SPOV

Claudine and I "pop" into Niall's office and he looks up to us from behind his large desk with a soft smile which fades quickly once he takes in our anxious expressions. "What has happened, my granddaughters?" he asks in concern as we approach his desk and Claudine drops the list of names to his desk before him.

"We found this at the drainer's headquarters," she informs him as he looks over the list with a furrowed brow. "Warlow's name is listed along with the others, meaning he's somewhere within Louisiana borders. This states he's over five thousand years old, Grandfather," she says softly as he lets out a defeated sigh.

"Yes, I know," he says softly as he looks up to my surprised face in concern. "Please sit, my granddaughters, I have much to tell you," he states dejectedly as Claudine and I sit together on the leather couch facing his desk. Niall reaches into his desk drawer, pulling out a weathered piece of parchment before approaching us with it. He holds it out to me and I tentatively take it from him before Claudine and I begin reading the contents together. My jaw soon drops in shock as I quickly interpret the wording.

"I, John William Stackhouse, in reference to our binding agreement, on this said date. Do grant Mister M. Warlow, my first fae-baring female heir," Claudine reads aloud, looking to me in worry.

"What the fuck is this?" I ask angrily as I glare up at my grandfather, seeing his head lower in defeat.

"It's a contract between a member of your human kin with the vampire Warlow, promising you to him as his bride," he says softly as my fists clench in anger.

"So, I'm the first fae-bearing Stackhouse," I spit out as he nods to me. "And Warlow killed my parents, why? Because they refused to hand me over to him?"

"Unfortunately, this is the case precisely, Susannah," he tells me as my anger builds within me.

"Why the fuck did you keep this from me?" I cry out as I jump to my feet in anger. "I've been in danger this whole time and you never thought to warn me?"

"Please sit and I will explain everything," he tells me softly as I take a deep breath, trying to lessen my fury as I sit beside Claudine once more. "I was unaware of the contract until very recently," he explains. "I only came across it after your human grandmother's funeral. It was found amongst her belongings."

"Gran?" I ask in surprise as he nods to me. "Gran knew about this?" I whisper more to myself than my kin as my mind begins to race. How could she hide something like this from me?

"Once I found the binding contract, I had hoped to dispatch of Warlow before you ever found out about it, Susannah. I'm sorry for keeping this from you. You deserved to know the truth," he tells me as I let out a sigh.

"It's not your fault," I tell him as he gives me a weak smile. "I'm sorry I lost my temper," I admit sheepishly as he lowers to his knee before me, taking my hands into his own.

"You have every right to be angry, Granddaughter, this contract puts you in grave danger," he says as his pale blue eyes shine with unshed tears. "I want nothing more than to keep you safe, no matter what it takes."

"What are you saying?" I ask cautiously, hearing him let out a small sigh.

"I would ask that you stay here with me in Faerie until Warlow can be defeated," he states apprehensively as I shake my head at him.

"No, no fucking way. I'm not gonna hide out and let someone else fight my battles for me. I'm sorry, Grandfather, but I just can't do it," I tell him as he gives me a weak smile, shaking his head at me.

"I figured as much," he says with a small sigh. "You're a brave woman, Susannah. You remind me so much of my Einin," he says softly as a soft smile crosses his handsome face.

"I'll work to protect Sookie, Grandfather," Claudine states firmly as I look over to her with a small smile.

"I had hoped you might inquire the help of the Northman and the Gaul as well," he tells her and my brows rise in surprise as he grins at me.

"You trust Eric and Godric with my safety?" I ask as he chuckles lightly.

"I would never have assigned you to work with them if I feared for your safety, Susannah," he tells me as I nod my understanding although I'm still surprised he trusts his own bloodline in the hands of vampires.

"The sheriffs have already offered their help in this matter, Grandfather," Claudine tells him as he nods to her.

"Excellent," he says with a grin as the light twinkles in his eyes. "I expect you to listen to their instructions, Susannah. They are fierce warriors and I trust in their abilities to keep you safe." I look over to Claudine to see her grinning widely at me as I nod to them, still in shock over this surprising revelation.

"Of course," I concede as he stands before me, holding out his arms. I stand and wrap my arms around him as he squeezes me tightly.

"Please be careful," he whispers to me as I nod, pulling away to face him. "We unfortunately have very little information about this vampire besides his name and age, but he is surely an immeasurably powerful and dangerous opponent."

"I'll be careful," I tell him as he nods to me. He pulls Claudine into a hug next and once she pulls away, she takes my arm in hers. We nod to Niall and "pop" from the safety of Faery back to the earthly realm once more. As we land in the living room, I fall to the couch with a sigh, already deep in my thoughts over what we have just discovered.

"Sookie," Claudine says softly as I turn my head to look at her. "I know how independent you are, but I ask that you please not leave the house without either a full blooded fey or one of the sheriffs until Warlow is destroyed," she says cautiously as I nod to her.

"I want a piece of this asshole, but I'm not stupid, Claudine," I tell her with a small sigh. "I'm mostly human; I know I don't stand a chance against Warlow alone."

