A/N: I apologize for the delay but between vacation and the fact that I now have an expanded role at work, it has been hard to find time to write. I also have to confess that while on vacation I discovered Spuffy fanfiction, and have been spending a fair amount reading that too when I know damn good and well I should be writing. However, in the process I have learned a lot about myself. For example, who would have thought I had a thing for blond vampires. :)

Ch. 14

"Your Highness," I greeted with a short curtsy and dip of my head. When I rose, the King took hold of my body in his large hands and began to glide me along the dance floor.

"Sookie, I thought I told you to call me Edward," he said in mock chastisement.

"Okay … Edward," I smiled involuntarily. There was something very disarming about Edward. Sure, he was handsome, with his dark features contrasting so nicely with his pale skin. But that wasn't it, or at least, that wasn't only it. Maybe it was because he didn't look at me like a piece of meat like so many other vamps did – something to be claimed and owned. Maybe it was nice just to be flirted with, however dangerous I knew that might be for someone like me. After all, sometimes it is nice to be reminded that I'm a woman, and after so many years of not feeling very attractive or desirable, the attention was not unwanted. No, I'm not sure what it is about Edward; but I'm not naïve either, not anymore. No sir, I'm not that 25 year old virgin that swooned over the first vampire to walk in my bar. No, I am far from that girl, both in terms of years and wisdom.

We danced for a while in silence and then Edward said, "I hope you don't mind my cutting in on Eric like that, but well, if looks could kill, you would have been dead before you hit the floor," his light chuckle contrasting starkly with his words.

"Excuse me," my brows furrowed in confusion.

"Queen Freyda," he said by way of one-word explanation. I suppose I should have known. I chanced a glance at her and could see her glaring eyes stalk Eric as he completed his retreat from the dance floor. Honestly, with that constipated look of hers, she could have even given Bill a run for his money.

"She was giving you the evil eye, although I'm not surprised. We vampires don't tend to put too much emphasis on fidelity, especially in politically arranged marriages like theirs, but still… seeing you and the Viking dancing like that and knowing your history. Well… she may be a vampire, but she is still a woman after all," he said with a verbal shrug.

"Eric and I… we aren't anything to each other, not anymore," my voice was devoid of inflection.

"I know," he said with a smile. "I also know that you and the Shifter aren't together anymore either." His look was knowing and yet seeking.

"Well, I wasn't exactly keeping that a secret…" I trailed.

We danced on and I couldn't help but notice that Edward was a really good dancer, so good that it was easy to get lost in the movement. "You're a natural," I said, meeting his eye. I got a slightly puzzled expression so I explained, "a natural dancer. You're very good."

"Well, I've had hundreds of years ballroom dancing, quite literally," he said with a light laugh. "If I couldn't dance a waltz by now, then I fear I'd never be able to manage it! Years of experience provides a lot of opportunity to hone one's skill."

I smiled a little wryly, thinking because I would never age, I too would have years of experience doing similar things. Our conversation then died and we fell into a bit of awkward silence as we continued to glide around the floor.

I knew the pleasantries would end sooner or later, so I wasn't all that surprised when Edward turned the conversation to business. "Look, it really isn't any of my business, but I like you Sookie. I have heard a lot about you, about what you've done for the Louisiana vampires for the time you worked with them, and what you've done for the Weres since then. You are a remarkable, accomplished woman and I admire your contributions to the Supe cause. But, I also suspect that your current situation is less than desirable…."

"Excuse me? I don't understand?" I feigned. Oh, I understood him alright, and I had a pretty good idea of where this conversation was going, but I just needed to hear it from him myself.

"Well, you're ending your relationship with Weres and I can't say that I see you going back to working for vampires in the US. Especially not after all that the Viking did to negotiate your separation from them and their politics. I just want you to know that you have options abroad. If you are looking for a … change of venue … I would be happy to pay you handsomely for your services, for however long you'd like to offer them, and I can assure your safety and protection in my court."

If Edward knew what to say to get my hackles up, well, he hit the nail on the head. It was like Sophie Ann all over again. I don't have a very good poker face, and Edward cut me off as I was just building myself up to a righteous tirade.

"Sookie, please hear me out. I don't want you make any decisions now. I simply want you to consider my offer. Think about it. Talk it over with your friends and family. You can even ask Eric about it. He will tell you that I am fair – and I'm willing to be even more so with you. He will also tell you that I am a vampire of my word. I'm certain Russia will proposition you as well as all of the other international monarchs attending this Summit. But Russia is such a cold, harsh country. The people too. You will find England is far more hospitable. Plus, you'll have to learn a new language if you go to many of the other countries that will surely make you offers. I don't want to push you. Far from it. I just want you to know that you have options. In fact, now that I've put my offer on the table, I think we can drop the subject entirely for now. That is, unless you have any questions for me." Edward arched a single brow and it reminded me so much of Eric that my heart stuttered.

