Disclaimer: All characters in the Sookieverse belong to Charlaine Harris (please, please, please make sure E & S stay together in the next book or I will cry. And possibly throw some things).

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Thanks to my super-duper Beta RubySun03 for all her brilliant support and expert advice!

Chapter 12

As soon as I closed the door, I phoned Eric. He answered instantly.

"Sookie? What is it? I'm coming to you now."

"No, it's fine. Felipe was here, but..."

"What?" he interrupted, impatient for an explanation of my no doubt highly charged emotions.

"He's gone, it's fine."

"Are you sure? You seemed anxious."

"It's OK. Eric I'm really tired, can we talk about this tomorrow?"

"Yes. Call if you need me."

"I will, thanks."

"Good night, lover."

I put the phone down, undressed, and collapsed into bed.

The next day, I woke when there was a knock at the door. It was a parcel delivery, from New Orleans. I signed for it, and took it to the kitchen table to open it.

Inside was a plastic water bottle half filled with some dirty looking liquid. There was also a note:

"Sookie, here's the potion I told you about. Take a couple of shots full and it should break the bond for a day or so. If you keep taking a shot each day for a couple of weeks it should break the bond completely. Don't worry, Octavia made it, so it's not going to turn you into a cat or anything. Refrigerate it and it'll keep longer. Call me if you have any questions. Amelia."

I picked up the bottle and stared at it for a while. Weren't potions supposed to come in elaborate glass vials? I stuck it in the fridge. Thinking about that one could wait.

I worked an early shift at the bar, then went home, got changed, and drove to Shreveport. I realized while driving there that I'd been on auto-pilot all day, my only thought really being of Eric, and my pleasure at the thought of seeing him again. I blew air into my cheeks and exhaled. Was this obsession getting a little unhealthy? Was the blood-bond pulling me and my thoughts towards him constantly, or was it simply that I was in love, and this was normal?

I parked around the back of Fangtasia, and went through the staff entrance as Eric had asked me to. Spencer, the new employee, opened the door to me when I knocked.

"Hi."

"Hi, you're Sookie Stackhouse, right?"

Spencer was tall, muscular, and had short, curly brown hair. He had that ordinary, almost human look about him that distinguished him as a recently 'turned' vampire. He may have once played football or hockey. Definitely a Jock.

"Yeah, that's me. Is Eric around?"

"Sure, come on in, he's in his office. I'm Spencer. It's nice to meet you."

He smiled at me, and stepped back.

"You too."

He looked me over a little too closely, at the bare flesh of my neck and chest and the hint of cleavage I was showing. Yeah, keep looking, buster, Eric's gonna really like that.

I knocked on Eric's office door, and peeked around it. Eric was behind his desk, tapping away on his lap-top. He looked up.

"Well hello, lover."

I walked over to him and bent to kiss him. It was a relief to finally kiss the lips I'd been thinking of all day, to touch and smell him. I breathed him in and was awash with joy.

"I missed you," I whispered.

Eric smiled. "I'm sorry I was so busy yesterday. Felipe sent one of his staff to audit the bar, and he insisted on me being here. I was here all night."

"Oh really. Distracting you much?"

"Indeed. Tell me what happened."

I perched myself on Eric's desk, and prepared for his reaction.

"He was outside my house when I got home from work."

"What did he say?"

"He was asking about the pledge. He wanted to congratulate us."

Eric sat back and put his fingers together in front of him. He thought for a moment.

"Hmm, of course he did. Anything else?"

"I felt like he was trying to trick me into something, but I didn't know what. He was asking me if I was happy about it, and I said sure. He said I was brave to take you on."

Eric smiled and pulled me onto his lap. "Yes, you are. I can be quite a demanding partner."

Oh yes, I was fully aware of that. Though I wasn't exactly sure what Felipe was referring to when he said it. Eric kissed me, and suddenly Felipe's opinion wasn't so relevant.

"Well, I see that you are completely unharmed if not a little confused. If you had been truly afraid of him I would have felt your fear and been there instantly. We can talk more about this later. I won't be much longer here, I just need to finish this up and the rest I can do at home."

