of business than naked in a bed with a monster orgasm afterglow.

"Alessandra, is there a good reason for me being awake for the last hour and you not picking up the phone." He growled. Obviously Vikings didn't share well. It didn't take a telepath to figure out what he thought I was doing for the last hour. I rolled my eyes, not that he could see me.

"Did you enjoy it? I certainly did." Goading Eric was probably not the smartest thing to do, but I just couldn't seem to stop myself.

There was an angry hiss from the phone. Oh boy! My smile stretched.

"I don't have anyone here Eric." Silence answered, so I pushed on with my explanation. "Remember I said I was drained of my power yesterday." I paused to let him process this, I had a strong feeling Eric's higher brain functions were on slow gear at the moment, while his primal vampire nature was running rampant. "I needed to recover before tomorrow's flight, so I took something to speed up the process…it has some interesting side effects, don't you think?"

I waited for him to process this. I figured I'd cut the guy some slack. I woke him up with my pleasure after all, didn't pick up the phone, not that I could have anyway and not was as calm as a lake on a windless day. I was also trying to process how territorial Eric has gotten with me. I wasn't sure I liked that. I knew vampires were territorial. Hell, all supes were no matter their living status. I just wasn't sure if Eric was running before the train on this one. We haven't exactly declared anything. We haven't even had sex for crying out loud.

That got me on a whole different train of thought right there. Naked Eric.

Finally I heard his voice. Reserved, cold even. "You took something to make you recover faster and the side effects included you experiencing enough pleasure that it woke me up from day-sleep two hours before sundown." It wasn't a question, and yet it was. I had to weigh up my options quickly, could I really trust him? Zi thought so, but we've both been wrong before. Did I have a choice right now? Not if I didn't want him to lose trust in me.

I sighed. "I took ambrosia."

An intake of breath. Eric hardly ever breathes. He is a very well-adjusted vampire, not someone who will try and fit in because humans find the habit of not breathing disturbing. Breathing was something vampires did not need to do, so he didn't, usually. I felt a twinge of satisfaction at surprising him. To most it was a fable. Ambrosia was reserved for the exclusive crowds with special blood running in their veins for a reason. If you didn't have any in yours there would be some serious repercussions for drinking it. Sometimes good, sometimes bad, but seriously, who the hell would want to risk that? Stupid question. I've witnessed more than enough attempts to get to it myself. That would be why I owed Killira and Kass a huge favour a piece.

"Tell me something. Did you help yourself cum?" His voice was low, sexual. The question sent a new wave of heat through a body that was supposed to be well satisfied. My cheeks got hot as well as other, more intimate parts. I didn't see that one coming. I should have, but I was too worried about his general reaction to feeling me so strongly instead of worrying about Eric making me all hot again.

"I am so not discussing that." I managed to choke out.

He chuckled. "I certainly did. It was wonderful. I was thinking of you. Naked." The words were laced with sex and I could almost see his cocky grin and smouldering eyes. I tried closing my own, but that only intensified the images of a naked Eric in his bed and pleasuring himself. If we continued on this topic I'll be in need of a few more releases before the end of this conversation.

I took a deep breath and focused. It was hard I tell you.

"Happy to provide the entertainment. Now, is there anything else? I've a busy night planned." Snippy, but I didn't care. I really did need to get a lot done tonight.

"That's the only thing that's stopping me from coming over and devouring you, lover. I enjoyed myself immensely, but it left me with a hunger for more." Surely one more time couldn't hurt?

I gulped, picturing the act of him devouring me. My body tightened with the need to let him. I felt for my power, it was back and fully charged. I let my own fingers stray as a naughty idea came into my head.

"Are you still in bed?" I tried to make the question sound sexy.

From the sound of his husky chuckle, I succeeded.

"Yes lover. I am in bed. Naked and all alone." The last came out almost sulky.

I purred in the telephone, not actual cat purring, more like sexy voice purring. "Excellent."

I hung up. Whatever he expected, me ending the call was probably the last thing on that list. I concentrated on Eric. It was easy to feel him through the bond between us. Even if we only exchanged blood once, we weren't exactly the average human-vampire pair. My inner goddess was possessive of this Viking, binding him close.