I suppose it shouldn't have been a surprise. Not really. After talking to Pam and Bill, I should have known that I was going to be propositioned left and right at this Summit, but still hearing the offer made it real. However, truth be told, being propositioned with offers of contracts that guaranteed payment and safety as opposed to being kidnapped and forced into servitude was far preferable. I should think Edward's offer over. Really, it sounded like it could be quite promising, generous even. And I did want to get out of the States … away from Were politics and all of the machinations of the US vampires. I probably should have asked Edward what kind of fee or time commitment we were talking about for my services, or even what steps he would take to ensure my safety, but, of all the questions I could have asked, my mind went back to something Edward said, seemingly in passing.

"What do you mean what Eric did to secure my separation from vampires in the US. I mean, I know Felipe as King of Nevada and Louisiana and Freyda as Queen of Oklahoma have their agreement not to use me, but you know, I never understood how that agreement bound other monarchs in the US." It was true. I didn't know. Call me willfully ignorant, stupid even, but I was so happy to be away from vampire politics, that I just took the word of every vampire I knew that it was true. I was satisfied with their simple assurances but I never knew how that worked, or understood it. I guess I just chalked it up to some crazy vamp protocol thing. I mean, why else wouldn't another US monarch try to kidnap me (like foreign vamps had tried to do)? Pam never mentioned any such attempts, so that led me to believe that they were at least somehow obligated to follow that agreement, right.

Edward's brows pulled together and he said, "You really don't know?"

"Don't know what?"

"Why Sookie, to guarantee that no vampires in the US would try to use you, Eric had each US monarch, and those in Canada, ratify your agreement between you, Felipe, Freyda, and him."

"Ratify?" I asked, the question apparent on my face.

"They agreed to be bound by the terms and conditions of your agreement dear. To leave you alone for the rest of your life, although I don't think anyone realized exactly how long that was," he said giving me an appreciative smile.

"But why would those monarchs do that? I mean, what do they get out of the deal?"

"You really don't know, do you?" Edward let out a loud chuckle. "Eric never told you?" disbelief was thick in his voice.

"Told me what," I said tersely. I was tired of not knowing … feeling like I was out of the loop … especially when it came to my life. While I could have lived with vague assurances before, it was clear that I needed to start taking an active interest in my life and safety and I was mad that I had never made an effort to know more about the contract before.

"Why … Eric promised each of the monarchs 50 years' service when his time with Oklahoma is done."

"Wh—what?" It didn't make sense. I must have misunderstood him.

But seeing my fact, Edward's own expression softened as he told me, "My dear, Eric has bound himself … agreed to serve 50 years to each US and Canadian monarch in exchange for your freedom."

My head began to spin as I considered exactly how many more years, beyond Eric's 200 with Oklahoma, he was going to be bound by that damned agreement that Appius made for him. If I remembered correctly, a few of the less populous states had one vampire monarch to rule over them, as was the case for North and South Dakota and Utah and Wyoming, while some states, like California, had more than one monarch. So, if I recalled correctly, there were something like maybe 30 US vampire monarchs, and another 4 for Canada.

"But … that's like …" I hesitated as I tried to do the mental math.

"One thousand seven hundred and fifty years of servitude," Edward said flatly.

Hearing that number out loud was shocking and I was unable to contain my emotion. "What!" I shouted, causing some of those dancing around us to turn and stare. I couldn't believe what Edward was telling me. It just didn't make any sense. Why would Eric do that? Why would he take a 100 year commitment and turn into, not just 200 years, which was bad enough, but almost 2000 years. It was beyond reason.

"Well, to be fair, some of the monarchs who were unwilling to wait until their turn have agreed to have Eric's child, Karin, serve in his stead, so really, he personally is only committed to serving about 1200 years." Twelve hundred years. He would be about 1200 years old when he left Oklahoma. He would then spend the span of his entire existence to date bound in servitude. And what's more, Eric's agreement had bound Karin too. So, that was where she went after serving her year spent protecting me. Was Eric negotiating for my safety that entire year until he could get these agreements in place?

"But … but why?" I asked, unable to wrap my brain around Eric's foolish agreement.

"Why dear, isn't that obvious?" his asked with a twisted smile. "It's clear to me … he loves you."

"He doesn't love me," I replied immediately, automatically. Edward gave me a smirk and so I clarified. "I mean, yeah, Eric cares about me, but he's a vampire. Vampires don't love."

"Do you really believe that? Because I can't imagine any vampire committing himself to 2000 years of indentured servitude for someone – someone who is not their maker or child mind you - simply because they 'care' for someone."

I frowned, "Eric loves me?"

"Now dear, don't make me regret my offer to you. You're smarter than that aren't you," Edward said with a smile that let me know that while Eric's deal may be foolish, I was clearly the fool here. But I barely heard his retort over my own brain's turnings.

Eric loves me.

A/N: Big shout out to tabularasa88 who does me the honor of reading my little fantasies. Good to know that I'm in good company! :)