A/N Sorry for the long waits between chapters, you guys. Anyway, I plan to make it up by having a chapter-fest. If you all are wondering what that means, it means I will be posting three chapters next to each other, with the next one posted promptly in two days. Hint, it is now being edited. Since I now have no other commitments, I can focus on this story. Please review and let me know what you think! Battle mode once more, people. We all know Eric will let nothing slide, neither will Pam, Gregory, Scott or the Viking's fairy bonded. We got a fight on our hands!

Chapter 14

The Viking had woken up at his usual three-thirty in the afternoon, feeling rather hyped up. Noting that Sookie wasn't in bed with him, he immediately put on clothes and geared up to chase after her, anticipating the thrill of a playful hunt with his bonded.

Instead of that however, he found her in the kitchen, with a bowl of what looked to be cookie dough. As if that alone wasn't surprising enough, she pointed to an apron and his seduction-slash-chase plans were nothing but history.

Forty-five minutes and two buttered baking pans later, a very bored Viking was expecting to die the true death from the frivolity of baking.

'Remind me again why we're doing this, lover?' Eric looked at Sookie pointedly, trying to understand the reasons for her sudden desire to become Paula Deen. He was covered in flour.

Sookie sighed at her vampire's comment. 'We, Your Majesty, are doing this because we need a time-out. Everything has been crazy and Pam will be here soon, not to mention Scott, Gregory and Isabel from Texas.'

'So we do a time-out by baking these chocolate chip cookies?' The Viking leered, giving his bonded a quick kiss on the lips. Some of the flour smeared all over her cheeks as he did so. 'I can think of better ways for a time-out.'

'Shut up. I am not getting roped into sex with you, Northman. Besides, we need something else to do except sex, you know? Something nice and couple-y before the shit hits the fan. Now stir the chocolate chips in, you lug.'

Sookie continued to make the second batch, pouring a measured amount of sugar into her bowl. Meanwhile, Eric was putting the chips into the already-prepared cookie dough, occasionally popping some of the little confections into his mouth.

After a particularly good stir with the wooden spoon to incorporate the chocolate, Eric said, 'And by the way, lover. Shit is not hitting the fan. We are merely dealing with the threats, as we have done in the past.' He showed her his work. 'Is this to your satisfaction, mistress?'

The telepath nodded, a smile on her face. She began showing him how to put portions of the dough onto the baking sheet, before turning back to her own batch. Beyond the archway leading into the kitchen, Alvar and Calixto were busy tidying up the house for their anticipated company.

'Why not just conjure this, sweetheart?' Eric said, after he'd done his bit and the cookies were finally in the oven. Closing the oven door, Sookie smiled and shrugged at his question.

'Where would the fun be in that? I like you all floured up. It's cute,' she said, walking over to pat his cheek. 'You happen to be my own Viking gingerbread man when you're like this.'

At that, Eric could feel the sincerity of her happy contentment. It was thrumming through their bond, always accompanied by an undercurrent of love and adoration. After a moment though, it seemed that apprehension made itself known. Sookie's hand was still on his cheek.

'Something the matter, my love?'

She shook her head, tenderly tracing his jaw. 'Not really. I just remembered how you looked when I came back. I'll never forget how you looked, Eric.'

Now, in addition to the apprehension, guilt was also coloring their shared connection. Eric sensed this clearly and tried to temper it with a feeling of calm. All he succeeded in doing was reliving his own guilt in the matter. Unforgettable images of her face, contorted in fear of him, flooded his mind.

Sookie looked up at him, feeling the new dose of negative emotion in the bond. She turned, both of their sides up against the island counter in the middle of the kitchen. Without giving notice, the Viking suddenly pulled her into a tight but tender embrace. She burrowed into his sculpted chest, floured as it was. For a long moment, both said nothing, until Eric tipped Sookie's chin up and fused his lips to hers. Powerless to resist and having no inclination to do so, the telepath clutched his shirt, flour and all.

'I love you, my sweet fairy. Please tell me you know that,' he said afterward.

'I do know that. You know I love you too, right?' She held his face in her hands, awaiting his answer. His resulting response nearly floored her with its sheer emotional intensity.