Sending out a tendril of my power towards him I got a sudden mental image of him in bed with an endearing scowl on his handsome face and his phone in his hand as he dialled me. Sure enough, my phone started to ring. I let it. I spread my essence through the room, letting my consciousness fill the space surrounding him to the point that I almost felt myself being there in the flesh, almost. What he experienced was a breath of cool air on his white broad chest. He tensed and cancelled the call. I bit his ear. A smile spread on his face. My ghostly fingers trailed down his strong arms as I kissed his throat and his head fell to the side.

"Lexie…" He groaned. I nibbled on his shoulder a little harder in answer. I could almost taste him, it was that real. This trick I picked up from a very creative air daemon I dated a few decades back, before my ex. I didn't want to think about that though. My ghost hands worked up his legs, it was very handy since there could be more than one pair of hands. I watched as Eric's eyes rolled back and he gave into the experience.

A mouth on the tip of him made him groan and thrust up in eagerness, a chuckled dissolving the solidity of the air before he could experience it around him. He growled out in frustration, hands gripping the silky red sheets before ripping them as I slowly lowered a ghostly mouth onto him. I licked, and bit, and touched all of him.

Then I could take no more teasing. I craved, needed the real thing.

He writhed in pleasure, his eyes hooded when I lowered myself onto him. The feel of him finally in me after all the teasing was exquisite, a sensory overload. I may have screamed. I was too pleasure ridden to be sure. His hands were on my thighs and I was on my back so fast it would have been impossible to see. My hands were pinned above my head by one of his. The other was exploring my curves, as his eyes burned into mine. Blue fire seared me, marking me all the way to my soul.

"You're here." The growl was so animalistic it was hardly recognisable as words.

My eyes flared wide at the look in his. "Would you like me to go?"

He snarled. "You are mine now, this is where you belong." His lips crashed down on mine in a maelstrom of possession. I gloried in the feeling. Sometimes giving up control was a good thing. Sometimes letting go made you hold on harder. And this time surrendering to the force that was Eric made me feel cherished, and wanted, and exactly where I was meant to be.

Then he shifted, grating himself into me. I whimpered as pleasure shot through me at the friction. I've craved this from the moment I met him, giving in now was bliss. He moved back.

"No..."It was a plea. I didn't care.

"Tell me." His eyes blazed with need and hunger, and I wondered at his self-control.

"What?" I'd tell him anything just to get the feeling of him stretching me back.

"I want to hear you say it."

"Eric, I…" Even in the haze of lust, I couldn't say that. Not after what happened. I stared back at him wishing with everything in me that I was the trusting person I had been before. Before I was burnt by love, before I learnt to close myself off. I did the only thing I could; I let my head fall to the side as I bared my neck to him. Full subservience. It was a declaration without words. The only thing I could give him right now.

His eyes dilated as they fixed on my pulse. He rolled his hips a little.

"You will say it." He bit as he sheathed himself in me and I cried out pleasure and pain mixing as we were both catapulted into the oblivion of bliss.

"Your dad is going to flip." Thank you Kassie, I can always rely on you to sugar coat things for me.

"I'll handle that when I get there," Looking at my watch to check the time and grimaced. "Probably sooner than I want to."

I had a few meetings planned in Underworld tonight. My short tryst with Eric put me behind schedule.

"I know you know, but you realise he is going to insist on you finally Calling." She barrelled on. We were in the living room, they finished enjoying my high about the same time I got back from Eric's. Cresil was casually leaning against the kitchen island and Kassie was making sandwiches for everyone. I was a terrible cook. I did try once I moved to earth, but there are some things even divine blood couldn't fix. My cooking was one of those. Killira usually cleaned and cooked even in this house. She came by every second day or so.

I grimaced at Kassie. Wanting to whine, but I knew there wasn't any point. She was right, damn it.

"You could always bind us." Cresil said, then quickly amended when he got a glare from both of us. "It was just a suggestion, don't bite my head off."

"If things come to that, I'll do what's necessary." I said. "You two have to stay out of trouble. I need to know you are safe."

I watched as Kassie's jaw clenched. "Alessandra Hellion-Brigant, we are not porcelain dolls, we are daemons."

Oh, my full name, she must be pissed. I figured pointing out that she was only half-daemon right now would make me enemy number one on her list. Wisely I kept my mouth shut and prayed for an interruption. Someone must have been listening because my phone rang and I lunged for in like a hungry lion on his last meal.

"What did you do to Eric? He is positively exuberant. It's disgusting." Pam's phone manner certainly needed help.

"Exuberant?" I asked slightly confused as to why it would be a bad thing.

"That is not the worst part." She continued without an explanation.

