Chapter 24

The day came. It felt surreal but as my bags were packed and I boarded my flight I knew there was no fighting the reality. I was going to witness Hell all over again. The last time I'd been in Texas it was a disaster. Aside from being kidnapped by vampire hating extremists, I also had a run in with the vampires here after the fact. The same nutcases from The Fellowship of the Sun had targeted a nest here. They had succeeded in killing more humans but still, my face wasn't associated with anything good. Just because I was granted a pass didn't mean I was welcomed.

On the tarmac of the little air strip were three cars. There were six vampires present.

"Brings back memories, eh, Bill?" Victor asked coolly.

Bill scowled and shot the Lieutenant a look that could chill ice. That, of course, made Victor smile. Victor Madden smiling was an unsettling thing. In that blink, I saw the thing that made my father keep him after all the little power moves he'd tried to pull. I saw a vampire-eating shark in a GQ suit.

"Are you going to be like this the entire trip?" I asked. Seriously, the plane hadn't even stopped moving.

He nodded his head in a half-assed show of what supposed to be an apology. "The Princess was kind enough to inform me that I come off as egotistical, cruel, and acerbic." He replied brushing imaginary lint off his shoulder. "I was making small talk in the hope of appearing more amiable."

It was very clear that he didn't care what I thought about him. It was doubly clear that he was just trying to be a dick. He was trying to box me into a corner. If I asked him to stop trying to be amiable he would be his usual self and that was almost just as bad. That was the thing about Victor. He could heel, but you had to make him. I didn't feel like making him.

"Victor has lead," I said.

Bill had a problem with that, but he knew better than to voice it at least in the open. We filed out of the plane and it was showtime. We got in the cars and began our hour long drive to Dallas. There wasn't a single word exchanged. The two vampires Stan sent drove. I was on my handheld and Victor looked as if he had gone into down time, though with him he might just be faking. You never knew with him.

I'd been hoping to stay at a hideaway. Ideally it would be somewhere close to the border of the state, small and quiet. That hope went to shit when the city of Dallas began to fall behind. A half an hour later I found myself in the suburbs of Dallas. If the four mile driveway or guard towers were any indication, I was about to enter the court of King Stan.

We cleared security and Stan himself was waiting on the front porch to greet us. He seemed to have dressed for the occasion. By that I meant he wasn't just wearing his usual white shirt, thin black tie, and black slacks. He had paired the ensemble with a black blazer that had nothing to do with the rest of his outfit.

When Stan saw me, he beamed a smile and I returned it. I guess we were just going to forget that the last time I was in his state, all hell had broken loose. That was fine by me, blood under the bridge and all that. I walked up to him, gave him a curtsy, and a deep nod of my head. He was obviously taken aback by my show of proper decorum.

"Your Grace," I greeted.

"Ms. Stackhouse," He replied, descending the steps. "I must admit that I am captivated all over again."

"His Majesty is most kind."

He held his hand out for me and I took it. Stan led the way into the house and everyone else followed. Bill and Heidi broke from Victor and me when our bags were delivered. They would follow Stan's people to the rooms where we would be staying while we were here. Victor and I sat with Stan in a living room.

"Victor, this sort of thing isn't typically what you do," Stan began.

"If it pleases my King to cause me pain, then it pleases me to suffer," Victor replied in a droll voice. I was sure he was meant to be funny and he was. We all shared an empty laugh.

"And you," the King said. "I have heard so very many stories about you, telepath."

"Do you believe these stories?" I asked. Since Victor had come in with a joke, I knew that was going to be his angle. There was only room for one of those in any conversation such as this.

"It matters very little," He replied. "I have accepted the terms set by your King. It bars any questions. Felipe also requires that you remain within my eye sight at all times until I hand deliver you to him in Oklahoma."

I already knew that and he had to know. Yet, Stan's eyes were on me silently begging all the questions that he had agreed not to ask. Stan was wondering why any King would call in a boon with another just to secure the safety and security of what was supposed to be just an asset to his state.

He could draw whatever conclusion he liked, all that mattered was that he adhered to the bargain he had with my father. If he didn't, Stan wouldn't see the next moon. That was one of the many reasons why my dad had sent me out of town with his most vicious hound. Victor knew it too. He was begging for Stan to violate the terms.

"Rest assured I will conduct myself in a manner befitting the most respectful guest," I said.

I spent the two days by Stan's side. It told me that he respected and feared my father. The first night, when I tried to leave the room while Stan had an orgy, he stopped everything. The King of Texas made damn sure I didn't leave the room. He offered me a blindfold and noise canceling head phones, but that was it.

Stan had his orgy and Victor joined. All the while I pretended not to hear. It wasn't a big deal. It was just blood and sex. So what if they were the two things I was lacking because my mate left me? That wasn't a big deal. My heart was broken and my mind was locked in a match that I couldn't afford to lose. Why couldn't my body get in line?

One of the Kings guards opened the door and a dark-haired male model walked into the room. He was meant to tempt me. His grey-blue eyes were riveting. He was the total opposite of Eric and that both doused my need and made me want him. Politely I refused the offer. If I said it was easy to do so, I would be lying. On the upside tomorrow was my last night here.

I kept vampire hours because it made the most sense. I was sealed in a day chamber that could endure a nuclear attack until dark. When I was freed, I went about getting dressed. I had help so it didn't take long. When all the servants were gone and I was alone, I took a long look at myself in the mirror. I wasn't even sure how to feel about what I saw. I thought this was a part of my life that was long over. The floor length gown I wore was custom-made by one of Zee's designer friends. It was silk and lace. It was a lesson in the finer things; elegance and privilege.