No wonder Eric had never liked to use the word love before. It was petty compared to what he was currently sharing with his telepath. Love was too shallow a word, even if it was the sort of love which the world only dreamed about. Sookie returned his dose with all of her own adoration, sincere and strong. She imbued it with gentleness and deep respect.

The Viking's eyes, which had been previously closed, were now open in amazement. Sookie nearly cried at the sight. The very same Eric who shared her bed without his memories – that was the Eric staring back at her now.

Powerful king as he was and now compos mentis, so to speak, all she saw was the tenderness with which Amnesia Eric had always looked at her.

Only one sentence was in her head to describe everything she now felt for the man in front of her. Giving him a gentle kiss, she lovingly said, 'I adore you, Eric. You really are a miracle.'

'You are my undoing, beloved one,' he said in a hoarse whisper, before instinct demanded that he worship the goddess he claimed as his.

Eric immediately began to kiss her neck, his hands busily roaming her topography. He had already lifted her onto the counter, having had enough control to move the used bowls to the sink beforehand. Not to say that he didn't use his full speed to achieve that, though.

Legs locked around his waist, Sookie returned his caresses with her own, her hands already seeking the skin beneath his shirt. For a moment, she was stunned at the perfect expanse of muscle beneath her fingers.

'I love you,' she repeated, before laying kisses on the ridge of his shoulder, combined with gentle nips. She heard Eric's satisfied rumble, emanating from deep in his chest.

'Sweet Sookie,' he crooned softly, beginning to lift the hem of her shirt. 'I must see all of you.' He had not stopped kissing her, his lips somewhere on her skin with each upward inch of the fabric.

Unfortunately, before things could escalate, it was the sound of the timer which broke them out of their passionate lock around each other.

Completely against her proper, Southern upbringing, Sookie muttered a loud, 'Fuck! Really, did it have to happen now?' Sharing her sentiments, Eric growled, vowing to hate all ovens for the rest of his existence.

'I told you, Sookie,' he said, his voice rough with restrained lust. 'I told you there were better ways for us to have a time-out. Fuck your fucking oven.' He looked at the appliance with icy eyes.

At that, the telepath laughed, her earlier frustration disappearing with the nearly childlike anger which her vampire was displaying.

Pushing him aside, she hopped off the counter and headed to the Eric-offending piece of machinery. Upon opening the oven door, the kitchen was immediately permeated by the smell of freshly baked goods. Even Calixto had popped in to ask about the source of the aroma.

'Choco chip cookies,' she said, pointing to the ones they'd just retrieved. Actually, Sookie had done all the retrieving. Eric, on the other hand, had refused to go near the oven. His words had been, 'I am not even going to look at that if I can help it.'

'I apologize, my lady. However, I am afraid I don't know what choco chip means.' Calixto had an appropriately bashful look on his face. Eric scoffed, shaking his head. The vampire was not happy at all.

'Seriously?' Sookie said, watching Calixto nod. She picked up a cookie with the mitts and showed him the dark specks. 'These are chocolate chips. Basically little bits of chocolate.'

The curiosity with which the brown-haired fairy approached the cookie was amusing. Once Alvar too had come through the archway, Calixto explained the concept of choco chip exactly as his mistress had done for him. Sookie chuckled throughout the entire display, turning her head only when she felt a note of disapproval from Eric through the bond.

'What is it?' she said, looking at him with concern.

In answer, he laid a kiss on her lips, the lip-lock being a long one at that. When Sookie smacked his arm after, he repeated his action and effectively stunned her into silence before walking away. He gave her no chance to respond as he headed straight to their bedroom and into the shower.

As he'd predicted, Sookie was in front of him within seconds, having teleported. She'd appeared just as he was turning on the water.

'Hello lover,' he said casually. 'Will you join me? The others will be here in about an hour and a half, you know. Best we get clean.'

'What the hell was the mauling for? Right in front of the guards too!'

Eric didn't respond verbally. He only tugged her towards him, ripping off all her clothes before doing the same to his own wet garments. In a flash of movement, her back was against the wall, with the Viking's hard length resting in between them.

Lust, pure and unchecked, was running through their bond. The intensity of it was staggering.

'No more talking. I've had enough with the flour and the stirring, getting interrupted by the fucking timer and you getting distracted by your cookie-ignorant guard. Think only of me,' he said, his hand seeking the heat and wetness of her core. 'Think of how I make you feel.'

