She wasn't really going to kill the insignificant little thing, she just wanted to scare her, she wanted to scare her so badly that she would shudder at the thought of even darkening the door of Fangtasia. Bill Compton looked to Erik with pleading eyes.

"Erik, you cannot condone this." He implored his sheriff.

Erik laughed at this, Bill's anxiety over the safety of his waitress was a never ending source of amusement to him. He never had to feel that fear when it came to Ingrid, she was strong and powerful and resilient... She didn't need a protector, she needed a partner, an equal.

"I do not control my wife Mr. Compton, she does as she pleases.

Wife, he loved how that word sounded on his tongue, especially when referring to her. It was overwhelming, feeling what she felt. He could feel her primal urge to rip the humans head off, her desire to discipline the insubordinate vampire before them... But he could feel something else... Suspicion...

"What is it?" He asked dropping his gaze to her, she had her head tilted to the side, her eyes narrowed as she looked between Bill and Sookie.

"They have been everywhere, everywhere we have been they have been, like an annoying little fly that will not leave... But this is one coincidence too many. Of all the places one strolls, you walked along here... Away from the direction of your family home... You have been following us? Spying even?" Ingrid said her posture suddenly going as straight as a board, it was the posture of an adult that was talking down to a misbehaving child.

"Is this true?" Erik responded, he didn't need an answer, it was written all over their faces, they had been trailing them, Erik had been so consumed by Ingrid he had not even noticed them lurking in the shadows of their life.

"Erik, we had to, we had to make sure that Ingrid could be trusted, that she didn't have you under some kind of enchantment... Vampires should not be able to do what she does, she nearly killed Sookie, she is a liability. And now, this evening, we catch you doing what can only be described as witchcraft. This is a dangerous game you are playing, there are lives at stake."

Oh how bill the martyr liked to go on, Erik could feel his teeth grinding together, his jaw ticked as he listened to Bill list of the ways he found his wife to be untrustworthy and suspicious. His hands balled into fists, his fangs already itching to be released, his body begging him to pounce and tear Bill's brain from his skull. He was nearly going to do it when he felt the warm touch of Ingrid's hand squeezing his. She felt like fire and sunshine, she was like his own personal Xanax.

"Easy my love." She said softly to him, sensing how messy this was about to get, feeling his rage roll off him like flaming hot lava.

"What I do not, and never will expect you to understand, Bill, is the lengths I will go to ensure I never so much as see my wife slightly perplexed by something, note my use of the word WIFE. You and your human fuck toy just invaded one of if not, THE most important moments of my very long life because you are intimidated by my WIFE. I will say this once, and once only. Stay away from her, stay away from me, we will get Russel without you. Neither of you are as important as you think you are. Even THINK about Ingrid again and I will turn that little blonde thing next to you into one of my vampire children and I will command her as her maker to feast on every human in this shit hole town. Now, get the fuck out of my presence before I change my mind and do it right now anyway." Erik was seething, he had never been so furious. He had never felt so possessive, so protective. Ingrid could handle herself but in that moment he didn't care. No one would ever even attempt to act like they did not like her in his presence or he would rip them to shreds.

Bill could evidently see this, he wasted no time, he scooped up Sookie and was gone in an instant, tail between his legs like the coward he was.

"I can speak for myself you know." Ingrid finally spoke, he could tell by the smirk she was wearing that she was more than pleased with his little display, even if she felt the need to say anything to the contrary.

"I am fully aware, but I appreciate you allowing me to say my piece."

"Consider it a wedding gift, it will never happen again."

He laughed at this, he knew she was not joking, usually if he attempted to speak for her he was promptly told to shut the fuck up.

He went to her, wrapping his arms around her waist he scooped her slender frame up with ease. "I have a surprise for you." He said planting a kiss to her soft plump lips.

"Oh? Is it gruesome?" She asked her eyes suddenly lighting up.

"Not this time my love, but first, we need to change." He put her down, not wanting to face the wrath of carrying her again they ran back to Fangtasia.

"What is it I should be wearing to this surprise of yours?" She asked trawling through her suitcase.

He had already organized an entire team of builders and designers to revamp the basement for the three of them. His bride deserved nothing but the best and living out of a suitcase was not the best.

"Something, upper class..." He grinned.

He washed away the blood, somewhat unwillingly, he liked it there, he liked feeling her very essence soaked into his skin. His fingers traced over the scar on his chest a faint grin remaining, that would always be the most perfect reminder, a perfect imperfection.

