We had many more guests that night after our conversation and my rest in Bill's arms. I was happy that Bill had helped me into the shower to get cleaned up because I had been in no shape to receive guests. I also had been wearing an awful hospital gown but Bill helped me change into a pink wrap-around gown Amelia had brought for me. Bill of course brushed my hair.
After a while I'd thought they had installed revolving doors in our room as we had so many guests: vampire kings, weres, shifters and a few humans sprinkled here and there. Eric never did return and Jason never made it, though I never really expected him to. Everyone noticed that the welts were slowly disappearing but no one stated the obvious, "vampire blood" thank goodness.
The kings all had sent elaborate flower arrangements and praised my bravery and offered Bill their approval in his choice of mate. I just wanted to slap all of them.
As they were leaving King Russell turned to Bill and advised him, "If you ever decide to get captured again, make sure she is your bed mate. She will go through hell to find you. She would even foolishly stand up to (vampire) kings to secure your safety." Bill nodded and pulled me close to him, we heard the kings laugh as they left our room. I slapped Bill in the arm for that one, but I should have hit the wall instead; it might have stung less. Bill just laughed and kissed my hand.
Through Pam we were informed that Eric had made arrangements with the King of Wyoming for our safe passage back to Bon Temps. We would be flying out in the king's private plane at a time of our choosing to secure our safety. The plane would be on standby for immediate departure and no one but our group would know when that would be.
We would helicopter out from the hospital's roof to a private air field, Eric would fly the helicopter himself –that Viking never stops amazing me. As the nursing staff would be led to believe that it was a medical emergency no one would be the wiser during our departure, plus they would all be glamoured to forget we were ever there.
I had to admit that they had their shit together in Wyoming; we had guards protecting us at all times and we had an entire hospital wing to ourselves. Dr. Ludwig came in and gave the green light for me to travel – she gets around I tell you. With Dr. Ludwid's all-clear my biggest fears were getting on the helicopter, the plane and telling Bill that Niall was more than just a regular fae. You can say I was wrapped tighter than the strings in an official World Series Baseball ball.
I'd wondered who was footing the bill for all of this but Bill explained it had all been taken care of by the two warring parties and the King of Wyoming. Apparently, Bill's capture was not sanctioned by either King and the news of my guards being traitors surely pissed them all off. So they figured they owed King DeCastro; not Bill and me but DeCastro. Vamps, sometimes they get me so mad I can spit.
We took the helicopter to the plane and flew back home. Bill, Eric, Pam and all the other vamps flew in their coffins so I had to handle my fear of flying on my own. If I hadn't been on medication I would have swallowed down enough gin and tonics to knock myself out for the entire trip and a couple of days after that. It is on moments like these that I wish Bill could glamour me. I had no idea what was going to happen with all the coffins once we landed but I'd heard Eric say all had been taken care off. He still hadn't said a word to me since my little outburst at the hospital even though I knew he had more to say to me about 'us'.
When we made it to Bon Temps, the plane was met by Alcide, Calvin Norris, a large group from their packs and some other people that took charge of the coffins and our luggage. This definitely wasn't what I thought Eric meant by things being taken care off. I expected Eric's daytime man Bruce and others but not Alcide and Calvin. I guess Eric figures as I'm a friend of their packs they would watch over me and keep me safe, I thought to myself.
Alcide and Calvin both hugged me and shook their heads in disapproval when they saw the remaining marks on my face, arms and neck. Alcide broke the ice saying "so, I hear you kicked Eric's ass across the room, wish I'd been there for that." I asked him how he knew as I was certain Eric wouldn't share that with him and neither would Bill, after all Alcide is a were.
He informed me that Niall had visited and had explained the situation to them. It was Alcide that first explained what it was that happened to Bill and me and why he would accept our relationship, even though reluctantly.
"He loves you but he was not supposed to and you also fell in love with him. You are part fae, he is a vampire but he never knew what you are. Yet, his love grew without that knowledge. Without him you would never have come to your acceptance of your heritage."
He continued, "Eric loved you but he knew you to be fae and that is from where his love grew. He made a blood bond without your full understanding even if it was for your protection; and a fae, even part fae must never enter into a bond unwillingly. The only time he was unaware of your gifts was when he was under a spell and that is why that love was different. Your bond influenced your feelings for each other but the fae in you would not let you stay with him in bond."
"Only one unaware of your fae could remain with you, only one willing to die for you without that knowledge would be deemed worthy by your fae fate. You felt his pain because the fae in your heart loved him as he loved you. The fae in you called out to him, it grieved his loss and shared in his pain. He would have finally died if that pain had not been shared."
"Niall explained that it was not supposed to be this way but there is something in Compton that had not been found in another until now. I don't know what that is but I will accept your choice and offer my congratulations; but I am not happy with it as he IS a vampire and I don't trust any of them."
When he was finished my jaw was practically on the floor and my eyes felt as if they were going to pop out of their sockets. I was so confused, why would Niall share so much with them and not me. I was barely able to get the words out, "why did Niall tell you all this and not me?" "Because he came to request and demand our assistance in case you died but we'd only help to retrieve Compton and not kill him if he gave us the entire story" Alcide stated flatly. Calvin only nodded in agreement but did not say a word.
Well what the hell am I supposed to say to all that… I went with politeness (gran had raised me right).
"Thank you Alcide and Calvin, I…, we really appreciate it. Yes, he does love me as much as I love him. It hasn't always been perfect but nothing in life is and loving him and him loving me is as perfect as I'd ever imagined love to be; even though he is a vampire. I'm just glad neither of you got dragged into our 'vampire shit'."
That got a good laugh from both of them.
"Oh, you mean like we've dragged you into our shit time after time? Good one Sookie, come on, lets get you home." That made me smile.
Alcide drove me home and Bill's coffin was left at my house. I wanted him as close to me as possible. Alcide also left a couple of weres to guard us and Amelia put up a ward around the house just to be on the safe side before she left with Tray. She said she knew we'd want some privacy when Bill woke.
It felt a little creepy to have a coffin in my gran's old room but I got over it quickly as I pictured Bill waking and finding me in the bed next to his resting place. I imagined all the things he would do to me once he woke up and had to shake myself back to reality before my desire and lust burnt me up alive.
I took a shower hoping that would help quench my lust and passed out the moment my head hit the pillow. I'd left Bill a note taped to his coffin and an identical one taped to my dresser mirror letting him know that there where weres guarding the house.
'Bill honey there are weres outside. DO NOT KILL THEM!
They are from Alcide's pack and are here to protect us and Amelia put a ward around the house.
Please don't go anywhere without waking me.
I Love you, Sookie'