Sookie, to Eric's delight, had no other response but a drawn-out moan of his name. The sound of her voice was shortly followed by the sensation of her hands wrapping around his cock, squeezing firmly before her hands began moving along the length.

Hearing that deep growl coming from him again, Sookie sped up her movements, trying to keep steady against his onslaught. 'You like that, do you?' she said in a breathy whisper.

'You know I do, naughty little fairy.' His fingers began to slip into her. 'Do you like what I'm doing to you, sweet one?'

'Lord help me,' was the only thing she got out, before her voice was stolen by the work of his talented fingers in her wet heat.

'Speak up, lover. Do you like it?' Eric said, prodding her, needing to hear her say it. Meanwhile, he was trying to control his own pleasure as Sookie wreaked rhythmic havoc on his length. He was happy though that she was beginning to grind against his hand.

'Yes, I do like it Eric,' she said. 'I like it and I love you. Oh God, I fucking love you.'

In the next instant, Eric withdrew his fingers, swatted her hand away and buried himself in her to the hilt. The resulting moan from his fairy bonded was gloriously lusty music to his ears. Beginning a series of short but powerful shoves, he slowly leaned in near her ear, determined to break her with his words.

'Can you feel me inside you, Sookie? Can you feel yourself getting filled so perfectly by my cock? You're mine, lover. Mine, now and always.'

'Yes, yes I'm yours,' she said, her voice keen and of a higher pitch than normal. 'Eric, more. I need you right now.'

Her admission gratified him to no end, causing the Viking's ardor to increase exponentially. Lifting her, he locked her legs around his waist, proceeding to slam into her with vigor and unrestrained passion. His arms supported her back, fingers tangled into her hair with the water pouring continuously from above.

'My dear one,' he said, voice rough with pleasure and accompanied by a powerful thrust. 'My bonded.' Another thrust, a kiss on her neck. 'My lover.' Three thrusts, a quick nip on her shoulder. 'My angelic Sookie.'

His words were the key to her undoing. Writhing madly against his lustful, energetic body, she felt her release growing ever nearer. If she judged right, the release was going to hit with all the force of a hundred train wrecks. His thrusts weren't stopping, nor showing any laxity.

She reinforced the strength of her soon-to-be-sated desire, groaning deeply against Eric's neck before she said, 'God, I'm so close. Do it. Take all of me, Eric, everything I have. All of me is yours.'

Tilting her neck with her hands on his shoulders, she heard her vampire's voice – it was perfect, rough and needy. 'You are home to me, beloved. I'm home.'

Once his fangs sank into the column of her neck, both of them were lost to the most shattering release either had ever experienced. Seconds after her loud scream of pleasure, Sookie too was latched onto Eric's shoulder, having bitten him in the throes of extreme desire.

As evidenced by his withdrawal and satisfied roar, the Viking wasn't complaining at all. Still spending inside her tight sheath, he continued to draw out the sensations brought on by her feeding, thrusting in short strokes as he lapped greedily from her oozing neck.

He could still feel the aftershocks of her climax around his length, with it being deliciously clenched by her inner walls. It was making him delirious with contentment and happiness, feelings which he shared with his bonded all the way to their exit.

Safe to say, no water had been saved at all. Even the actual cleaning was ridiculously thorough and prolonged, since both wanted to cherish the reverent experience they'd both gone through. Add to that, they'd ended up going two more rounds, unable to restrain their mutual longing.

In the end though, the two of them carried smiles on their faces as they got out of the shower and toweled each other off. For Sookie personally, she felt utterly drugged by Eric's shower of affectionate adoration.

'I love you, sweetheart,' he said gently, for what was perhaps the fifth time during their dressing session. Afterwards, he'd promptly showered her with kisses, before completely fastening up his Sookie-conjured button-down. 'Tell me you love me too.'

'I love you Eric. I will never get tired of telling you, you know that,' she said, smoothing down the front of her light blue dress. She gave him another kiss after fixing her shoes.

'Shall we go down, dear one?' he said, once he noticed that both of them were finished. His short hair was neatly combed, while her locks hung down like a golden curtain.

She shook her head in response to his question, promptly followed up by, 'I have something for you first, to wear around your neck.'