GPOV

"I still don't understand why you're so worked up about that dusty, old volume, Godric," Eric states flatly. "The Book of Vampyre is just a bunch of hype written up by religious vampire zealots."

"I do not plan on praying to Lilith, or changing my religious views, Eric, but if this text has even the slightest bearing of truth, Warlow could be even more dangerous than we first thought," I explain as he rolls his eyes.

"Lilith can fuckin' blow me," he states as Claudine and Sookie enter the office together.

"Who's Lilith?" Sookie asks as I pull her into a hug and place a kiss to the crown of her head.

"A source of great speculation among the vampire world, Dear One," I explain as we sit upon the couch together and I take her small hand into mine. "I have found some troubling information about the vampire, Warlow," I tell her as she lets out a sigh.

"Yeah, so did I," she states dejectedly as Claudine sits before us in one of the office chairs. Eric stands then and moves to sit at the other side of Sookie, taking her other hand into his own as she takes in a deep breath. "Niall showed me an old contract written up between one of my human kin and Warlow," she states as I look to Eric with concern.

"What was in the contract, Sookie?" Eric asks her softly as Sookie's jaw ticks in anger.

"I've been promised to him as the first fae-bearing Stackhouse," she spits out angrily as both mine and Eric's anxiety rises.

"Grandfather has asked for your help in keeping Sookie safe until we can assure Warlow's demise," Claudine tells us as Eric looks to her in surprise.

"The fey prince trusts us with Sookie's wellbeing?" he asks her as she nods solemnly. Sookie squeezes my hand gently at this and I look to her with a warm smile. "Sookie, are you alright with this?" Eric asks her as she looks to him with a grin, nodding her head.

"It's either this or hiding out in Faery, which I'm so not going to do," she states as he smirks at her, shaking his head.

"What was it you found out about Warlow?" Claudine asks me as Sookie looks up to me for answers.

"According to the vampire texts, he truly is over five thousand years old," I tell them as they nod to me. "The texts also state he was once a full blooded fae that was turned by Lilith, the first vampire ever in existence."

"I didn't think full blooded faeries could be turned," Sookie states as she looks to Claudine.

"I have never heard of such a thing before," she says softly as she appears deep in thought. "Was he able to retain any of his fae abilities after he was turned?" she asks me as I sigh.

"Unfortunately, the texts are rather ambiguous so there is no way to know for sure what we are up against," I inform them sullenly.

"You mean to tell me we have no idea what his weaknesses or strengths may be?" Eric asks as I nod to him. "Fuck."

"No shit," Sookie says, shaking her head. "On top of all that, we still have no idea what this guy even looks like," she states sullenly. "Dammit! I've been looking for this vampire my whole life and now not only do I find out I'm betrothed to him, but he might also be some crazy, indestructible hybrid that we may not even be able to defeat."

"Sookie," Eric says softly. "We are both here to help you, we will find a way to defeat him," he tells her as he raises her hand to place a small kiss to her fingertips. She lets out a small sigh as she smiles up at him.

"Eric is right, Dear One," I tell her softly. "But until we are able to find and defeat Warlow, I ask that you come stay with Eric and I if we are to ensure your safety," I tell her, seeing her brows rise in surprise. She looks over to Claudine who nods to her.

"I think this may be best, Sookie," Claudine tells her. "Grandfather would surely approve."

"Um, I guess if you think this is for the best," she says softly as Eric gives her a grateful smile.

"Then we shall take you home with us tonight," Eric tells her. "I can set up both vampire and were guards to come to the house to keep watch over you." Sookie stands to her feet then, glaring down at the both of us.

"Did you already forget that I can take care of myself just fine?" she asks angrily "You watched me take out the vampire killer right in front of you. I don't need a fucking babysitter with me twenty four seven," she cries out, putting her hands upon her hips defiantly.

"Dear One, we're not questioning your ability as a hunter. We both know just how capable you are," I tell her calmly. "But this particular nemesis will be a challenge for even Eric and myself. We only want to keep you safe at all times." She huffs as Claudine rises to stand before her.

"Sookie, we talked about this," she says softly as Sookie sighs loudly.

"I know, I'm just sick and tired of being seen as weak and helpless, I'm more than capable of taking care of myself. I took the same damn classes as you, Claudine, and I passed with flying colors. I think between the three of you, I should be more than protected," she argues as Claudine gives her a soft smile.

"I know this better than anyone, but Grandfather asked you to accept both Eric and Godric's opinions, correct?" she asks softly as Sookie sighs.

"Fine," she sighs. "But I still don't like it."

"We would never ask you to sit back and miss out on the fight," Eric assures her. "We only ask that you take adequate back up when the time comes," he explains as she grins down at him.

"Promise?" she asks as we both nod to her.

"Your backup would surely be vastly beneficial, Dear One," I tell her as she beams at us.

"Deal," she says as she holds her hand out firmly. We each shake her hand in turn as she nods to us. "Let's get out of here, then. We've got a naughty vampire that needs to be taught a lesson," she tells us with a smirk.