Chapter 55

I woke up the next day about an hour before the sun set, I began to crawl out of bed Eric pulled me tight, "Stay" he mumbled. "I'll be back in just a minute; I have to go to the bathroom." He released me and I was a little sore in my upper abdomen as I walked across the floor, but I didn't care it was well worth it. I took care of necessities and then crawled back in bed and Eric wrapped himself back around me and we went back to sleep. Eric began to stir at sunset. "Lover, we need to get up and get showered and ready to meet the King."
I sighed out loud, "Can't we just stay right here in this huge comfy bed for the next couple of days?"
"Sookie, come on, you'll feel better after a hot shower. I'll wash your hair, come on." He scooped me up out of the bed and carried me to the bathroom. He started the shower making sure not to get it too hot for me. He washed my hair and washed my body, he ran his fingers over the spot on my neck he had bitten me, the marks were almost completely healed, anyone, human or vampire would have to be nibbling on my neck themselves to see them. They probably would have been completely healed if Eric hadn't sucked so hard and made such large holes. As he ran his fingers over the healed bite marks I felt the his blood stir. "You want to feed before we go?" "Do you mind?" "I wouldn't have offered if I minded. We will just need to leave in time for me to get something to eat too." "Where?" "I don't know, someplace I can get a steak or grilled chicken." He laughed, "Where do you want me to feed from you. You have gotten very good at telling me when and where you want it. I just wanted to know if you have a preference now." "Oh, um, no, you can choose, anywhere you want." "Anywhere?" "Yes." He bent down on his knees and leaned me back against the shower wall he started kissing me just below my navel working his way straight down then he bit just above my well trimmed pubic hair line. This was a new spot. It actually hurt a little bit and I winced. He looked up at me and I smiled and closed my eyes and ran my fingers through his hair. As much as I wanted to take this to the next level I knew we had to get dressed. I put on my black suit with pink pin stripes with the pink shell and black strappy shoes. Eric wore a black suit with a dark grey button down shirt and black dress shoes.

We left and stopped down in the restaurant so I could eat before we headed out. I sat at the table staring at Eric. "Lover what is it."
"Eric, you are beginning to look like you have been spending time in the sun. I hadn't noticed until know. No wonder people are having a harder time telling you are vampire."
"It's from your blood, I have fed so regularly on you that I have a more consistent color from your rich blood. It is not unheard of but it is not common."