His eyebrow was raised, curious as she showed him her closed palm. The gift inside made him go a bit soft at her thoughtfulness. It was a Mjolnir necklace, reminiscent of his Viking heritage. Hooked beside the hammer pendant were two small ravens, the three set on a sturdy but stylish black cord.

'Hugin and Munin?' he asked, referring to Odin's ravens, Thought and Memory.

'Could be,' Sookie said, giving him a kiss on the cheek. 'I like to think it's you and I, expressed in a Viking way which you'd appreciate.'

'I do, beloved. I will always love this gift, I promise you,' he said, nodding enthusiastically, before his attention was riveted by the appearance of a new necklace in her palm.

Though it was on the same black cordage, the necklace was topped off with a simple gold E, with two fang-like pendants beside it, also of gold. Quite simply, Eric was awash with adoration, and he made sure to broadcast it loud and clear through their bond.

'I take it you approve, my Viking?' Sookie said, smiling up at her vampire. He returned her gesture with a deep kiss, one of promise and love.

'You are perfect, lover,' he said, linking her arm with his. Before he could take a step forward though, his bonded had already teleported them to the living room.

Thanks to fairy magic, the whole house was finally pristine again. Add to that, they'd underestimated the time taken by their shower, as Pam and Scott were already in the living room as well. Per usual protocol, Calixto and Alvar were not far away. Also per usual protocol, Pam was a ball of snark in Oscar de la Renta and with Chanel for footwear. In stark contrast, Scott was wearing a gray dress shirt with nondescript black slacks.

'Took you long enough,' Pam said, shaking her head at Eric and Sookie. Scott meanwhile, gave a more respectful greeting, bowing as he said, 'Good evening, Your Majesties.'

'Evening Scott,' Sookie said, before turning to her bonded's progeny. 'Nice to see you too, Pam. Where's Gregory and Isabel?'

'Not here yet,' she said. 'They just refreshed a bit at one of Eric's homes in Shreveport. Gregory called just a while ago to say that.'

The telepath nodded. 'You guys want a True Blood? I don't have any, but I could probably conjure some for you. Sorry if I get the taste wrong.'

'I will have one, if you please, Majesty,' Scott said, looking to Eric for any signs of disapproval and finding none, the king's face utterly neutral. As for Pam, she shook her head no. She hated the vile liquid.

Once Scott had a taste of the True Blood though, he was looking at Sookie with wide eyes. Unable to stop himself, he kissed the back of her hand in a gesture of devoted loyalty. The Viking on the other hand, was positively incensed.

'Explain yourself, underling,' he demanded, keeping a possessive arm around Sookie's waist.

Pam looked on curiously, while Scott seemed at a loss for words. Instead of him, it was Sookie who gave Eric the explanation he was looking for.

'Calm down,' she said, looking at her bonded. 'I just thought to make it to taste more like human blood, kind of like a mix between synthetic and human. Don't know why he reacted that much. Maybe it's my fairy powers or something.'

The Viking looked at his overseer. 'What is it like?'

'Sire,' Scott said, his voice hesitant as he addressed Eric. 'It is unquestionably pure. Like a child would taste, perhaps. Clean and free of any taint, and no trace of the synthetic taste at all.'

Soon enough, Pam was grabbing the bottle and taking a sip. Same as Scott, her eyes went wide, though the orbs were soon set on Sookie. 'If this is your interpretation of True Blood, I'll take a whole fucking case of this shit.'

On their end, Sookie and Eric were trying to process the new development. While the telepath was shocked at her apparent new ability despite never having tasted human blood in quantity, the Viking was trying to identify what course of action to take.

Finally, he decided. 'You will keep this to yourselves, you understand?' He leveled both of the younger vampires with a withering stare, acknowledging their nods with one of his own. Turning to Sookie, he said, 'How did you structure the conjuring, lover?'

'If you're talking about what I wanted to have as a result, then I've already told you. I wanted it to taste like a mix of human and synthetic.'

He noted her answer, his mind already whirring and beginning his deft compartmentalization process. 'What were your thoughts when conjuring?'

'Well, I just thought about wanting it to taste way better than the normal True Blood. That was pretty much it and nothing else,' she said.

