AN: Enjoy this chapter! Happy Reading! :D

Chapter 14

SPOV

I awake tangled in heavy limbs and momentarily panic before recalling the events of the night before. Right. I slept with Eric and Godric…again. I peel open my eyes, having to reach over to relight candles from last night before looking between said vampires thoughtfully. The two of them are convinced I love them and quite honestly at this point, I'm not sure I can argue against them any longer. I let out a loud sigh, unsure of how or when exactly I fell for these two men, but then I suppose that doesn't really matter, what matters now is deciding what the hell I'm supposed to do about it.

We still have this damned tournament to contend with and although the two of them seem convinced they'll come out victorious, yesterday's match only served to prove just how brutal and violent these fights truly are. What if they're not so lucky next time? I saw many strong, capable warriors fall beaten and bleeding before my very eyes, the same could happen easily enough to one or both of them. My heart pinches painfully at the thought, convincing me that my previous musings must be accurate; I really am falling for them…hard.

I sigh once more before wiggling my way free of their heavy limbs and proceed to slip on my leathers, smiling fondly at the custom sheathes and blades provided to me by none other than the resting vampires at my feet. Damn. This wasn't supposed to be like this. This was supposed to be fun, just a fling, no strings, no fucking emotions, but perhaps I was only fooling myself from the get go, I've obviously felt more than just passing lust for the both of them even from that very first night we spent together, I was just too damned stubborn to admit it.

Casting the dead to the world vampires one last thoughtful gaze, I carefully slip through the heavy door of the tomb, careful to keep the sun's harmful rays from reaching the creatures of the night. I glance around the run down cemetery with a small frown, hoping these accommodations prove as an adequate resting place before heading back towards the distant stadium. Upon drawing closer, I can hear the sound of the gathering crowd and take a deep breath, trying to mentally prepare myself for another day filled with bloody violence.

"Princess," sounds out beside me as I step under the towering archway. I instantly tense, my hand automatically falling to my blade before I turn to face the smiling face of Breandan as he casually leans back against the darkened stone wall.

"Breandan," I grit out, wrapping my hand firmly around the hilt of my iron dagger.

"Tsk, tsk, Princess," he remarks, shaking his golden head at me with a disapproving frown. "You know the rules, no violence outside the ring," he reminds me, glancing down to my weapon to earn an eye roll from me.

"So everyone keeps reminding me," I answer back, seeing a wide grin stretch across his face as he tilts his head thoughtfully.

"You weren't at last night's ball," he remarks, earning an uncaring shrug from me. "I had so hoped for the chance to dance with you," he adds, to set my anger boiling within me.

"Just what is it you're playing at, huh? Is this all some kind of act? I thought you wanted me dead, that's why you sent your fucking followers after me after all, isn't it?" I challenge before seeing a chill inducing smile stretch slowly across his face.

"You're most correct, Princess," he answers, pulling away from the wall before stepping closer, a dangerous glint shining behind those icy eyes of his. "I had plans to see you broken and bleeding at my feet, a fate similar to so many filthy hybrids before you," he whispers darkly to send my heart racing in fear.

"And now?" I ask, my voice shaking slightly before seeing his ravenous, icy stare raking over me.

"Why now, dear Princess, my plans have changed," he answers back lowly as a very masculine smile forms over his face. "While the death of my greatest enemy's beloved granddaughter would prove to provide me with sweet vengeance, it would be but short lived," he states before dropping his face mere millimeters before my own to quicken my pulse as I'm left gulping loudly. "But to win her, fair and square, in a tournament held by that very same enemy, well, I simply couldn't let such an advantageous opportunity slip me by."

"But why? Why go through all the trouble? I mean, you despise hybrids like me," I question, my mind still working to understand his logic. He sends me a malicious smile before leaning towards my ear to leave his heavy breath puffing warmly over my flesh. It takes every ounce of self-control I possess to keep myself from plunging my dagger straight into his chest, but as I fear what my own breaking of the carefully placed rules might mean for my own safety, I somehow manage to stand stock still even as a shiver of ire laced fear runs along my spine.

