Disclaimer: I own nothing. I am simply taking these characters out to play.
A/N: A quick thanks to the wonderful Jeca & Fairyblood at Fangreaders that asked me to come chat in their Author Spotlight on Sunday July 17th at 4 pm EST(1 pm MTN/ 8 pm GMT) at: fangreaders(dot) blogspot (dot) com. It's really easy to sign up and I would love to hang out and talk with you. I hope that you will join me.
Now on with the show...
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Chapter Twenty-Five
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I opened my eyes to find myself not in Bill's resting place, but in Sookie's bed. 'How did I get here?' I looked down to see Sookie snuggled up against me. She was lightly running her fingertips over my bare chest and the warmth of her body radiated against me. My body instantly responded and I realized I was no longer wearing the clothing I had gone to rest in, but when I noticed that Sookie was wearing nothing as well, all my inquires as to how I got there were replaced with thoughts of ravishing my lover. I was so hungry for her. 'My need for her seems unquenchable, although I will enjoy trying.'
"Sookie..." I warned and she looked up at up at me with an innocent smile as she reached down and stroked my already straining cock. I was shocked at her brazenness, and I hissed at her touch.
"Eric, I want you...make me yours...show me I'm yours..." Sookie breathed and there was no way I could deny her. 'She. Is. Mine.' I flipped Sookie onto her back and positioned myself between her moistening thighs. She giggled at the motion and her blue eyes twinkled with excitement as she looked down her body at me.
My desire for her was fueled by the sweet aroma of her arousal as it filled the air, and I inhaled deeply as my gaze penetrated hers. "Magnificent." I said reverently. I was completely in her thrall. Sookie was my goddess and I would faithfully worship at her temple.
When I reached down and felt she was already dripping wet for me and I gave her a wicked smirk, before I dipped my head to taste her. I gently parted her lower lips with my tongue and caressed her most sensitive spot before moving lower to draw out more of her sweet honey. Sookie writhed beneath me and I could not seem to get enough of her. 'This woman is going to be the death of me. Oh, what a sweet way to go.'
"Oh Eric...I love it when you kiss me there...ahhh...yes...more...more..." Sookie panted gripping my hair, tugging it and further turning me on. I thought I might burst if I didn't get inside her soon.
"Northman." a voice said ringing through the room as if it was spoken over a loud speaker.
I immediately removed myself from the place I most wanted to be, whirling as I took a defensive position in front of my lover.
I scanned the room but saw no one. "Who is there?" I called and in the corner of the room the air began to shimmer as a light formed and a figure appeared before my eyes. When I saw who it was I was enraged, realizing I was not awake, but in my daytime rest and dreaming. The scene around us changed from Sookie's room to a clearing in the woods and when I turned to look at my lover, she was gone.
"What are you doing here?" I demanded. I did not appreciate the invasion of my mind and the interruption of a dream that was turning out to be fucking hot.
Gersemi raised her eyebrows as she took in my naked form. She was dressed as you would imagine a princess would dress. A golden crown sat upon her head and she wore a fancy ball gown that shimmered and changed colors in the light. "I can understand what Sookie sees in you." she said, appraising my goods.
I was not amused. "Again I ask. What are you doing here?"
"We need a safe place to talk." Gersemi explained, "You have my son and I have no wish to start a war between us. I told you that I plan on bringing peace to my people. I meant it."
I knew she would not want to start a war with their numbers being so low. "Your son offered me anything I wanted in exchange for my Sookie. It caused my lover to be distressed. He should be punished." I gave her an accusatory look. The fucker was lucky Sookie had not broken things off with me, or he would be in a world of hurt when I rose tonight. Not even his mommy could save him then. "You gave me your word you Fae would not interfere."
"I do not see how my word was broken. Preston merely made you an offer. No one is forcing you to accept." Gersemi frowned.
"Your son wants to use Sookie for breeding. I will never agree." I snarled, bearing my fangs. The thought of Sookie with another stoked a rage inside me that made me feel like going on a killing spree. 'I would start with Gersemi.'
