A/N: Last chapter before the Epilogue. I'm sad it's ending, but glad I got to tell this story.


Chapter 48:

SPOV

After shaking himself of his bloodlust, Eric swooped me into his arms, crushing his mouth against mine, needy for the contact. His hands roamed everywhere. I was aching for him. Ready to fuck him right here and now – Pam and Thalia be damned. But he broke the lusty haze before I could divest us of our clothes.

"Lover, I did not realize it was you." He hung his head – I could feel his shame.

I stared into his ocean blue eyes, "Forgiven and forgotten, Errrriiiccc," I purred. My lips tried eagerly to close the space between us. He trembled at my words, but held a frown on his face - his brow furrowed.

"No," he said, somewhat irritated that I was blowing it off, "You must know I was not myself. I would never seek to harm you. I am ashamed of myself."

"There was no way you could've known it was me," I whispered into his ear, rather seductively, if I do say so myself.

"But Pam? Thalia? They both saw you. They knew it was you." He was a dog with a bone – he wasn't going to let this go.

"No, baby. Not really," I said, a bit more shortly than I meant to. I wanted to move past this conversation. I could understand his desire to apologize, but I was as excited as a kid on Christmas morning – I could barely contain myself. And not just because I planned on having amazing sex with him for the rest of forever.

"Explain," and then through gritted teeth and fangs, "Please."

It pained him to say it, and I felt a pang of regret – my own. I was subdued at his words. He wasn't raining on my parade; he was upset and I was being insensitive.

I begrudging pulled back from our embrace. I couldn't concentrate when I was this close to him. I was encircled by the group. They all wanted to know how I had managed to save myself – and I was eager to tell them how I had saved us all.

"I have so much to tell you…"


***Flashback, after Niall kidnapped Sookie, before the others stormed the castle***

I snarled at him as he smiled at me. Not a wicked smile, but still it was an inappropriate gesture considering the circumstances.

"Great granddaughter, I am going to give you a choice. But you must understand that no matter what you choose, your Viking will meet his true death."

"Nothing of the sort is going to happen," I snapped back at him.

"Tut-tut, great granddaughter. I had hoped you would be more…accommodating, considering the circumstances." He tapped his fingers rhythmically on the cell bars, "We all have our place in this world – be grateful you have a choice at all. Now, let's…clean you up."

With his last words, a cloud of fairy magic surrounded me, washing me of Bill's blood, and re-clothed me in a pale blue cotton dress. It was similar to the outfit I wore the last time I had been in the Faery Realm. It seemed…fitting that he chose this dress.

"Much better," He said smiling and preening, as proud of himself as a peacock.

"Don't look so smug with yourself, faery. I could've done the same with a shower." I spat at him, my fangs on display. He ignored the threat.

"You have the gift, my sweet child – ultimate power over your race. I could tell as soon as I had you in my embrace. Your gift, you see, is from the gods. They have blessed you. I knew it would be you, I knew it," Tears were glistening in his eyes.

Gag me with a spoon.

If he thought I was going to celebrate with him, he had another thing coming. I was sick that my own blood, my own kin, would stoop so low. He was grinning like the Cheshire cat, so pleased with himself. But his behavior told me one thing for certain: he was definitely in the dark when it came to the true extent of my gifts.

I no longer regretted my previous hesitancy – waiting would make this all the more satisfying.

"You spoke of a choice?" I said softly, playing weak, fragile Sookie. It was…unsetting to think that was how I used to be. Afraid, willing to concede without a fight. I was not that girl anymore – I wasn't a girl at all, in fact. I grinned a little – he was in for the biggest shock of his long, long life.

"Yes, of course; down to brass tacks," He paused, pulling up a chair and sitting next to the bars, but out of arms reach, "You must understand, you are a blessing, a savior to the fairy race. A prophecy foretold your arrival thousands of years ago, and here you are. The gods do not give gifts away lightly – you must sacrifice one of your kin, someone you love."

He paused.

"Your Viking has been granted access to the Summerlands upon his true death. You can stake him yourself, sating the gods and singlehandedly saving the fairy race. Or, I will stake your Viking, your maker, and your protector. I will rip them all to pieces, and watch you suffer in this cell until the next savior fulfills the prophecy – only then will you be released to spend your eternity with the vampire. You see? Either way I fulfill my promise to the little warrior who squired you."

I narrowed my eyes at him. His features softened, no longer carrying the harsh countenance of the menacing fairy who had just threatened my family.

"Dear child, I do not wish to bend your will this way. I love you, but I am also a prince. I owe the fairy realm my life and servitude. I am duty-bound to my kingdom. Surely you must understand that your life – and the life of your Viking – is being traded for the continuance of an entire race. The needs of the many outweigh the needs of the few. Tell me, what is your choice?"

"I choose to sacrifice you," I whispered ominously, grinning from ear to ear.

Before he could respond, I shifted, letting my fairy-self take over. Popping out of the silver-lined cell, I stood directly before him. I grabbed him with the talons of my true fairy form. I could hear his frightened thoughts, wondering how it was possible and why it seemed impossible to escape my grasp.

"You were right about one thing; I do have ultimate power over my race – both of them."

His eyes widened and I pierced a hole into his chest, letting his blood dribble out little by little. It was painstakingly slow, taking hours and hours. As the blood left his body, and he crumbled to dust in my hands, I felt revenged and expunged of all the evils he had exacted upon me and my family.

My keen senses then heard my vampires upstairs and I rushed to join them.


***Present Day***

"I never lost my fairy blood," my ultimate secret now exposed, "I was more fairy than vampire when I walked in. I didn't transform back until after you grabbed me, that's why you couldn't tell. It's not your fault."

"You kept this from me." It was not a question.

"A small omission," I said smiling – he was outwardly pouting, but our bond was teeming with pride, "It was of no use before, Freyda's dungeons were lined with iron – I couldn't 'pop' us out; It was better you didn't know until now; it gave us an advantage. I couldn't risk you doing something foolish. Plus, it's been a very, very busy night."

Eric roared with laughter at my joke – since I had always been the one to act irrationally – and responded, "A busy night indeed, my little fairy-vampire."

"What if I make it up to you, all of you?" I said, licking my lips, hungrily.

"A foursome? Oh Sookie, we accept!" Pam chimed in.

"Eww, Pam! No!" I hit her playfully on the shoulder.

"Much much better than that. Niall gave us our happily-ever-after and more," I said as a decanter full of crimson liquid appeared in my hand, "A rare delicacy. The 3500 year old blood of a fairy prince. A toast. To love, to fate, to family."

"Here, here."


A/N: More in the epilogue, which should be up before you finish this chapter. Thank you to everyone who followed this story, favorited it, and reviewed. I am humbled by the response to this story.

Special thanks to:

Sluggysmom, MsBuffi, BttrflyBelle, YikesYahooYum, Suki59, BookLover345, and Ashmo2000

Honestly, there were times I got discouraged writing this story and your PMs (and reviews) really helped me to reignite my passion to finish this strong.