"Because as my wife, Niall will have to live with the knowledge that you, his beloved granddaughter, the one he loves above all others, is being forced to her knees before his greatest enemy, beckoning ever so sweetly to my every beck and call night after night. And that is a victory so much sweeter, so much more satisfying than even what pain your death might cause him," he whispers, inciting a wave of pure rage within me.

I suddenly have the laughing leader of the Water Fae pressed firmly against the stone wall, my blade pressed firmly against his rib cage and all thoughts of tournament rules and what they may or may not mean for my own safety escape me as I meet his laughing eyes with my own, cool stare.

"Sookie, no!" a familiar voice rings out around us just before heavy hands fall to my shoulders.

"Back off, Preston, this fucker dies, right here, right now," I grit out seeing a momentary flash of fear shine behind Breandan's eyes to bring a spiteful smile to my own face. That's right, you should be fucking scared, asshole.

"Sookie, please," my friend's voice sounds gently through my mind as his arms wrap around me tightly, in an attempt to ground me, to ground my mounting anger. "Please, I know he deserves to die and I solemnly swear to see to it his impending death is not only drawn out, but excruciatingly painful as well. But, I'm telling you now, you cannot do this, Sookie, for your own safety, you must let him go."

I turn my head slightly to catch the clear pleading in my friend's eyes and simply cannot fight against him. I slowly back away with him, allowing him to guide my hand back to my sheath before sliding my dagger back home. I glance up to meet Breandan's still laughing eyes and only the promise of his impending death allows me to look on as he proceeds to walk carelessly away.

"Thank you," Preston whispers as I feel his tense muscles relax slightly against me. I let out a defeated sigh before turning to catch his wary gaze. "You didn't come home last night," he remarks, his eyes scanning over me curiously.

"Yeah, I was taking care of Eric, you know that," I answer somewhat hesitantly, knowing I'm likely walking a fine line here.

"You willingly gave a vampire your blood," he states matter of factly, earning a firm nod in return.

"It's my fault he got hurt, Preston, it was the least I could do," I say those same words once more, even knowing there's so much more to it than that. "Besides, it was Godric and Eric that saved me after Breandan's followers jumped me, I owed them," I explain, seeing Preston's head tilt thoughtfully before me.

"You smell of them," he remarks softly, leaning forward to run his nose along my throat. "There was only a hint before, but the scent is much stronger now," I hear him muse softly before his chocolate brown eyes meet my somewhat sheepish gaze.

"Eric, he, well, he took a bit more blood than planned," I admit, seeing angry lines form over the general's face. "It's not like that, he didn't hurt me, Preston, but Godric had to share his blood with me in order to make up for what I'd lost," I admit, figuring it best to just tell the truth than let him assume the worst.

"Dammit! Can't you see what they're doing, Sookie? They intend to brainwash you! To control you with their blood! They're vampires, that's what they do!" he exclaims to leave me looking to him in momentary shock before my ever present anger is rising to the surface once more.

"They wouldn't do that, Preston! They'd never force me to do anything I didn't want to!" I assert, noting the sudden aching look that falls over his face.

"Is that why you slept with them?" he questions softly. I blanch slightly, perhaps foolishly not having expected him to have noticed. Shit, does that mean Breadan deduced this as well? I inwardly groan at the thought before deciding I can only deal with one problem at a time. I then look deep into my friend's eyes to see they're filled with hurt, not the harsh accusation I had assumed to see and am left letting out a soft sigh, knowing he deserves to know the truth, no matter how painful.

"No, Preston," I sigh out, hating myself for having to break his heart. "They didn't make me do anything, my actions were my own," I admit, seeing his brow furrow under his dark, chestnut locks.

"Do you love them, Sookie?" he whispers, bringing a soft sigh of defeat from me.

"I think I might," I answer back just as softly, seeing him nod firmly before abruptly spinning on his heel. "Preston! Wait!" I call as he proceeds to march away, but he doesn't so much as spare me a backwards glance as I can't help but momentarily feel like the world's most colossal asshole. "Fuck," I curse softly, kicking harshly at the stone wall.