The jewelry was an emerald and diamond necklace that belonged to the last Queen of Italy. It was a present from my father on my thirteenth birthday. It matched the emerald tiara my father bought me for the occasion. I was sure it belonged to some Queen that he admired from long ago. He had it modified so I could wear it subtly as a head band. It would be bad manners to upstage a vampire bride even though that was exactly what I was doing.

I saw the helicopter and knew that it was time to head out. If Stan thought it was odd that my jewelry cost more than his royal court, he didn't show it. Victor, though, gave me a look that was equal parts resentment and appreciation. I couldn't even imagine what was behind either emotion. During the flight I did my best imitation of a vampire in down time.

I had to make sure I had myself in check every step of the way. I had known this day was coming for three months. Yet, I still didn't know what I felt at possibility of seeing Eric again. I knew I wouldn't until it happened. There was no kidding myself. I knew it would be bad. I also knew I would have to deal with it, but it would have to be at home.

A half an hour later I was gazing down at the Oklahoma City skyline. It might just be my emotions coloring my views but the view was piss poor. The helicopter touched down on top of a skyscraper downtown. Long before the elevator doors opened I knew my dad was here. I was eager to see him. It was mainly because I knew he wouldn't let me fall apart. This was going to be one of the hardest things I'd ever had to do. I needed the only man I could trust to help me find an even keel. This wasn't just another battle of wits. It was personal.

The King was leaning casually against the side of the Mercedes, looking for all the world like he waiting for a bus to take him to whatever ball for which he was dressed. Of course Sai was there, a silent hulking figure at his right hand. Tension evaporated as I made my way to him. I knew it would return. Tonight was going to full of politics, but for right now, I was happy just to see his face.

I curtseyed and bowed with a big smile on my face. He didn't smile back at me, he couldn't, not with so many witnesses, but he nodded his head. Sai nodded too; making a grand gesture of it as he waved his hand for me to rise. I didn't say anything for the same reason my father didn't smile, but my bow wasn't meant for him and he very well knew it. I rolled my eyes, we'd been together for all of sixty seconds and my brother was already trying to annoy me.

My father had me against his side while he exchanged greetings with Victor. It was a big deal that he acknowledged me before his lieutenant in front of company. It didn't matter much anyway. My own great revelation was coming soon. Victor slid into the passenger side of the car and I followed as my father talked to Stan.

"See old friend, your worry was for naught," My father said. He was using the voice and smile that was meant for the masses, both humans and vampires alike. He was being the handsome, charismatic Spaniard he was known to be.

"Yes, which makes me wonder," Stan agreed. "She is different than when last she was here. What did you do, for that matter, what is she to you?" He was eying me.

"Sookie is my most prized and beloved possession," My father said. "The payment we have agreed upon will be delivered per our discussion." Taking a step back he nodded, effectively ending the conversation. "We are all guests of her Majesty's wedding and it would bode ill to be late."

There was a convoy of cars lined up in front of the glass building. They were all headed toward the same direction. The first two belonged to my dad. Last night Bill and Heidi had left Texas to come here to meet my father. They were driving and riding shot gun respectively. Behind them were two others of The King's guard, Otto and Galleon.

My father seldom left his Kingdom and when he did, he traveled with his full entourage. The fact that he was traveling light to an event of this caliber would throw many of people off, which, of course, was the point. I knew the King's guard though none of them knew what I was to the King. They had all seen me come and go, but none of them knew my title. My dad might have trusted them with his life, but not mine, so I knew the two he had brought were almost as skilled as Sai, hence my brothers warning.

Galleon was known as 'The Berserker'. His suit did nothing to conceal his ferocity. The look in his eyes made me believe that the only thing that got him out of his coffin every evening was the possibility of killing someone, several someones if possible. Otto, on the other hand, looked like he could be an accountant.

It only took ten minutes to get to the venue from the drop site. This hotel was obviously the best in the state. It was grand and it was obvious that it was vampire driven, operated, and owned. It wasn't a common chain, but its grandeur was old world, refined, and classic with just a hint of Victorian air. It was an elegant hovel if you wanted my opinion. Drawing in a deep breath, I redirected my thoughts because even in my head that sounded extremely catty, petty, and bitter. All things considered, I decided to cut myself some slack.

The car stopped and my body reacted, no matter how hard my mind tried to regain control. My heart rate was picking up. I could feel tension creeping into my bones. Perhaps what was worst of all, I felt my desperate attempts to control it all and I couldn't. My father glanced at me from the corner of his eye.

It was just a passing glance that wouldn't even be enough for to tell most people anything, including vampires. To me, it spoke volumes. It told me that not only was my behavior unbecoming, it was also shameful. I pulled in a breath. I held it until it was almost uncomfortable then I let it out. After that, I had my head back in the game where it firmly belonged.

Galleon 'The Berserker' was to act as my guard, as was Heidi. Victor was at my father's left hand. Bill was behind Sai on the right, and if Compton puffed his chest out any further he might just explode. Freyda was either expecting trouble or she was just paranoid. My money was on the latter. By the time we arrived, the ceremony was over which I was equally angry and glad about.

Everyone that was early or on time only caught the wedding reception. Security was tight for all, but I knew that once the Oklahoma vampires saw my face they went to DEFCON 1.