I stifled a giggle. I don't giggle, so unbecoming for a princess but Pam being so out of sorts over Eric's good mood was just hilarious.

"There is more?" I managed the question with dubious success. I was shacking from holding in my laughter.

"He's smiling at the vermin." It was said with so much disgust you'd think that Pam didn't think much of the patrons that brought business into Fangtasia. She didn't.

"I take it you aren't enjoying this aberration? I'd have thought his good mood would please you."

"There is good and there is sickeningly happy."

I rolled my eyes. "What makes you think it has anything to do with me?"

"You're the first interesting thing that's happened to him in decades. I don't think it's you, I know." Well, when you put it that way.

"Pammie, I don't kiss and tell." But I couldn't quite keep the smile out of my voice.

"Fine. If you won't tell me now I have a whole week in Dallas." Pam enjoyed games like this one.

"Yes, but I doubt you'll succeed."

She huffed. "We're staying in the same room." Kassie's hand flew to her mouth as she tried to hold back laughter.

"I'm not the one who'll be dead all day."

"I'll have the nights to get it out of you." She pointed out.

"You're biting off more than you can chew."

"I don't chew, darling, I suck. And I do it very well." She purred back. My mouth flew open at the blatant invitation. "I'm resting at your house, yes? I'll be there at three and I want that delightful blood I had last time." She hanged up with not so much as a thank you or a bye. That was Pam. I've been working on her small talk skills, but so far had little success.

I barely managed to put the phone down when I started laughing. Since both of my guests heard the full conversation and knew the full story it was a while before we got to the sandwiches.

I managed to see them off to New York before Kassie had a chance to continue with our discussion. I had no desire to bind either one of them to me. I shuddered at the thought of binding anyone to such an extent, which is why I still haven't done it, even if I should have had the four Akashai years ago. For all the bravado I showed in front of Kassie earlier I doubted I wasn't seriously worried about tonight. I doubted I'd be able to talk my way out of anything after what happened. Dad indulged me, but he never compromised on my safety. He's lost too many children. With a feeling of inevitability, I got ready for my audience with my father.

The main audience hall was imposing. It was meant to be. No, there weren't any decorative bones or skulls lying around. But the high ceiling and expensive furnishings were enough to make an impression of wealth and power. The only two seats in the whole room were on it. One remained empty nine months of the year, I've only ever seen it occupied three or four times. Persephone was not someone I cared to know well, she did try to have me killed more than once.

The walls were decorated sparsely tonight, the Palace itself changing the hangings to match my father's moods. From the lack of flammable material right now and the stifling air any idiot could figure out that he was not happy. I stood in front of the dais. Knowing where I'd be received beforehand I had put on a flowing red gown befitting my station and the formality. I was giving the vulture enough to talk about, my appearance and bearing would be flawless.

Hades was furious. Of course, I knew he would be, but seeing my dad in such a rage still made me more nervous than I should have been. I waited for him to finish his tirade as patiently as I could muster since patience was never a virtue I excelled at. He was currently in the middle of explaining to me why I would benefit from a year on hell's gate, again. I mentally rolled my eyes, he wouldn't and both of us knew it. Still the room was a little hotter than normal – dad's temper made it feel like a sauna- it was also a little emptier. The usual crowd of royal hanger ons and dignitaries knew what was good for them. The rest, they gathered like sharks that smelled blood. Was it possible that the favourite was now in disgrace? No. Never. But they didn't need to know that right now. The rumour may bring Zagan out of hiding. I couldn't miss the opportunity.

He finally paused and I jumped at the opening. "Father, I realise my actions may have been irresponsible. I should've had more protection but you must realise I didn't expect such a frontal assault in the mortal realm." Yeah, earth was the mortal realm seeing as most of the denizens of Underworld were long lived and harder to kill off.

"That is no excuse at all." He had turned a nice shade of lobster red by this point that matched the pattern on his shirt. I saw some more daemons edging out of the hearing chamber, smart of them really. "You've been remiss in your duties as a princess, and I've been remiss in my duties as your king, instead playing the indulgent father."

I couldn't stop my fists from clenching in an attempt to control my temper. I steeled myself for what was coming, bowing my head in supplication and hiding my face. The show was over, as much as I didn't want this moment to come, it was here. I would do as my father told me, no matter how much I hated it.