"Man, what did that wall ever do to you?" I hear sound out beside me to leave me turning to see my three cousins sending me matching, sympathetic gazes.

"You heard?" I question, noting Claudine's sheepish nod as Claude and Claudine both send me dismissive shrugs.

"He'll get over it," Claude assures me, stepping closer to sling his arm around my shoulders, a genial smile spread over his face. "I'm actually more surprised to hear you finally admit your undying love for your little fangy boy toys," he teases to leave me blushing profusely, even as a deep scowl forms over my face.

"Oh, shut up," I throw back, stabbing harshly in the ribs with my elbow only to elicit amused laughter from him.

"You of course know you owe the three of us for covering for your ass…again," Claudette chimes in, stepping to my opposite side with a devious smirk. "Though, I take it last night was more than worth it," she adds to leave me rolling my eyes at them.

"Of course," I answer back with a sigh. "And yes, last night went well, surprisingly so, actually, and not just in the way you're thinking either, you pervs," I admit, thinking over last night's conversation with my vampires, of their promise to see me protected, their promises to grant me my rightful vengeance.

"Well, I'm happy for you, cousin," Claudine enlightens me, a soft smile falling over her delicate, fae features as her siblings send me smiles that tell me they feel the exact same way.

"Thanks," I answer back softly, a light blush finding its way to my cheeks before they're leading me towards my designated throne. "So, was Niall pissed?" I question somewhat nervously, not really wanting to spend the rest of the day receiving disapproving frowns from my grandfather.

"Oh, hell yes, we all thought he was gonna blow a fucking gasket once he realized you weren't showing up for your own ball," Claudette answers back rather cheekily. "But, being the ever loving, amazing cousins that we are, we explained to him just how badly injured his old vampire friend was and how you had insisted upon seeing to his recovery personally."

"And that actually worked?" I question in disbelief, earning light shrugs in return.

"Well there was that and the fact that he was kept distracted by someone's blatant flirting with nearly all the competitors," Claudine enlightens me whilst cocking an accusing brow at her grinning brother.

"What? You weren't there, Sook, someone had to step up to be Belle of the ball," Claude answers back wholly unabashedly to leave the four of us laughing together. My amusement comes to a grinding halt, catching the leering gaze of Breandan from his place just below the raised dais upon which my throne is set. My cousins follow my gaze, their own laughter quieting as we proceed to climb up the stone steps together.

"I think he was even more pissed about your disappearance than Niall," Claudette informs me, sending a disgusted sneer down towards the leader of the Water Fae.

"I really wish I knew his intentions for entering into this tournament," Claudine adds, sending a fearful shudder through me as Breandan's earlier confession sounds hauntingly through my mind.

"Wait, you know?" Claude questions then before the three of them halt our steps at the head of the stairs to grant me identical, speculative gazes.

"Yeah, I know," I sigh out, shaking my head dismally. "Let's just hope he doesn't actually fucking win this thing," I grit out, seeing sympathy shining from three sets of dark eyes before my cousins lead me to my throne.

I plop down with a heavy sigh and upon noting I'm in no mood to explain things further, my cousins each warrant me comforting hugs before trailing away. I sigh once more, sinking into the throne with a deep frown, not at all looking forward to another day of brutal fights, especially after my rather eventful morning, but then, I suppose I don't have much choice in the matter. And damn if that thought doesn't just succeed in pissing me off further.

"Granddaughter," sounds softly beside me, paired with the pop that signals my grandfather's arrival.

"Grandfather," I greet back, having to force a weak smile to my face. A light frown forms upon his face before he promptly leans down and pulls me into his comforting arms. No words are spoken, aloud or otherwise, yet a fond smile finds its way to my face as I hug him tightly, pushing my cares aside for the time whilst letting the smallest flair of hope spark within me.

This tournament is far from over and I refuse to admit early defeat. I have the love of not only my grandfather, but my vampires as well. My smile widens, realizing this tournament may not mean the end of my freedom at all, in fact, if things work out the way I hope, it may actually succeed in granting me said freedom instead.