"I'm not …" She looked down on herself and sure enough, she was stark naked. She rolled over, not realizing she was so close to the edge and ended up bouncing onto the floor. Pam rushed over and covered her with a blanket, kneeling beside her.

"Kris, when I told Eric he couldn't have sex with you, I also meant you couldn't have sex with him."

Shaking her head, Kris said, "No, no. Pam. I didn't! I mean, well, I'm on his bed, yes, but … Oh, god."

"What?" Pam asked alarmed.

"I … I had a dream I was a … tiger and walking around … but I don't really remember anything else."

"A dream? Vampires don't dream," Eric pointed out, sitting on the edge of the bed.

"No, it wasn't a dream," Pam pointed out. "The leftover chicken Lucas didn't eat, it's gone. Something ate it."

"Not something, Pam. Me. I still taste it."

Eric stood and walked to the door, bent over and ran his finger over the scratches in the wood. "You tried to get out, also."

Kris's eyes flew open. "Did I … I didn't hurt …"

"No, honey," Pam said soothingly as she brushed the fair from her face. "We're fine. But you left your slobber all over my neck."

"Huh? Oh, sorry."

"Do you remember how you felt before you fell to sleep?" Eric asked as he stood by them.

"Yeah. It was like my body was going to explode. And … didn't I remember you saying I had a heartbeat?"

Pam nodded before she looked up at Eric. "When is the next full moon?"

He frowned before his eyes widened. "Last night. But she changed during the day."

"What does that mean?" Kris asked confused.

"You're not a Shifter. You're a Were."

"Huh? I don't feel like I'm aware of anything."

Pam chuckled. "No. There are werewolves and apparently were-felines."

"Werewolves? Oh, come on! Get serious."

"Kris, you humans had vampires as myths to scare little children into staying in at night. That's not the case now. We are real. There are also werewolves, fairies, real witches, and I'm sure others we are not even aware of yet."

"Okay, okay. One fairy tale at a time, here. I'm still trying to get used to being a vampire."

"Kris, you're right. I know it's a lot to handle. Why don't I get you a human for you to feed then we can go get you some clothes. And Eric, can you take her to bathe? She's stinking like a cat."

"Hey! I'm offended … I think," Kris said then smiled.

"Damn it, Eric!" Kris gasped as her head popped out from the water of Lake Bottenhavet. "You could have at least put me down on the shore!"

He flew above her and grinned sadistically. "Then it wouldn't have been fun hearing you scream as you were falling."

"Bastard," she mumbled then dove down deep, letting the cold, refreshing water surround her in the new environment. She was amazed how much she could see underwater, as well as be able to keep under for more than five minutes.

When she came up she was struck with how beautiful the area was, and it was so serene. It was deathly quiet, and the trees were covered thickly with snow. On the shoreline she could see it was foaming, as the cold air met the warmer water and it froze the mist.

Then she realized Eric was no longer above her. "Eric?" she called out.

"Over here," he replied. She turned to the voice and saw his head bobbing on the surface about a quarter of a mile away.

She dove again and swam toward him, making it to him in seconds. She was about to surface when she saw his feet, and at first was going to grab his ankles and dunk him under the water. But then she saw his thick calves and muscled thighs, and her eyes automatically went upward to his erect penis. She would have choked and drowned if she were human. Pushing herself up from the bottom of the lake, she ran her palms through her hair and looked at Eric somewhat shyly.

"What's the matter? See an amazing snake or something?" he asked coyly.

Knowing exactly what he meant, she replied, "Nah. I think it was a sea worm." She went to the shore and grabbed her shampoo and soap.

"Good one," he said as he followed her out.

When she turned around he blocked her path. The almost full moon's rays beamed down brightly on his smooth, white skin, beads of water dripping down from every muscle and curve of his body.

"You like?" he asked seductively.

"No. I'm just wondering about that leech on your left testicle," she snickered and went back into the water.

"You are a brat," he said as he sat down on the pebbled beach and watched her.

Going only far enough that the water was just below her shoulder blades, she realized something she hadn't thought of. She wasn't sure how she would undress and not let go of the items. Cursing, she hollered out to Eric, "Hey! Catch these!" She threw them before he could even reply, but he caught them both.

"You don't have to yell. I can hear you just fine."

Pulling down her pants and sweater t-shirt she threw those. "Incoming!" she screamed then threw them toward the shore. "You need to work on your catching skills. Okay, throw the shampoo first."

"Yes, your highness," he smirked.

"Now that's more like it," she teased back.

She took her time washing her hair and cleaning up, not that she was putting on a show for Eric because it was probably the best bath she'd ever had. "This is just what I needed. Throw the towel, please," she asked. He only stared at her. "I said please." He still just stared at her, but then he was grinning. "Damn it!" she huffed as she walked out of the water, not bothering to cover herself. He had seen her naked before and she didn't care. That time, however, she did care. She reached for the towel, making sure her ass was facing the water, grabbed the towel and wrapped it around her.