"Eric, you don't understand. This is the way it has always been. We must keep the bloodlines alive. Our very existence depends on it." she said with softness to her tone, as she looked at me in a way I have seen women look at men for over a thousand years. She reached out to lay her hand on my arm and I pulled it away. 'Does she think me so weak to give into the maneuvers women use to get what they want out of men? There is only one woman I have that weakness for, and it sure as hell isn't her.'
"It is Sheriff Northman to you. Do not address me so informally, Princess. "I had my fill of Fairy bullshit. "I understand completely that your son wishes to wed my Sookie and create heirs to secure his position. He was very forthcoming with his plans for her." I paused for a moment, unsure of my next words. Then I thought, 'Fuck it.'
"There is something that I think you and your prince do not seem to understand," Gersemi gave me an odd, confused look, "I thought I had made it clear that Sookie is mine, but just in case, hear this... I want you all to stay the fuck away from Sookie and me. Go back to what ever dimensional hole you crawled out of and don't come back. Next time one of you tries to get close to Sookie, I will not be so kind to take them prisoner. Do we understand each other now?" The look on Gersemi's face was priceless. 'Suck on that bitch.'
Gersemi's mood turned dark with my words. "I had hoped we could handle this in a friendly manner."
"I do not see how invading my mind while I rest is a "friendly" gesture." 'What does she expect…a thank you for violating my mind?'
"Perhaps, but I could not risk you taking me prisoner as well. My options were limited." Gersemi replied petulantly, placing her hands on her hips.
"This is the last time, Fairy." I huffed. I was well aware that I would need to return "The Prince", as much as I didn't want to, but I would not be left empty handed.
"Fine. I agree not to meet with you this way again. Next time I will send a post first." Gersemi waved her hand as to say this was nothing.
My lips pulled back on their own, before I could fix my features. 'Next time...' I clenched my jaw and said, "As for your son..."
"Yes?" Gersemi's mood lightened once again and she smiled at me. 'You won't be smiling in a moment...'
"He will be returned..." I paused and Gersemi's smile widened, "when you sign a pact to leave Sookie alone...for good." Gersemi's smile faded and mine swept across my face.
"A pact? You mean to have me sign a demon pact?" she said with utter distaste. You would think I asked her to suck on a lemon.
"Yes. It is the only way to be sure you will abide by you word." 'A fairy never lies. My ass.' "A simple contract will not hold enough weight, and you have proven that I can not trust your word." Demon pacts are a binding magical contract that supernaturals use when there needs to be utter trust between conspiring parties. If one of the parties violates the contract, there are physical repercussions that come into play until the offending party returns to the demon, who made the pact, for their punishment. The ability to perform these binding contracts is why so many demons become lawyers.
"You want a Princess of the Fae to make a demon pact with a vampire? That is unheard of." She looked appalled. "I would never..."
"Well, that is too bad then. I guess we have nothing left to discuss." I turned away from her and began to walk away. Where I planed to go, I had no idea, this was a dream after all. 'Maybe if I picture Sookie she will appear again.'
"Wait!" Gersemi called after me and her voice rang through the clearing as it had done when she first arrived. 'Gotcha.'
I stopped walking and turned back to look at her. "What?"
"My son! What will you do with my son? You can't keep him prisoner!" she nearly shouted.
"Look, Princess, if I may be blunt." I did not wait for a response though she opened her mouth as if she was going to. "Whether he lives or dies lies solely in your hands. Without your agreement to the pact, your son means less then nothing to me. I would rather give him as a gift to my Queen. I would curry her favor and rid myself of a nuisance at the same time. It's a win-win for me either way." I shrugged, though inside I was beaming.
"Why do you want her so much?" Gersemi sighed, and it sounded like defeat. "Is it her part Fae blood? Her telepathy? Why must you have her, when you can have anyone you wish?"