He changed into a fitted black shirt and pants, he slicked back his hair, his eyes looking for hers. As she emerged from the back he inwardly groaned. She looked like sex personified. Donning a black satin dress it hugged in at her waist and clung to the delicate curves of her ass and breasts the hem stopping just above her thighs. She wore black stilettos that were high enough and sharp enough to cut a mans throat like butter, her fiery locks flowed to one side keeping that long elegant neck on display.

She gave him a knowing grin, of course she did, she could feel everything he felt now, she could feel the lust flowing from him in waves.

"You really do want to test my patience don't you?"

"Oh, only everyday of our lives..." She winked.

"Come on, we have an appointment but, I will enjoy ripping this off you later, piece by piece." He said softly in her ear, it satisfied him to see a shiver run down her spine at this statement, his hand grabbed hers knotting their fingers together he lead her back out of the bar and into his car.

"Oh what luxury, taking a car." She teased.

They drove in comfortable silence, his hand rested casually on her thigh, his thumb stroking soothing circles on her creamy skin. He drove two towns over, everywhere was closing up except for one store. A high end Jewelry store to be exact. Erik pulled up outside, in lightning speed he was out of the car and opening the door for his new bride.

Climbing out she looked at him curiously "we are going shopping?"

"sort of." was his only response as he took her hand and lead her inside the store.

It was clearly very expensive, porcelain tiles reflected diamond chandeliers above them. Rows upon rows of counters were filled with expensive looking watches and bracelets.

The mousey looking female clerk sat behind the main desk, Ingrid knew Erik had to have glamoured her to make her stay open this late.

"Mr. and Mrs. Northman. We have been expecting you. Just one moment." The human beamed, she had a smile that was hiding the fear in her eyes at being alone with two vampires, Ingrid could hear how her human heart galloped at their presence.

"Mrs. Northman is it? I do not recall agreeing to take your name." she said nudging Erik with her shoulder. In truth, she liked it, she liked the thought of being a Northman, that was always what she had wanted, what her destiny had been leading up to. For her to be his...

"Shut up, Mrs. Northman."

Before she could respond again the clerk returned holding out a black velvet box.

"It was made to your exact specifications Mr. Northman." She said handing the box over to him.

"Many thanks Colette, go get the rest." He waved her off dismissively turning his attention to his wife.

"The minute you walked back into my life I had this made..." He opened the box, inside sat a ring made of white gold, the diamond on it was in an oval cut, large and impressive, but it had threads of black running through it, to many it would look like the diamond was tainted, but to Erik it was her, something so beautiful, something so dark, his infatuation. The band was thin and had smaller diamonds encasing it. When Ingrid saw it her mouth dropped open, never had she seen such a piece, it was her personified.

"Erik, how did you possibly find the time..." She marveled, he plucked the ring from the box, taking her hand he slipped it onto one of her slender fingers. It fit her perfectly, she looked down at it, watching how it caught the light no matter where she moved. Before she could speak the human returned with a larger box, Ingrid shook her head.

"Erik, you do not need to do this. I do not need things..." She was telling the truth, all she needed was him, nothing else.

He smiled down at her "you do not need them but I want you to have them. I want you absolutely dripping in my wealth, in our wealth, at all times." He knew it was possessive of him, shallow even, but he wanted the world to see her covered in riches, his riches, because she was his and no one else's. He was staking his claim, she was going to look so ethereal that men will fear looking at her.

He took the larger box from the human without so much as a second glance, the box opened with a creak revealing a delicate head piece inside. It was glittered in black and white diamonds, the shape of a crescent moon adorned the center, had Ingrid been human her heart would have surely stopped when she seen it.

"When I make you a queen, I will put this on your head and you will wear it always."

Her fingers traced the intricate work of the crown, it was like something she once would have dreamed of as a girl, when she was merely a Volva, when her dreams were simple... For years she had imagined what it would be like being his queen, sitting by his side, ruling... He was always destined for greatness. Even now standing before her she could see his potential, he had always been a king to her, but now she would place him on a god tier. To hell with the gods, Erik deserved to be worshipped more than them.

She looked at her would be crown one more time before closing the lid on the box "the day we take our rightful places amongst these idiots you can put that on my head, and I will never take it off..." She said reaching up she placed her hands on either side of his face.

To touch each other now felt like touching an open flame, dangerous, exciting.

"You know this world better than I love, how do we accomplish such a feat?"

Erik smiled a sinister smile at this question "the authority, they have to go. Once we get rid of them we can swoop right in and take over."

He leaned forward, his lips pressing to hers, every time he kissed her he felt transported back in time but now. It was like he could taste the sea air of Sweden on her lips and he wanted to drink her in entirely.

"And not to worry my queen, I already know exactly how to get their attention."