She had no idea why she was being so defensive, but it might have had something to do with the fact that his penis was standing at attention, and apparently needing some. But she wouldn't give in, no matter how badly her body wanted it.

"Pam happened to like my body," he retorted.

"Right, and look at her fashion sense. That doesn't say much, does it?" She narrowed his eyes down at him. "All I ask is for a little consideration, Eric, just a little. Now, I am going to dry off and dress behind you, and I swear, if you turn around—"

"I won't," he said.

"Yes, you will. I don't know how much nicer I can say this, but please give me some privacy so I can change without you drooling."

"Can I watch but promise not to drool?"

"God! I can't believe Pam put up with your ass for as long as she did!"

She grabbed her clothes and stepped behind him, dressing as quickly as she could. By the time she turned around he was indeed eyeing her. "Have I told you are a bastard, Eric Northman?"

"Yes, but I've been called worse. But let me ask you this: When you were in your saber form, why did you happen to curl up at my feet?"

She sat down on a small patch of grass along the tree line at a safe distance. "I can't answer that. I don't remember what I did or thought."

"There must have been something there if you did."

"Please don't psycho-analyze me, Eric. I know diddly squat about my feline side, and I can't tell you what was going on in my head. I won't lie. I think you are hot and sexy. But you are Pam's Maker, and it wouldn't be right."

"I released her, remember? The same rules do not apply. Taboos are non-existent with vampires."

"I don't care. You're kinda sorta like my aunt's ex-boyfriend."

He laughed. "Stop being so human," he snickered.

"You think that's funny, that I'm no longer human? The only thing I'm glad about being a vampire is that Pam is my Maker, not you. And I don't have to stay here with you," she snapped and ran off into the woods.

Kris didn't know the way back to the cabin, but she didn't care. She loved the freedom she had, and she just ran. However, she didn't get far. Eric flew down right in front of her, and she smacked right into him .The impact was so hard that he went flying back, but he was in control, and they came to rest in a soft landing. She ended up straddling him, her hands on his shoulders; he held onto her with his hands on her hips. And he was still naked.

"Eric, let me go!" she snarled, barring her fangs. They stared at the other for what felt like an hour. "I'm serious!"

"I took my hands of you five minutes ago," Eric stated. Sure enough, his hands were behind his head. "And why are you fighting it?"

"I'm fighting nothing," she spat, hitting his chest. "Damn it. You are the most—" Suddenly she cried out and grabbed her stomach, grimacing in pain. "Oh, god."

"Perfect timing," he grumbled. "Your Maker is calling you."

"How the hell … ow! … do you know?"

"That pull you feel in the pit of your stomach is Pam summoning you."

"How do I … get it … to stop?"

"You go to her."

"But I don't know where she … hmph … is."

"Follow your instincts. Let it lead you."

"But I …" she felt something drip from her nose. After wiping the blood away, she turned her head to where she thought it was coming from.

Standing up, she closed her eyes, searching blindly for which direction to go. To the right and she ran off, then straight for a few miles then to the left. She stopped because the pain vanished, and she didn't know where to go.

"Where does your body want to go?" Eric's voice echoed around her. "See her in your mind, hear her voice."

Closing her eyes, she tried to sense Pam and wanted the urgent sensation to come back because she didn't feel anything. "Eric, I don't …"

"Yes, you can. Feel her, Kris. Smell her." Butterflies erupted in her stomach, and she turned sharply to the left. "Yes, that's it."

Again she ran, dodging thick trees, her hair blowing behind her, snow kicking up in her wake as she raced north. Suddenly she recognized a valley that she'd seen from the mountain top. Smiling triumphantly, she skipped the last mile, taking her time, singing and humming.

"I did it. I did it!" she screamed then cackled as she approached the cabin. She passed the snowman and gave him a high five, but the tree branch arm flew off into the woods.

"KrisLyn!" Pam screamed at her, though her voice wasn't angry. "What the hell took you so long?"

Kris's eyes flew open in surprise. "Are you mad? I didn't know—"

"Pam," Eric interrupted as he landed, fully clothed, beside Kris. "She did well. She came as soon as you summoned her … well, except for the last mile."

Kris was about to thank him for defending her when he blew it. "Tattle tale," she huffed, giving him a dirty look.

"Brat," he glared down at her.

"You big fat butt!" she retorted then burst out laughing because it was becoming silly to her.

Eric grinned then said, "I disagree. It's nice and tight." He turned around and put his hand on a cheek, looking down over his shoulder. "Don't you think?"

"Douche bag," Kris replied.

"Stop!" Pam fussed, looking between the both of them trying to decipher the tension she then felt. "I only called you, Kris, because Eddie is here."

"Oh, okay, cool. I'm hungry." Opening the door she looked back at Eric. "Thanks for … helping me back."

"You're welcome, vortskämda lilla fan i det mesta."

"Hey! Are you going to let him call me that!" she asked Pam, though she tried to hide a smile.

"Well, you are acting like a little spoiled shit," Pam replied as they entered the cabin. Kris went straight to the fire. "Why are you doing that? He's ready."