Disclaimer: everything belongs to Charlaine Harris

Eric stopped me at the back door, drawing Karin into Fangtasia at the same time. He came very close and inhaled deeply, a sad signal that Eric also suspected this might be the last time we saw each other. As he expressed his "affection," I tried to shut down my emotions, but I still suffered a surge of adrenalin that left my skin feeling electrified. I'd been planning for this moment in my mind, but facing it for real was not something I was looking forward to.

Eric ushered me toward his office; Karin had taken up guard duty outside its door. I stepped inside and my heart sank as I took in King Felipe de Castro of Nevada, Arkansas, and Louisiana, and Queen Freyda of Oklahoma. Plus Horst and Angie Witherspoon. Witnesses, great. I wondered if I'd be forced to watch Eric and Freyda marry on the spot, but I suspected she'd want more of a public show than this back office could provide.

The royals - and Pam - greeted me briefly, then Felipe began solemnly. "Sookie. Eric has called you here to release you from your marriage to him."

Although I'd known it was coming, the effect was like getting slapped in the face with a large dead fish. When I was certain my voice wouldn't quaver, I demanded, "Is there some paper to sign, some ceremony? Or shall I just walk out?"

"There is a ceremony."

Of course there would be. Felipe explained the procedure, involving the same knife with which Eric had tricked me into marriage so many months ago. I needed to ask some questions first.

"Before I do this, I'd like to know, what is it worth to each of you that I go along with this? I'm the one giving up Eric, but I haven't heard the first thing about what I'm getting in return. I know he has a contract" - I waved a hand toward Eric - "but I have agreed to nothing." I was learning more about my reputation among supes all the time. Tonight I planned to live up to it - Sookie Stackhouse, Queen of the Unexpected.

Eric hissed my name, and Pam tensed with alertness. Eric urgently commanded, "Sookie, you can do nothing, and you must be careful. You have no idea what harm could come to you."

I told him sharply, "Oh, I think I have a pretty good idea." After what I'd been through, I knew more about what harm could be done to me than I'd like - and I'd also survived. "You have my affection, Eric, but I'm addressing the monarchs." Let him stew on what it really meant that I was no longer his. Felipe and Freyda needed to know I was not here as some jilted girlfriend desperate to hold on to her man. I was Sookie Stackhouse, and I deserved better than this.

Locking eyes with Felipe, I continued. "Eric married me in the first place to cement my allegiance to him and protect against you - or Victor - taking me." I couldn't afford to be sentimental about the circumstances of our marriage right now. "We saw how well your other promise of protection held while I was being tortured. With Eric gone, I can only assume there will be an increase in supes trying to kidnap and use me. This doesn't sound like too good of a deal to me. So tell me, what is my compliance worth?" I crossed my arms under my breasts and waited.

Freyda leaned forward in a predatory way, elbows on knees, and Felipe took a step toward me. Uh oh. But then he plastered on a fake smile. "Of course you have many...assets of which I would love to take advantage." Oh, yuck. Felipe leered at me.

"However, under the terms of the contract, no vampire may harm, use, or taste you, and Eric's progeny Karin will stand watch over you for one year. In exchange for these provisions, Eric has agreed to a marriage term of 200 years rather than the usual 100. That protection, dear, is what you are getting out of the deal."

I glanced at Eric quickly then returned to Felipe. With more than a little sarcasm, I replied, "Wow, how generous. It's not like supes or humans have ever attacked me in the daytime. Or like vampires have ever broken their explicit promises to protect me. I'm sure a night guard for the blink of an eye in vampire time will totally cover it. So thanks for nothing, you all. I'll keep it in mind." I could not be any more tired of vampires deciding what was best for me.

Eric broke in urgently. "Sookie, you couldn't possibly know what I am giving up to keep you safe." Freyda glared at him, and I was sure Eric would pay for that comment later. I didn't let him speak further.

"Eric, you are anything but naive, so don't be stupid. I appreciate Karin, but I will be protecting myself, during and after the year. You know I've managed it before." I wanted to reassure him with my steady gaze, but more importantly the vampire royalty needed to know that Eric leaving didn't make me easy pickings. Or at least that I wouldn't go down without a fight. Eric finally caught on to what I was doing - that I was focused on ensuring my own safety - and gave me a small, respectful nod.

I turned back to Felipe. "So, is this nobody-eats-Sookie plan in effect now, or not until these two are officially in wedded bliss?" Perhaps Freyda was tired of being ignored, because she spat out, "It is in effect. The contract is signed, and Eric is mine. The wedding is a formality, and not even you can interfere. All that remains is the divorce. Let's get on with it."

Fine. After receiving the knife, Eric and I both sliced our skin and said the words, that our blood belonged to each other no longer. I made Eric go first, then I looked him square in the eyes as red droplets made their way from my arm to the rug, the second in his office that I'd ruined with my blood. For one moment it was just me and him, and I was really glad he could no longer feel my emotions through a bond. Felipe broke our attention with words to Eric as he sniffed the air. "You are giving up more than I ever imagined." Ugh, I needed to keep them reigned in. I held onto the knife.

"Felipe, do you know why you think so, and why I survived Lochlan and Neave's torture?"

The King looked at me with pointed disinterest. "We all know of your dab of fairy blood."

"Oh, it's not just that. I survived because I am one of the toughest humans you'll ever meet." I gestured at myself with the bloody knife for emphasis, wondering if any of them would try to retrieve it. I could feel Eric's eyes on me. On second thought, I almost missed the bond in that moment, because I was pretty sure I would have felt a push of pride. "And I survived because that dab is the blood of my great grandfather, Prince of the Sky Fae, Niall Brigant."

Freyda tensed, confirming my suspicion that Eric would have tried to keep some details of my fairy connection from her. She spoke neutrally, "I understand the fae have left this land."

I grinned at her. "I'm the one who knows how to reach them." I was deliberately planting seeds of doubt about what I might get up to, as I'd planned when this little scene had begun to seem inevitable. "Now, I have no intention of working to keep you and Eric apart." It was true enough, really. "And I won't contact my relatives unless I have no choice."

Waving the knife around at the vampires for emphasis, I reminded them, "You all just need to keep in mind that I'm nothing to discount, on my own. You both know of many who are no longer here following a confrontation with me." I looked pointedly from Freyda to Felipe. I hated to seem like I was bragging about my handling of Debbie, or Bruno, or Lorena, or any others, but these two needed be discouraged from coming after me. I wanted them to think I might be too much trouble to mess with. "No attacker had better break that contract. I'll hold you all personally responsible."

I took a hard look around the room at the monarchs and Eric, then turned and strode out of the office with my head held up, leaving the vampires staring silently after me. I saw some new respect on Karin's face as I shut the door behind me and collected her from the hall.