"She is what I wish." I said and I knew it came out stubbornly. "It does not matter why I wish it, only that I do. Why do you want her? Surely there are others like her." As soon as the words left my mouth I knew that they were a lie. There were no others like her. There was only her.
"Sookie's bloodlines are exceptional. She has many gifts and her spark is strong. Of course Niall has other decendents that Preston can choose from, but the chance for a child will be lessened. Sookie is not affected by the iron in this world and Preston must have an heir in place. Maybe her immunity to iron and lemons, not to mention the telepathy, could be passed down…making our bloodlines even stronger. The Brigants will stay in power. We must for the good of all of our people. I have finally come home and I will not be shut out again." Gersemi's lips were in a tight line and her face looked determined. I wasn't sure if I would agree, that the Brigants being in charge of the Fae had turned out so great for their people, but I really didn't give a shit. 'I guess only time will tell. Maybe I will get lucky and one of their enemies will take them out.'
"Well, at least you no longer have to worry about that." I knew she would cave, I could feel it. 'I always win in the end.'
"What?" Gersemi said, taken off guard.
"No pact. No Prince. So there is no need to worry as to who he will wed. Maybe you should take a husband." I suggested.
Gersemi's face turned bright red and I wondered if she could do damage to me while in this state. "You are being unreasonable. I can not agree to a demon pact with a vampire! I tell you, give me my son and you will not hear from us again."
"No." I said keeping my expression passive. I was tempted to look down at my cuticles on my hand as Pam does and fake boredom, but I restrained.
"No! NO! You can't say NO! There must be another way to work this out. There is already too much talk throughout the kingdom about your assistance in killing Niall and Rogan. If it is found that I am making demon pacts with vampires..."
"You are being ridiculous." I said rolling my eyes. "We can use Cataliades and no one will know apart from the five of us, that is, unless you plan on breaking the terms of the pact." I gave her a look through narrowed eyes.
"Sheriff Northman, even if I agree to this, I can not force my son to go along with it. Preston is very strong willed. He will be an excellent ruler, of this I am sure, but when he sets his sights on something, he is relentless." Gersemi gave a weak smile, it was a look only a mother could make, and a loving sadness filled her eyes. "But maybe if you let me speak to him..."
"Oh, I think I can convince him to agree." I said and winked at her.
Gersemi did not take that gesture well. "You will not harm him!"
"Harm him? Who said anything about me harming him?" I said choosing my words carefully. I would agree I would not harm him...myself anyway. I did not however, agree that Pam, Nikolai, or Christian would not. I would return him in one piece.
"Do I have your word that you will not harm him?" I nodded and the Fairy relaxed a little. "Fine." she said grudgingly, crossing her arms over her chest. "When do you want to meet with the demon?" The pout on her face made her look deceivingly young.
"This night." I was curious as to how long I had been in this dream state. "What time is it?"
"It is near enough to nightfall. Time for you to wake, vampire. You will hear from me soon."
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My eyes popped open to see wooden planks above my head. I was back in Bill's old resting place and I could tell the sun was still up. My bond with Sookie was humming with her life force and she seemed a little nervous. I wondered if she was anxious about our impending talk or was it something else. I laid still for a moment, my thoughts moved to my plans for the night. The whole demon pact idea was done spur of the moment, but once it occurred to me, I figured it would at least be a deterrent short of killing the Fae. The last several weeks have felt like months and I looked forward to getting things back to normal. Well as normal as they could be, between Sookie and all my added guests.
Since I had to wait for a few more minutes before I could go to Sookie, I figured the first item on my agenda tonight would be to set things up with the demon lawyer. I pulled out my phone and called him. Cataliades agreed to perform the demon pact, and he informed me that Gersemi had already contacted him, apprising him of the situation. We were to meet in the demon's office around eleven PM. It was the most neutral spot to hold the meeting because Cataliades's offices were heavily warded. I was to bring the "Prince" along, and once the contracts were bound, he would be released into his mother's custody. I would, of course, be bringing back-up to ensure things went smoothly.
