Chapter 21

SPOV

I looked into Eric's stormy blue eyes and wondered how I was going to explain everything so he wouldn't become completely unglued and unreasonable. I knew beyond a shadow of a doubt that I had to tell him about great grandfather's plan. I had come too far to start holding back from him now and I knew he felt the same way. But I still had to word it just the right way to get through to him, and keep him from going on the defensive, all out of his love for me. I honestly thought Niall's plan had some good points to it. Heck, maybe I could get them to compromise? I just had to figure out how to get the two most powerful men I had ever met to come to an understanding, and I knew it wasn't going to be easy. They could both be as stubborn as mules. Taking a deep breath and letting my shoulders drop from around my ears (where they had recently taken up a semi-permanent residence) I began.

"Honey, first of all you have to promise me to listen to the entire plan before you interrupt, and I want your word you will have an open mind." Eric's eyes narrowed and his jaw seemed to tense a little but he nodded in agreement.

"Very well Lover, I will listen with an open mind." His eyebrow quirked as did the corner of his mouth as he settled back into the cushions of the sofa. I turned to face him and smiled thinking this might not be as hard as I thought it would be.

"I'm glad you are willing to listen to me because honestly I know there's a lot about Niall's plan you won't like, but I do think there are some good ideas and it could help protect us." He didn't move and I continued in a rush, anxious to take advantage of Eric's current calm.

"The first part of the proposal is pretty simple. Niall has an estate that is warded and it is impenetrable. The next detail I'm going to share has to stay between you and me, always." Eric's eyes widened as his brow rose even higher.

"You do not believe I can be circumspect with any information we share?" Eric was surprised and he sounded almost a little hurt. I scooted over to him clasping his large hand in my much smaller ones.

"Oh Honey it's not that at all but what I'm going to tell you is a Fae secret. Great Grandfather said it was even unknown by many Fae. So I need your word, that you will never reveal the existence of who we are going to talk about to anyone. It has to stay between us." Eric searched my face for a moment then nodded.

"You have my vow. I will never speak of the situation or existence of who or what we are going to be discussing. It will remain between you and I for all of my existence. Now tell me this Fae secret." Eric was smiling and he actually seemed quite curious.

"The reason Great Grandfather would like us to use the estate is because there is a special team called The Elite Fae Guard who protect it so of course they would be protecting us. This team has the ability to remain cloaked or unseen." Eric stood up, moving to his desk in a blur. He seemed to suddenly be very excited. I watched as what appeared to be a look of discovery passed over that handsome face.

"That old crafty prince, I knew he had some secret weapon he used against his enemies but now it all makes sense." He laughed shaking his head.

"Your great grandfather is very wise, Little One, very wise indeed." Eric returned to the sofa and sat down. "Now what is the rest of the plan." He reached over pulling me to his side and kissing me on my temple. I leaned into the kiss for a moment then moved back meeting his eyes.

"Well, he didn't give me a lot of details just that there was this secret estate and there were these Elite Guards that would help protect us." Stopping I reached over and clasped Eric's hand in mine again.

"I was thinking that you probably wouldn't want anyone to know the location of your home and we could stay at this estate and maybe make use of this guard to travel with us back and forth here to the club. I don't know if that's a possibility but I think it's definitely worth looking into." Eric didn't say anything for a moment and I could see the wheels turning behind those gorgeous eyes. He kissed my hand giving me a small smile.

"Sookie, first of all I am pleased you trusted me and did not try and hide anything. I believe we have both finally learned a much needed lesson about the trust we must hold

in each other." He bent towards me brushing his lips against mine then smiling

straightened. Taking a deep breath, he absentmindedly stroked the palm of my hand with his thumbs sending a delightful shiver down my back.

"Secondly, I agree there is some merit in different aspects of this plan. However, I do not know that I feel comfortable living at Niall's estate, what with the mutual animosity that Vampires and the Fae generally have for one another; your best interests notwithstanding my Little One. I wonder..." He stopped for a moment glancing away in thought and then his eyes returned to mine. "I think the perfect plan would be to find somewhere that is safe for both of us, have it warded, then possibly use these Elite Guard." He continued circling my palm with his thumb.

"That sounds like a perfect idea. I understand not wanting to be vulnerable with all the fae around and if we could find somewhere with a special resting place where you would be protected during the day, we could still use the Elite Guard to help protect the house." I glanced down at our joined hands and then returned my eyes to Eric's.

"Now we just have to get Great Grandfather to agree." I sighed and Eric pulled me onto his lap. He wrapped his arms around me then reached up tipping my chin with his fingers.

"Little One, I have no doubt that you can help Niall understand the merits of this plan. He is as logical a being as I have met, and most certainly understands the benefits of compromise. In addition, I believe he is as mesmerized by you as all the other males who meet you." He grinned as he lowered his mouth to mine, kissing me tenderly. I smiled against his mouth and he used the opportunity to deepen our kiss, his tongue slipping between my lips to join with mine. It was much later before either one of us thought of anything else.