The conversation was broken by Pam and her sudden comment. 'Eric, imagine the possibilities. We could keep this within our group, just you and Sookie, me and Scott. Maybe Gregory. This could foster loyalty, if you think about it.'

'How so?' Sookie said. 'What, I keep conjuring this like a supply line and give it out to Best in Show or Most Loyal or whatever?' Her instinct to protect her gift was rearing up. Whatever the case, she was not willing to be some marketing device. In response to her stiffened posture, Calixto and Alvar were beginning to tense.

Pam shook her head. 'I didn't mean it that way, Sookie. Eric would never allow you to be treated that way,' she said, with the Viking's nod as confirmation. 'It could be just a private treat whenever Scott, me or Gregory visits.'

'Like delicious pie for a human, lover,' Eric said, stroking his bonded's cheek and sending a barrage of purely soothing feelings through the bond. 'Look at Scott, I dare say he has fallen in love with you just for the unexpected prize you bestowed. Pam loves it as well.' The Viking noted the acceptance in the bond, smiling indulgently at his gifted mate.

'If you three agree to keep it between us here, then it's fine. But no more than that, you understand? No freaky add-whatever-please. I won't allow that.'

The Viking looked at his bonded. 'I agree with your conditions, my love. This is a special gift, meant to be shared between our circle only. Luckily for me,' here he leveled Pam and Scott with a look again, 'I am the only one who can taste the full, intoxicating richness which is quintessentially you.'

'Damn straight,' Sookie said, giving Eric a quick peck on the lips. As always, Eric wasn't satisfied by the brief contact, instead melding his lips to hers in a frenzy of affectionate lust, only broken when Calixto's voice provided an interruption.

'Your Majesties, the Lieutenant for Mississippi and Ms. Isabel Beaumont of Texas are here,' he said, opening the door. It was Gregory's smooth Italian accent which rang out in the next second.

Bowing to Eric and Sookie, the Italian ancient spoke. 'How I have missed Louisiana and both of you for entertainment.' Turning to Pam, he gave her a kiss on the cheek and said, 'Lovely to see you as always, darling Pamela.'

The Viking chuckled at the whole display. He always knew his child had a soft-spot for his brother and battle comrade. He turned to greet Isabel, as did Sookie. Currently though, he was itching for contact. Pulling Sookie down onto the sofa beside him, his sudden move earned him a small shriek from her, followed by a smile which made him nuzzle into her neck. As usual, Calixto and Alvar were not far behind the two, while the visitors sat down as well.

'My sweet beloved,' Eric cooed gently in Sookie's ear. One hand was around her waist and the other resting on her knee, entwined with the telepath's own. 'Stay with me always,' he said in devoted entreaty, which earned him a nod and a kiss.

'Oy, enough, Master. We have visitors, come on.' Pam turned to Sookie. 'Now would also be a good time to offer Gregory his True Blood.'

The Italian vampire made a noise of protest, but was stilled in fascination as he watched Sookie conjure the filled bottle, extending it to him in a gesture of hospitality. At Pam's enthusiastic urging, he took a tentative sip. Eric looked at the currently-observing Isabel, communicating the need to keep silent on Sookie's heritage. The female vampire bowed slightly in understanding.

The usual eyes-grow-ridiculously-wide syndrome overtook the Italian immortal instantly. 'Lovely Sookie, what is this you've fed me? No synthetic in the world tastes this good.' He pushed the bottle towards his companion from Texas. 'Go on, drink, Isabel.' Her reaction was the same, and Eric didn't waste time, gloating happily.

'So you like our offering?' he said, with a gratified smile. Both Isabel and Gregory nodded.

'Very much so, Your Majesty,' the Texan vampiress added. 'Your bonded and Queen is a singular rarity, I congratulate you.' Isabel looked at Sookie. 'Thank you for sharing this gift with us, I will honor it always.'

'Thank you Isabel,' Sookie said, reaffirmed by Eric's nod. The telepath looked around. 'Well, shouldn't we be getting down to business?'

'Very well, lover,' Eric said. 'But where is John Piers? He is supposed to be here, is he not?'

Scott was the one who answered. 'He has accepted the position very gratefully, Sire. However, his mother was hospitalized today and he has asked that he start tomorrow morning instead.'