As soon as I felt the sun set, I was out of my resting place and on the edge of Sookie's clearing in a matter of minutes. I scanned the area and in a moment and a large grey wolf crept up behind me. By the smell of him, I could tell it was Tray.
"I take it all went well today." I said, not waiting for him to shift back to human form.
The wolf gave a sharp "yip", but I turned my head at the sound of Sookie's front door opening. Alcide stepped out with a huge grin on his face, that was, until he saw me. His grin shifted into a glower as he walked over to me. Tray looked from Alcide to me and then moved to stand by his pack member. 'What the fuck is he smiling about?'
As he approached, I could smell the scent of Sookie on him and I did not suppress my growl. "Why were you in my lover's home? Did I not make the rules clear?" 'Why can't I get these men to stay away from her?'
"Don't over react. We did attempt to stay out of her way, but she could hear us." Alcide said. The look of admiration on his face left me feeling both smug and pissed off at the same time. "She made us lunch and then asked me if I would chop up some of that fire wood she has out back."
"Tell me everything." I said through gritted teeth, picturing my hand around the wolf's neck.
"Not much to tell." Alcide shrugged. "Sookie spent most of the day cleaning her home, she sun bathed for a while..." Alcide smiled wistfully but when my fangs dropped he continued hastily, "and worked on her garden."
"That is all?" I did not like the idea of Alcide and the gorilla watching my Sookie out in the sun in nothing more than a bathing suit. 'A small scanty bathing suit...barely covering her most luscious bits...so much skin exposed...sun kissed and beautiful...'
"Yeah, pretty much." Alcide said, then turned to Tray. "Get dressed. We're gonna go." Tray took off and Alcide gave me an inquiring look. "Sookie is a real nice girl." he stated, his eyes searched my face for some response.
"Yes." 'Where is he going with this?'
"Did you get her into all this trouble?" His look turned accusatory. The wolf was getting his hackles up.
"No. Trouble seems to find her." I said, not that he deserved a response, but there was something more pressing I needed to know, "Why do you smell of Sookie?" Now that Alcide was so close I could tell he did not smell of her simply because he was in her home.
"She hugged me after I chopped up that wood for her." Alcide gave me a lop-sided smile.
I did not like the fact that my lover was "hugging" others. "Do not touch what is mine, wolf." I spat. "You are not to touch her."
"It was innocent." He sighed as if he was disappointed at that fact.
"Innocent or not, you are not to touch her in any way more intimately than a handshake. Understood?" I knew I would have to add this to the list of things I had to talk to Sookie about.
I heard Sookie's front door open and she walked out onto the porch. Her hair was down in waves around her head and she was dressed in a form fitting sleeveless sun dress that came to mid thigh. It was light green and had floral embroidery around the bottom of the skirt. The bodice was some sort of stretchy material that held tightly to her breasts, which seemed to look even better in person than they had in my dream. Thinking of that had me stiffening, and when her eyes met mine, a beatific smile grew on her face.
Knowing that the smile was for me, and the feelings of warmth coming through the bond, had me opening my arms to her. She sprinted in my direction and when she reached me, I pulled her to me and pressed my lips against hers. I might have put a little extra into this kiss, since I knew the wolves were watching, and when Sookie broke off the kiss she gasped, and her smile turned shy.
"I missed you." she whispered. Sookie rubbed her face against my chest and I knew I had to get to our talk before I decided to forgo it all together...just to have her.
"You are dismissed." I told the wolves. I wanted them gone.
Alcide huffed, "Goodnight, Sookie. See you tomorrow."
Sookie pulled away from me, but took my hand. "Have a good night Alcide. Tell Tray I said Goodnight."
"Will do, Sook. Night, Northman." Alcide turned and walked over to his truck. Tray had already climbed in and he waved out the window at us.
Sookie tugged at my hand, "Let's go inside." I felt her getting a little nervous and I tried to calm her with my own feelings as I followed her in. She pulled me into her living room and we both sat together on the couch. Sookie tucked her legs underneath her and clasped her hands tightly together and I angled my body so I could face her. I wanted to pull her into my lap, but decided to get through this before she could distract me, so I left her sitting at my side.