"You will do the Calling tonight, daughter. I will not have you so vulnerable ever again." His voice thundered through me but I saw a flicker of regret in his eyes. I knew he would order it. My jaw locked as I tried to keep any emotion off my face. My father and I didn't argue often, I felt a thread of shame, hating myself for it, but hating the fact that I let him down even more. He had to pull rank on me. I struggled to keep myself together.

"Yes, father." I said, and in one smooth movement went down on my knees resting my hands on my thighs. I knew he wanted to do this publicly, grudgingly I understood. This was a ritual that would have to be witnessed. The news had to spread that the princess finally Called. I just didn't have to like it, but no one seemed to ask for my opinion.

I turned my focus inside, finding the centre of my power. My surroundings fell away as I let my mind step into the vertex of raw magic in me. The surface emotions stilled as I let myself drift further. The sensation didn't burn; it soothed me, like an ocean breeze, leaving behind crystal clarity. I've always enjoyed going this deep inside myself, the feeling of my own self completely surrounding and engulfing my senses was indescribable. I gathered it and focused. The intricacies of this particular ritual were something that's been ingrained in my mind since childhood; the dangers of making even the smallest mistake were incomprehensible. The warriors that will be called tonight will be mine, body and soul, for eternity. Their attachment to me was on such a fundamental level that their minds would be forever altered, their priorities re-arranged. This was the reason I've denied the requests for this ceremony before. I didn't want to have that kind of responsibility. Even now I did not feel ready for it, but it had to be done. Zagan left me with no alternative.

I Called. It was really the only way to describe what I was doing. I let my power out of me, shimmering tentacles of raw energy seeking their prey. They would find the four souls and bring them to my side. The perfect combination of the elements between them will be my source of strength, and my defence. They will put my needs above their own, defend me when necessary and die for me if need be. They will be my four Akashai.

What none of us anticipated was that I would get a fifth.

Four daemons stood behind me when I rose and turned around. I only had brief glimpses of their faces before they went down on one knee in surrender. My heart cried out in bittersweet joy as I watched the practised movements, all of us familiar with the ritual. They've been brought up to know they one day could be bound to me. Most daemons were screened for powers on their acceptance into the warrior ranks. These four ranked on the top of the list. Their power in their respective elements would be almost as strong as my own.

It was the fifth person that caught my attention. The fifth Akashai that wasn't meant to be here. The one that stood proud amidst his kneeling companions. The one that was never supposed to be Called to me. He was not a daemon. He wasn't even alive.

Eric Northman, the Sheriff of Area 5, stood in front of me looking confused and defensive. I felt my heart skip a beat as I gazed into his astonished face, my own reflecting his shock. I barely heard the rippling wave of whispers around us, my mind refused to process what happened.

Then a voice thundered through the room. "Finish the binding." The command from my father brought me back to myself. "We will talk about this later."

Eric flicked his gaze up at the dais, his eyes widened as he finally figured out where he was. He looked back at me full of question. I pleaded with my eyes and through our bond for him to stay quiet. His head moved a fraction in what I hoped was acquiescence. Slightly reassured by his compliance I concentrated on the four kneeling daemons. Looking closer I drew in a shaky breath. The four were my father's top generals. These four have been around for a very long time, much longer than I, maybe even longer than Eric. I felt tears streaming down my face, now their fate was no longer theirs alone.

Fire burned hottest. As Lucifer spoke the ancient phrase of binding in a language only known to gods I felt the brand pierce my skin. I closed my eyes, trying to block out the pain as I accepted the first mark.

Water cooled the fire as Vepar bound himself to me. I heard the song of the sea as I accepted.

Air swirled around me as Samael spoke the words. I felt my hair flying in the currents as I accepted.

Earth smelled wholesome and sweet as Azazel pledged. I smelled the green lush fields and freshly turned soil as I accepted.

Each element burning a pattern in my skin, the pentagram tattoo on my shoulder grew with each one of their pledges. I felt it form, like a living thing. Their powers and lives bound irrevocably to mine.

When we were done the freshly made tattoo burned under my skin. Power still too new, untried and…incomplete. I kept my silence; I didn't want to bind Eric to me now. No more than we were bound already. Not without his full knowledge and consent. Not without more information. Not without his acceptance. I would suffer the incomplete pentagram, what I had would be enough for now.

I stared at the vampire in front of me. Eric's back was to me as he gazed out of the window. Arms down his sides, fists clenched. His shoulders were tense, his whole frame rigid as he took in the sight before him. There was so much I wanted to say, to explain. The words chocked me and I just stared at him, my chest hurting from him closing off the bond between us. We were finally out of the ceremonial room and in my private quarters.