'Poor guy,' Sookie said, suddenly understanding why her expected visitor hadn't come. 'Scott, send flowers to his mom, okay?'

'Say we wish her well,' Eric added, knowing it was a good PR move and would reverberate positively, though he knew that his bonded was acting out of compassion. He sent her approval through the bond.

'Consider it done, Majesty,' Scott said, right before Gregory launched into the most serious topic up for discussion. The Italian was looking straight at the Viking, a mix of balefulness and murder in his eyes.

'We must find the bastard who dared shoot you, Eric. He is a threat. Not very smart to have targeted you, but a threat nonetheless.' Pam was enthusiastically in agreement. ' I won't allow shit like this being done to you, Master. Not before, not now, not ever.'

'Thank you for the concern,' the Viking said. 'I have been wronged, and as many know, my sense of justice and vengeance is quite keen. Investigate every possible avenue to discover who did it. It may or may not have a connection to the Friedrich Holtz idiot claiming he is my child, so do not discount him from the possible ones involved.'

'That fucker,' Pam immediately said. Scott meanwhile, was taking notes.

Gregory was next to speak. 'I tracked him down and gave orders to Sheriff Nichols to restrain him. I have questioned him, but he has so far been unproductive. I give him credit though, for withstanding that much torture and duress.'

'Well, good work and keep investigating. Isabel, the situation in Texas,' Eric said, trying to soothe his agitated fairy. Though Sookie did mature considerably, he knew she still had issues with things like killing and torture. He filled the bond with calming waves of gentle affection, happy when he felt it begin to act as a balm on her frayed nerves.

'The Fellowship is either growing more powerful or more stupid as time goes by,' the Texan vampiress said. 'Four vampires have been targeted and killed, with the idiots stirring up anti-vampire sentiment each second of the day.'

Sookie piped in. 'This will be a problem at the Coronation. It's in a few weeks. I'm sure the Fellowship will try and make an appearance. On the upside, we'll help neutralize the anti-vampire side with positive PR.'

'God I wish we could just kill all the motherfuckers,' Pam added, lamenting the idiocy of the whole Fellowship group in general. Her wish got Sookie slightly scared again, but the fear was readily squashed as soon as it bloomed. 'Now what do we do?' she said in ending.

'We go through with the Coronation for obvious reasons,' Eric said. 'Holtz must continue to get investigated, with any leads reported straight to me. Gregory and Scott, you cooperate on this.' The Viking turned to Isabel. 'Continue to gather intel on the Fellowship in Texas and help my overseer in his investigations, should the need arise.'

'And if we are threatened or discovered during investigation, Eric?' Isabel said.

'I am hoping it will not come to that, that your resources and cunning will negate that necessity,' the Norseman said. 'However, do not be afraid to use force when necessary. Try though, to use other means of incapacitating the Fellowship.'

'Of course. I also feel it is my duty to report that the former King of Utah has died the true death, hereby leaving his wife the Queen of Arizona, to administer both states. This is highly relevant due to the fact that there are many rumors circulating, specifically that the Queen wants you for a mate, Eric. She has always desired you, you know that.'

Everyone in the room heard Sookie's muted but audible gasp, though no one reacted except Eric. The Viking immediately sought to calm his bonded. Soothing her with his hand, he whispered, 'Peace, my beloved one. You know I will never take another.'

'I know that,' Sookie replied, raising her voice. 'But I can't help feeling threatened. I'm saying it now though, I will kill that bitch if she even tries to make the rumors come true.'

Every vampire in the room reacted, though in different ways. For Eric, he felt his bloodlust rising, proud of Sookie's clear intent to defend. Gregory and Pam on the other hand were both amused, while Isabel was showing mild surprise at the telepath's bravado.

'Any plans, brother?' Gregory said, after a while. 'You know, the Queen is attending your Coronation. Should that change?'

Eric shook his head, but Sookie beat him to the punch with a verbal reply. 'Let her come. Then maybe she'll get discouraged. Meanwhile though, somebody needs to keep an eye on her. I'll blow her to smithereens myself if she tries to make a move.'

'Indeed, lovely Sookie,' the Italian said. 'She will gain if she is underestimated and we lose. She will stand to become the monarch of four states, including having Eric for a co-regent.'