"OK. Is Pam around?"

"Out in the bar."

I left Eric to it and stepped out. Pam was standing behind the bar, talking brusquely to a couple of young male fang-bangers.

"Biting of any kind is forbidden in this bar, as is flashing your private parts to other customers." I snickered at the way Pam said 'private parts'. "So you can indulge your little fantasies elsewhere." They looked down at their feet like a couple of naughty children, and slinked off when she waved her hand. Pam turned to me.

"Youngsters these days. If only they knew the reality of their little fantasy... I could eat them alive."

Ick. "Er, nice Pam."

"Of course, I'm sure you indulge in a little nibble now and then?" Pam widened her eyes and wiggled her eyebrows.

"Pam, stop!"

"Oh, come on Sookie, don't be coy. It's hot, right?"

Hot didn't even cover it. I blushed.

"Sookie, you truly are delectable. Let me get you a drink."

I sat at the bar and chatted with Pam while I sipped on my gin and tonic. After a while, Eric came out from his office and sat beside me.

"Sookie, I just had a little chat with Victor. It seems that we may be required in Las Vegas soon. Felipe's inauguration ceremony will be taking place to officially confirm him as king of Louisiana and Arkansas, and we will be required to attend. He will provide further information when he has it."

"Oh, great."

"Yes, my thoughts exactly. But of course, he is the new king, and we, you, must continue to serve him, as you did Sophie-Anne. He has at least followed protocol and asked for your services through me. It means he is acknowledging the pledge."

I felt a little relieved at this, at least. I must have said something right last night.

"Why do I have to go? What will he need me to be there for?"

"There will no doubt be many humans invited; business people, politicians, officials, those who he has an interest in making money from and making alliances with. It is possible that he may ask for you attend some meetings. But either way I will obviously be required, and as my wife you should accompany me to such an event." I still wasn't sure about that term yet; I didn't feel married.

"Oh, I forgot to congratulate you, Sookie," Pam said. "Where are my manners?" She kissed me on the cheek. "I'm very happy for the both of you."

"Thank you, Pam."

"Yes, Sookie is your mistress now, Pamela. I hope you will be treating her with respect." Eric smirked a little.

"Don't I always?" She looked at me. "Sadly, Sookie, this means that we can't ever get together now. Not unless you both agreed to it of course."

Eric shook his head a little. No one else could get away with it, only Pam. She never seemed to fear him, and yet I could sense the power he had over her, too. She was like a naughty child that he happily indulged. Watching their interactions had always been a great source of entertainment for me.

They had been together, of course, long ago, but I wasn't at all jealous of Pam. In fact, I had grown to really like her, and could see why Eric enjoyed her company so much. He obviously preferred women who would stand up to him, give their opinion freely, and not just treat him like some kind of demi-God. Plus, Pam was the kind of person you wanted as a friend, not an enemy. She was intelligent, honest, loyal, and deadly. These were all traits that I'd recently come to value more and more, as much as Eric surely did.

I left my car at Fangtasia after pulling my overnight bag from the trunk, and then we drove in Eric's Corvette to his apartment. As usual, Eric drove as fast as possible without breaking any speed-limits.

"How was your day, sweet one?"

My day. Hmm, I'd been wondering whether I should mention my newly found family member to Eric. I was still unsure, not as to whether or not I could trust him, but whether it would be best for everyone if he didn't know. Eric had picked up on my unusual pause.

"Sookie?"

I sighed. "Do you remember my cousin Hadley who died not so long back?"

"The one who was Sophie Anne's favorite. The one who was turned."

"Yes. Well, I found out that she'd been married, and divorced, while she was human."

Eric waited. "Yes?"

"They had a son. Hunter. I found out where he lived with her ex, Remy, and visited them a while back. I visited again today."

"You have more family?"

"Yes."

"Hmm. So you met a small distant relative?"

"Yes."

"Why would you not tell me this before? What is so important about a child that you would keep it from me?"

Shoot. "Well, I didn't tell you because, well, I thought it was best for everyone that you didn't know about him. Because what you don't know about him can't be used against any of us."