I'd dismissed the Akashai, we'll have to form a closer connection eventually, but right now I had to fix this mess. The pain in me swirled and I wrapped my arms around myself. It didn't help.

My father left us to talk, understanding I needed space. He knew what it had cost me. Oh, he wasn't happy. Far from it. I was sure I'd be hearing more than a 'we will discuss it later' when I sorted out things with Eric and took him home. That was one conversation I wasn't looking forward to. Make that two. The one I was about to start now was making my head hurt and my stomach do the cancan. That's without me having uttered a word. Hell and damnation!

"Eric." His name was all I could say and even that was barely a breath of air between my lips. I had no idea why he was Called, I had even less of an idea how it could have happened. My only thought was that he would surely be mad as hell at me for this.

"What's going on Alessandra?" He asked his voice deceptively mild. The volcano of feelings I knew must be there kept locked under his iron control.

"You seem to have answered my Call. I don't know why or how for that matter, but you have answered as one of the Akashai do." I blurted out. His shoulders stayed rigid. "When the first half-divine child was born they were deemed too fragile. The child had too many enemies. Others seeking revenge on his parents, power over others and control of the power that child carried. The Parthenon decreed a necessary need to form a protective circle around the child and so the Akashai were born. Well, not necessarily born, more Called. It is a power that each child, like me, is born with. I chose not to use mine until tonight." I took a deep breath, hoping he would understand I had no meant for him to be here. "Hades forced my hand, because of Zagan and the attack. I could not continue without them, it was a weakness I could not ignore anymore."

I drew in a breath and held it. I felt like I was holding it for an eternity. He stared out of my window, looking at the sunlit landscape of Underworld.

"I have not seen sunlight in over one thousand years. I see it tonight thanks to you." His voice was quiet, reverent, and truly awed by what he was seeing. It must have shaken him to his very core, to be here, during the day as it was now. "I've seen many things during the time I've spent on earth, but this is nothing like I've ever known." He paused to switch his gaze onto me. I felt trapped in his blue eyes, falling into their depths. My breath spilled out of me and I felt my heart thunder. "I do not understand the bond we share. I assume it was that which called me here tonight… I have strange… feelings for you. For the first time in over one thousand years, I feel a need to protect someone other than myself. It is a strange idea for a vampire."

I was too scared to speak. Scared to think. All I could see were the ice blue eyes in the handsome face of the vampire standing in front of me. The vampire who has shared with me things he has not told a single being before. The vampire I have come to care for, despite my resistance to the idea. My missing link, my fifth Akashai.

"I understand you didn't mean for this to happen. I understand your protection is incomplete, but I can't bow down to anyone to the extent you are asking. I can't pledge my life such as it is, to you. I am not sure I can keep such a pledge."

I nodded. A lonely tear trailed down my cheek. I felt the sorrow of the unfinished pentagram, like a child's mind not understanding why it was that way. It really did feel alive on my back. I had a look, earlier, at the intricate pattern on my shoulder, the highest peak was missing. Incomplete.

"Eric, I will not force this on you." I was resolute on this. It would mean my protection was incomplete but I could not ask him for something he wasn't willing to give. "I could not. If I knew that the blood we exchanged would bring us to this point…" How do I finish this, we were both to blame for that, passion and danger driving us both to the point of exchange. Would I do things differently knowing what I knew now?

He must have felt my misery because he continued.

"This doesn't mean I won't, but I need time, lover. I have not given up on the idea of us together. What is between us is something special… unique. It is an unknown. I want to understand what we share now, before we continue. I do not appreciate feeling control slip through my fingers." His arms went around me in a comforting gesture. We were so similar. He didn't force me before, I wouldn't do it now. Some things could not, would not be forced, they must be given freely.

He kissed me gently at first, then with growing hunger. I didn't hesitate to kiss him back. The appetite for pleasure erasing any current worry occupying my mind, I revelled in our kiss. My heart warming with its unspoken message, we will figure things out. I felt his lips move away and whisper softly to me. "It would seem I have absolutely no control when it comes to you."

He claimed my mouth again, this time as a conqueror, branding me with his invisible brand. The pentagram on my body may not be complete, but there was little doubt in my mind that Eric Northman considered me his, in every conceivable way.

For the second time in one night I wished that we had more time to indulge in the oblivion of each other.


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