We left and drove west out of the city, we drove for about 30 minutes and then turned off of a side road. I could see lights in the distance and it didn't take long for me to realize we weren't on a side road but we were driving down the drive or private street to the King's Palace. It was exactly that when we pulled up in front of it, it looked like something out of a movie. It was a dusty rose to blend with the dessert around it with great domes and columns and arched window or at least the façade of windows. As with any good mansion or palace there was a huge circular drive with a water fountain. There was a red Ferrari parked in the front of the house as well as a black Hummer. I really didn't want to get out and go in, I don't know why but I just didn't want to. "Lover, everything is fine. Let's go in."
"How do you know everything is fine? You have no idea why he wants to see you."
"It is customary that the Sheriff of an area visit the King when he or she is in his home town."
"OK, let's just go in and get this over with." Eric got out, came around and opened my door and took my hand and held it all the way to the door. When the door opened Eric put his hand on the small of my back and guided me in before him. The butler showed us to a sitting room, "The King will be with you in a moment." We actually waited about 20 minutes.
King de Castro entered the room, we stood and bowed waiting for the King to speak. "Northman, you look well. Miss Stackhouse you are as beautiful as always," he took my hand and kissed it gently. "Please be seated. Can I have Schmidt bring you anything? Anything at all?" We both respectfully declined.
"I enjoyed the party, I hope the trouble you had with the FOTS was not serious."
"No King, it was just a group of unorganized members. A woman Sookie used to work with knew of the party and she and her boyfriend were trying to earn some points with the group."
"I see. I watched the way your group of friends rallied around you Miss Stackhouse. Quite impressive."
"Thank you sir, Eric and I have some very loyal friends."
"Dear, vampires do not have friends."
"I beg your pardon sir, I have very loyal friends and they are loyal to Eric because of their friendship to me just as Pam serves Eric and by association she watches out for me."
"Yes, but where does Compton fit into all of this? Which of you does his loyalty lie with?"
I was confused by the question, but Eric answered, "Bill is loyal to his kind, he obeys me as his Sheriff. It is a well known fact that he and Sookie have a past and Bill still seems to care for her. I believe his loyalty lies with both of us and since we are a couple we both have his fidelity."
"Am I correct though that Bill did not tell you the truth about his initial involvement with Miss Stackhouse?" This question made me a little uneasy but I tried not to let it show.
"At the demand of the Queen of Louisiana at that time. But you knew that already. If you don't mind me asking King de Castro, is there a point to this questioning?" Eric was very polite in his question.
"I have suspect that I have a thief in my ranks in Arkansas and I wondered if we could get Compton to infiltrate the group as a rouge using you and his undying devotion to Miss Stackhouse as a reason. But I need to know that I could trust him to report all findings back to you and this would then be kept between the four of us. I normally would not involve a human in my business, however, Miss Stackhouse you have proven yourself more than loyal many times over to the vampires of the world, now that you officially belong to Northman I believe it is important for you to know all the details in case you are confronted in someone trying to prove or disprove Compton's story." I had a bit of an issue with his statement about me belonging to Eric like a piece of property instead of his future wife. But I had gotten used to the fact that not all vampires were capable of understanding a relationship such as ours.
"Have you spoken to Compton yet," Eric questioned.
"No, he should be arriving any moment. I wanted to speak with you first." Filipe was strictly addressing Eric at this point.
"I believe Compton can adequately do as you require and he will be able to draw from some truth based on the current situation."
"If you have complete confidence in him then I will give him instructions tonight," as if on cue Schmidt walked into the sitting room and announced Bill's arrival. "Show him in." Bill actually had a look of surprise on his face when he saw Eric and I sitting in the room with de Castro. "Come in Compton, have a seat." Eric and I were still seated on the love seat and de Castro in a oversized chair Bill slipped into a the oversized chair opposite of the King after giving a significant bow. After he was seated he nodded towards Eric and I. Schmidt interrupted again, "Sorry Master, but the call you have been expecting has come in."
"Excuse me I will return as soon as possible. Let Schmidt know if you need anything." We all stood as the King exited the room.
Bill spoke, "Sookie, you look more radiant then ever. Your new life seems to be agreeing with you. Eric, you look well fed."
I felt a bit of anger rise in Eric and I put my hand on his so he would think before he spoke, "Bill, we are very happy and very content with our lives and everything it entails."
Schmidt stepped in, "Can I offer you anything Miss?" "No thank you." "Gentlemen, we have all blood types in synthetic or we will have donors arriving within the half hour." "No, nothing for me," Eric spoke. Bill looked at me and then Eric, "I will take an O+ for now, thank you." Bill usually preferred A+ before he met me but out of spite for Eric he was drinking my blood type.

The King re-entered the room and filled Bill in on our conversation up to this point, leaving out the fact he wanted to know if he was obedient and could be trusted, then he proceeded to tell us all what was suspected of going on and what exactly he wanted from Bill. Schmidt interrupted again to let the King know that the donors were there. "Show them to the usual area, I will join them shortly." We finished our conversation and the King gave final instructions. "Would either of you gentlemen like to join me in partaking in the donors?"
"Thank you King, I do believe I will join you." Bill cut me a glare. He was right that there would have been a time it bothered me, but I honestly didn't care what he did.
"Northman?"
"No King, I appreciate your generosity but I have fed tonight already."
"Yes, I see that, you do have a very well fed color to you."
Bill butted in, "Eric only feeds from Sookie now. They are completely devoted to each other." He spoke in a very condescending tone.
"Is that true Northman?" The King looked astonished.
"Yes, yes it is true. And the arrangement is working out quite well as you can tell."
"Miss Stackhouse, I hope you realize what a great honor it is that Northman has bestowed upon you." He was speaking very matter of factly.
"Yes sir, I do and I am very honored." I had this kissing the King's ass thing down pretty good. There were lots of other things I wanted to say to both the King and to Bill.
"If you are finished with us we will take our leave King." Eric was as ready to leave as was I.
"You are dismissed," He and Bill got up and walked out of the room.

We got in the car, "Sweetie can we just go home? Vegas has been great but I am ready to get back to our home and start planning our wedding."
"Do you want to try and catch a flight tonight or wait until we awaken tomorrow?"
"It's not quite midnight, maybe we can catch a flight tonight, if you don't mind."
"Whatever you desire." He flipped open his cell and called the airline, he booked us on the 1:30 flight that gave us enough time to get our things from the hotel, turn in the car and make our flight. We would be home in plenty of time before the sun rose.