At that, the Viking growled loudly. 'There will be no such occurrence. Scott, keep a close eye on Arizona. Plant a spy if you have to and make sure you learn everything there is to learn. Pam, assist Scott in this matter.'

'Any more tasks for me, Master?' Pam said, after a nod.

'You will also work on planning the Coronation. Do the styling for Sookie as well, my child. Coordinate with Scott on the Residence and make damned sure John Piers is here by tomorrow morning with proper security. Prepare for a possible fairy contingent, including the Prince.' Sookie sent a wave of approval at his thoughtful awareness.

'Yes Eric,' Pam said, though she was somewhat irked by the last bit. However tasty they might be, Pam still hated fairies with all the instincts she had in her. Hence, it was also a surprise to her, that Sookie had earned her respect in a way.

'Hope you all don't mind, but I do want a security update,' Sookie suddenly said. She was hyper-aware of everything now that all threats were identified. Thankfully, Scott had a prompt reply for her, knowing the topic would come up eventually.

'As instructed, Your Majesty, we will all make sure that John Piers and his complete security team are here by tomorrow morning. For this evening, we do have four vampires in place patrolling the tree line around the property.' He pointed to the fairy males behind Eric and Sookie. 'There is also them, for maximum daylight protection.'

'Oh. Good then,' Sookie said. 'Thanks for being so informative on everything, Scott.'

'My pleasure, Majesty. For our last order of business, I have something for you both.' Scott looked at Eric first, then at his Queen. 'Her Grace, the Ancient Pythoness, bids that you meet her personally in a week for matters of important discussion.'

At the mention of the Pythoness, everyone grew silent. Only Eric spoke. 'Did the Pythoness mention any details on this important discussion?'

'Afraid not, Sire. She only asked me to deliver the message to you, and that she would send the details of the time and place accordingly. Also, Your Majesty, Prince Niall has sent a large sum of money as well as a case of precious jewels, as reparation for the offense of his grandson Claude.'

'Excellent. Forward the correspondence from Her Grace and I will respond personally,' Eric said, as a next-to-final order. He looked around at everyone, intoning his voice with its famously cold lethality. 'Everything is addressed. I ask everyone's cooperation in the matters discussed here, and I need not remind any of you how I act when I am disobeyed or crossed.'

'Yes, Your Majesty,' everyone said. Even Pam and Gregory knew better than to respond with anything less than perfect compliance when Eric spoke in that voice. For a moment, it had chilled Sookie to the bone as well.

'Well, our business is done then. As I am sure you all won't mind, my bonded and I will be retiring for the evening to carry on our independent pursuits,' Eric said, very neutrally.

He watched Scott bow, with Gregory patting his shoulder as a goodbye gesture. On the other hand, Pam touched his arm for a nonverbal adieu, eyes locked for a moment with her maker. Each vampire saying goodbye to the fairy telepath in turn. Feeling the clear lust raging like a torrent in the bond, Sookie had stayed silent, knowing that her vampire's neutrality was a ruse to get everyone out of the house.

Several moments passed, but eventually they were truly alone. Eric pensively turned to the guards.

'Alvar, you guard the outside of the house,' he said, immediately obeyed by the dark-haired fairy warrior. 'Calixto, you may stay at the front door.'

'Yes, Majesty,' Calixto said, before teleporting to his post.

As for Eric, he turned to Sookie with that familiar glint in his eyes. To Sookie, that glint always meant there was a very long night ahead.

'Now what, Viking?' she said, trying to discover his plans.

'I didn't get my chase earlier, lover,' he said, his voice full of promise and dark seduction. Giving her a final kiss, he huskily whispered in her ear. 'Now run, little fairy, and pray the big bad vampire doesn't catch you.'

As Sookie teleported to their bedroom, Eric filled the bond with one last flood of lust. Dropping his fangs, he sped upstairs with one thought in mind.

Game on, lover.

A/N Well everyone, that's chapter fourteen. Can anyone connect the dots to who shot Eric and for what reason yet? Come on, make like a detective and identify who has the biggest motive! Well anyway, next chapter will be posted up soon, as I have indicated in the first author's note for this chapter. If you guys have any requests for what you wanna see in the Coronation/pledging chapter, please feel free to send me a PM or mention it in a review!