"Sookie, we need to talk about what happened the other night." I started, when Sookie looked at me expectantly. "I think it is time to make clear what is going on between us."
Sookie nodded but stayed silent. I could feel her weariness and it made me reluctant to move the conversation forward, but I knew it had to be done. "Last night you scared me, Sookie." I chose to say this first, since it seemed to be the hardest thing, to admit my weakness. The rest would come easier after I got this out. "Not only did you scare me, but you wounded me as well."
Sookie's eyes filled with tears and sadness flooded the bond. This was not what I wanted. I reached over and covered her hands with my own. "Lover, I do not say this to upset you. I say this so we can avoid problems like this in the future. You make me happier than I have been in centuries. I wish for many, many more centuries of happiness with you." I dropped that little bomb and Sookie's eyes widened, but I did not relent, "The thought of being apart from you is like a stake in the heart. I suppose I have not been clear enough in my feelings for you. I am not used to experiencing these strong emotions, and it can be a bit taxing at times, but I find I would not want it any other way. I assumed you would feel my love for you through our bond and know it to be true, but I suppose the ears want to hear what the heart already knows, so let me make myself clear...I love you, Sookie Stackhouse. This one thousand year old Viking vampire sheriff is in love with you. I do not want anyone but you and I do not have any intentions of giving you up."
Sookie's tears spilled from her eyes as she leaned forward and wrapped her arms around me. "I love you too." she said softly before she pulled away. "I'm sorry I freaked out on you the other night. I just feel like I am waiting for you to wake up and realize that I am not worth all the trouble." Sookie took a deep breath. "Everyone I have ever loved has left me, except for Jason, but he doesn't concern himself with me very often." I growled at that. Her brother was useless.
"Sookie, I am not going anywhere. I have been around for a thousand years. I plan on being here a thousand more. As to my realizing you are not worth the trouble, well, if that was the case I would not have bonded with you."
"Yeah, but Eric, when you met me I was just some human girl, now there is all this..." Sookie waved her hand in the air, "fairy stuff, Princes and guards, and wars. It's so crazy."
"I like a little adventure. What is the point of life without a little fun?" I tried to joke but turned serious when I said, "I know it is overwhelming for you, lover, but you will adjust. It won't always be like this. There are times of peace. It can be dull for decades at a time. Trust me."
Sookie laughed at that. It was a weak laugh, but it was a crack in our intense mood. "I look forward to that."
"As do I." I gave her a soft smile before I asked, "I am curious, how did you come to hear my conversation with Preston last night?" I had to know.
Sookie looked down at her lap. I didn't like that one bit. "I heard him."
It took me a moment to register what she was saying. "You mean you could hear his thoughts?"
"Yeah, and a lot clearer than before. Weres too." Sookie did not look happy about that, though I thought that it was good news. I would have to ask her later what she heard.
"You are not pleased." I said stating the obvious.
"It's hard enough hearing humans, now I have to listen to everyone else too. It seems the only ones I can't hear are vampires."
"Has there been anything else?" I wanted to know what other effects her spark was having on her.
Sookie hesitated for a moment, "Well...I dropped some change earlier on the floor and it rolled under the couch. I picked up the couch easily with one hand to get to it. It was pretty wild."
"Anything else?" I asked. It seemed like she was holding something back.
"It seems my hearing, with my ears, is better and I see better too." she shrugged. "Not much else."
"Sookie?" My voice was sharp.
"What?" Sookie's face turned bright red. 'What is she hiding?' I did not answer her. I just stared at her. "Okay!" she said exasperated. "Fine, I'll tell you." Sookie huffed. "You know, this bond can be a pain in the ass sometimes." I could feel her embarrassment, but I didn't understand it.
"You're killing me. Just tell me." She was driving me mad.