PPOV

I had ordered Clancy to keep the new bartender entertained while I checked on her paperwork with Gabby and it seemed like he was quite enjoying his task. I stood watching from the back of the club and narrowed my eyes, not missing the smallest detail. As the two of them shared a booth I noted that Clancy's physical interest in the woman was apparent in his body language and his overly familiar conversation. However, I noticed that Kefira didn't seem as enthusiastic and was sliding further into

the booth away from him. She glanced up and her eyes met mine. My brow rose in speculation.

"Hmm, I wonder how long she's known I've been watching them." I mumbled to myself as my eyes remained focused, refusing to break contact with hers. She quickly looked down and I was a bit surprised to see her actually blush. My Louis Vuitton's made a quick staccato as I crossed the club to the booth they occupied. Clancy glanced up at me a bit nervously and quickly stood.

"I've showed her the bar area and I was getting ready to give her a tour of the club."

He smiled towards the pretty redhead. Rolling my eyes I sighed heavily. What the hell did he think this was, a dating service? I didn't have time for all his overtures, leastways, not while he was on my payroll.

"That's all for now Clancy, you can go back and tend the bar I'll take over here." I slid into his seat but he seemed to hesitate until I looked back at him with boredom and a bit of contempt.

"Of course Pam." He nodded to me and then smiled broadly at Kefira before turning and heading back to the bar. I looked over at her and smiled.

"Well, well, you haven't been here a day and it looks like you already have an admirer." I was being sarcastic but I also was also curious about her response. She smiled and looked me dead in the eyes, then shrugged.

"You know how it is to be a beautiful woman, we seem to find admirers everywhere we go don't we?" She smiled and I was a bit surprised by her self-confidence so I decided to test it a bit.

"Well if you are done complimenting yourself I would like to finish up here. I don't have a lot of time to just sit around and "girl talk" ." I gave her a piercing look and she continued meeting my eyes. I was surprised by her chutzpah.

"Of course Ms. Ravenscroft, just lead on and I'll gladly follow. I'm really anxious to do a good job here and get to know the ropes as quick as I can." Kefira gave me a beautiful smile and I found myself taking note of her full sensual lips. Blinking I glanced over at the bar and then continued.

"Exactly what did Clancy have a chance to go over with you while I was gone?" I flagged down a waitress and ordered a Royalty Blend for myself and a sparkling water for our newest employee. She shifted in her seat and her dropped her voice.

"Actually he just gave me a quick run through about the day to day, or rather night to night operations of the bar and of course he was telling me about the bar itself. He also mentioned that you and Eric Northman owned the bar. Of course I've heard of Mr. Northman in New Orleans. Everyone talks about coming here to meet him." She seemed to realize she might have said too much and became quiet just then.

"I'm not surprised, my Master is one of a kind. But you don't need to concern yourself with him. I'm currently in charge of the bar's business while he takes care of other duties." She nodded and met my eyes again, smiling.

"Of course Ms. Ravenscroft whatever you say." I simply nodded and reached for the drink the waitress had brought. I took a quick sip and then stood.

"I will give you a tour of the club now and then we'll get you a uniform and you can start tonight." She stood gracefully and waited for my lead,

I motioned towards the locker room and waited for her to walk ahead of me. As she moved, I noticed she seemed to have a feline-like gracefulness of step which reminded me of one of the big cats. I assumed it was the Were in her genetics. The other Were I had met that was a tiger seemed to possess that same simple grace or suppleness of movement that Kefira displayed. I found myself very curious about her heritage.

As we entered the locker room I quickly slid back into my management role assigning her one and giving her a list of the rules and regulations which I always kept posted on the cork boards in the staff areas.

"Now we will go over to the gift shop at the front of the bar and I'll get you a couple of uniforms. We supply three, the rest you must purchase on your own." She nodded and followed me as I led her out of the area and headed towards the front of the club. She looked over her shoulder and pointed at the back hall towards the office area.

"Is that an employee lounge or area?" I stopped and turned towards her.

"That area is off limits. It's Eric private office and there is no reason to concern yourself with it." I quickly turned and started walking towards the gift shop. The last thing we needed was a nosy employee in the office area and to be honest, with all the attacks leveled at Sookie I was a bit on edge. My Master was finally truly happy and I was not going to let anyone or anything get in the way of that happiness. I sped to the gift shop and took out the uniforms I needed, handing them to the new employee as she walked through the doorway.

"Take these, go change and then report to Clancy for the rest of your shift. He will show you the time clock and do the rest of your training." I suddenly had more important things on my mind. I left the pretty redhead standing looking after me as I sped to the bar, giving Clancy orders for the rest of the training and then returned to the back hall knocking on the office door, quietly.