"Sookie, please stop skirting around the issue, I am becoming impatient. This sounds dangerous. You know anything I do is in our best interests."

I sighed. "He's nearly five years old, and he's a telepath, like me." I waited patiently for his response.

"Oh."

"Oh" was not a usual response from Eric. After another lengthy pause, he continued.

"Tell no one else, and keep contact to a minimum."

"But I want to get to know him. I need to help them. They don't understand it, and Hunter's going to be in school soon."

"Please, try to be careful, Sookie, for the boy's sake as much as your own. You have seen how others have reacted when they know of your gift; humans and vampires. Weres too for that matter."

"I know, I've explained this to them."

"Good."

Eric parked the car and we entered the elevator to take us upstairs. As soon as the doors closed I was pressed up against the wall and his lips were on mine. When he finally pulled away I was a little dizzy and breathing heavily.

"Hmm, Sookie, I have missed you. I like waking up with you here."

I smiled, and wrapped my arms around his body, caressing his smooth, cool back underneath his shirt. The elevator doors pinged and with much effort we pulled apart. We stepped out, walked down the hall and into Eric's home. He put my bag down, then scooped me up in his arms, and carried me directly into his bed.

He practically tore off my clothes, as well as his own, but I only momentarily cared about that, because his lips and his tongue and his hands were all over my body, and suddenly I was incapable of any coherent thoughts at all.

When our passion had come to a happy conclusion and our desire had been momentarily sated, we lay in each others arms, gently and quietly stroking each other. I remembered something I wanted to ask.

"Eric, Felipe said something the other night, about the pledging. Something about an oath? He weirded me out a bit. He seemed to be suggesting that I was crazy to have gone through with it."

Eric turned and pressed his head face down into the pillow and groaned loudly.

"What? Eric?" I pushed at him.

"You will not like it." I barely heard his muffled words.

I sat bolt upright.

"Eric Northman, you tell me right now what he meant!"

He turned his face to me.

"It is more of a ritual, than an actual oath. The knife that you gave me is symbolic." He paused, and the pause was too long for me.

"Symbolic of what?"

"Life. Your life. It is mine, and I have power over it, over what happens to you."

"What?" I screeched, and the volume shocked even me.

"Sookie, love, it is only symbolic, part of the pledging rite. You know that I love you and that I will always have only your best interests at heart, and I would never, ever harm you."

I was shaking my head, so wound up I couldn't even speak.

"Lover, please calm down." I could tell he was trying to soothe me through the bond, but it wasn't working, I was just too angry.

"Why didn't you tell me?"

"Because I thought there was no need. Because I will only ever love and cherish you. Because I promised that I would never turn you without your consent, no matter how tempted I may be to do so." His voice was calm and yet firm.

"Oh Eric!" I whined.

"Felipe said this on purpose, because he wants to cause trouble between us. He is testing us, and the strength of your attachment to me. You must trust me, Sookie."

"How can I trust you when you don't tell me things like this?"

Eric flopped down onto his back and groaned.

"You have kept things from me too. Like when Tiger-boy came to visit, you would not have told me, if I had not smelled him on you and asked. This was just, an omission, on my part. It was not important."

Eric was pissed off, I could hear it in his voice. I was pretty pissed too.

"I didn't tell you about Quinn because I thought you would kill him. Anyway, that was different."

I lay on my back beside him and closed my eyes. Yep, thanks Felipe.

"You have power over my life." I whispered, more to myself than to Eric.

"Sookie, you know I will not force you into doing anything you do not want. This does not change anything."

I was confused, and a little hurt. To put it bluntly, I was in a huff. I turned away from him, and pulled the covers over. Eric got out of bed and I heard him get dressed. I wasn't backing down.

The more I thought about it, the more upset I became. How can anyone think that having power over whether someone lives or dies, or is turned into a vampire, over their life itself, is not an important thing to discuss? And yet I knew, like he'd said, that he would never harm me. He'd said he loved and cherished me, I seemed to remember, and I clung onto those words, and felt the ice inside melt a little. After going through it in my mind over and over, but not being able to come to any satisfactory conclusion, I eventually drifted off to sleep.