"I've been having dreams about you." I did not think her face could get any more flushed, but it did. "Explicit dreams..." Her eyes wandered around, looking at everything but my face. I reached out and took her chin in my hand, forcing her to look at me.
I had hopped she was having dreams about me. It was common for bonded couples to dream of one another, or so I had heard. I had hoped this would be one of the side effects. It would only make her want me more. The dreams I had been having of her had definitely left me wanting her. "So have I." I admitted.
"You have?" Her eyes widened and her lust rose. I had to suppress a groan. The effects she had on me were unmatched by anyone I had met during my time on this earth. 'How does she do it?'
"Yes, my lover. The last dream I had was this very day. I was in your bed and you were naked beside me, your warm body pressed up against mine." I released her chin to run my fingertips down her arm and she shivered. "I flipped you onto your back and tasted your sweetness." I lowered my hand and ran it over the soft skin of her thigh. Sookie closed her eyes and I leaned forward to touch my lips to hers.
Sookie tasted like heaven, but before I lost myself in the kiss, I pulled away. There were still a few things we needed to talk about. "Lover, there are a few other things we must discuss." I said grudgingly.
Sookie opened her eyes and sighed. "Okay." she said drawing out the word.
"About your guards…I do not like them in your house. They are guards not friends."
"Eric! You can't tell me who I can have in my house." Sookie's voice grew hot, and I could feel her ire rise.
"I will not have my lover entertaining men while alone in her home. You touched the wolf. I could smell it." The words came out a little harsher than I intended.
Sookie's eyebrows flew up. "I did NOT!"
"Yes, lover, you embraced Alcide. He told me himself."
Sookie thought about it a moment, "I might have hugged him, but it wasn't romantic! I was thankin' him for cuttin' up all that wood." Sookie protested. "I hug my friends all the time. It doesn't mean anything!"
"Does it not? So it would be fine for me to go and embrace some of the fangbangers at Fangtasia?"
"What! No, that is not the same at all!"
"Isn't it? The fangbangers would be touching something that was yours, as your "friends" would be touching something that is mine. I think it is very much the same." 'You are mine, love.'
"Eric..." Sookie started but I cut her off.
"No, Sookie. Would you like it if every time we embraced you smelled another woman's perfume on me? That is what it is like when you let others touch you. There is a reason we vampires do not touch one another often. We can smell the scent left behind by a touch. I do not like smelling the scent of other men on your skin." I growled out the last part.
"Oh." she said as if she just finally understood and her smile returned. "I never thought of it that way. I thought you were just being a super-possessive boyfriend, but now I understand where you're coming from."
"Good." I smiled back at her, even though I was not sure I liked the term she used for me…"boyfriend".
"I can't promise not to touch anyone, but I will do my best to refrain from doing it intentionally. I usually avoid touching anyway because of my little problem. It makes their thoughts clearer."
I was sufficiently pleased with that answer, and was feeling pretty good about our little talk. I could tell Sookie was as well. I found that I felt as if a weight had been lifted from my shoulders. Sookie and I were alright. We would be alright. Honesty seemed like the best policy when dealing with my lover, which is why I had to tell her about our trip to see a demon. "Thank you, lover. That's all I can ask."
"Eric, is there something else?" Sookie asked. 'She was right. This bond can be a pain in the ass.'
"Yes. I think I have come up with a way to keep Preston and Gersemi from bothering us further." I said and explained to Sookie all that happened after she left and all about my dream with Gersemi.
"Do I have to be there?" I could feel Sookie's apprehension.
"Unfortunately, you do my love. The contract is bound in blood."
"Why does everything have to involve blood?" Sookie scrunched up her nose in a cute way.
"I supposed because blood is the essence of life, my lover." I took my finger and tapped her on her scrunched up little nose.
"Alright. What time do we have to meet them?" Sookie resigned.
"We will meet at 11:00 PM. So, my lover, that gives us time..." Sookie's delicious lips were on mine before I could finish my sentence. 'Enough time to play out the dream that was interrupted.'
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A/N: Thanks for reading! I look forward to hearing your thoughts.