I woke up feeling happy when I felt my vampire mattress beneath me and realized where I was. But then I felt sad because I knew I'd be leaving after dusk to return to New Orleans. I hoped Eric was coming with me, but knew that we wouldn't be able to have privacy like this at the palace.

I turned the light on and reluctantly got up to use the bathroom. I took a quick shower and put my clothes back on and then sat on the bed and watched Eric. I'd never get tired of looking at Eric. Even though it was odd to watch a person sleep without breathing (I'd never seen Bill in his daytime rest), he still seemed so peaceful and of course, looked quite beautiful. I'd missed him so much since Magnolia Grove. It seemed like a world away.

I couldn't stay and stare at Eric all day since I was getting quite hungry, so I kissed him on the lips, stood and picked up my purse. I grabbed Eric's card key from the floor where he'd dropped it while we were kissing. He won't be needing it today, I thought.

I found Ross sitting in a chair outside the door. He stood as I came out into the hallway.

"I'm sorry," he said. "I hope you don't mind that I got a chair to wait."

"Of course not. Have you eaten?"

"I had a late breakfast, but that was hours ago."

"Well, I'm hungry. Let's go downstairs."

Ross and I ate his dinner and my breakfast in the restaurant in the lobby. Then he waited outside my room as I changed clothes and repacked my bags.

I wheeled my suitcase to the elevator and up to Eric's room and told Ross to go and get his own things packed as soon as the sun set.

"I'll be with a vampire, obviously, so I'll be fine. We'll all meet in the lobby to go to the airport, I guess."

"I'll be here until dusk then," he answered as he sat in his chair.

I closed and locked the door once I was in Eric's room. I turned on the bedside light, took my clothes off and settled back on top of Eric and just relished the feel of him beneath me, waiting for dusk.

I was almost asleep when I heard his fangs click down and felt Eric get hard. I kissed his chest and lifted my head to look at him. He had a huge smile on his face.

He wrapped his arms around me and rolled us over so that I was beneath him. He just looked at me smiling for a moment and then started to laugh a little.

"Did I crush you last night? Are you okay?" he asked.

"I'm fine." I smiled back.

"And do you still love me?" he teased.

"Completely."

He became serious and said, "I want to wake to you every night, Sookie."

He kissed me gently and then held me close. He said into my ear, "I never should have left you in Magnolia Grove. Can you ever forgive me?"

I started to cry as I remembered the nightmare that followed our parting. I saw Jason's open eyes as he lay dead on his sofa. I thought of how afraid and alone I'd felt going to New Orleans, not knowing what to do next, and of how alone and trapped I'd felt since entering the palace.

Eric went on, "I should have gone with you and made sure you were safe. I must have been out of my mind to let you go alone. It was a mistake. Can you tell me what happened?"

"I don't know what happened. Jason was dead when I got there. So was the sheriff's deputy in front of the house."

Eric looked at me and wiped the tears from my eyes. "Had I been there, perhaps I could have turned him. Would he have wanted that?"

"I don't know. We never talked about anything like that."

"And what about you, my love? What would you wish? For yourself, I mean."

"I … uh … I don't know."

He kissed me tenderly again.

"Wait, I do know," I said. "Yes. Turn me. If one of the bad guys gets me, turn me. I want to be with you."

He just nodded.

I added, "I mean, I don't want to be turned now. I just mean, if I die. But I don't want to die."

"Nor do I want you to, love. I'll do everything in my power to prevent it."

Eric kissed me again, this time with more passion, but he was still gentle. His hands began to caress my body and I opened my legs for him to enter me. It was slow and reverent-so unlike the frenzied coupling of the previous night. When he told me he loved me, I cried from the beauty of it and he held me and kissed away my tears. He fed from my breast as he always had in Magnolia Grove.

Afterwards, when we were lying in each other's arms, completely happy and sated, Eric broke the spell by saying, "You need to get dressed. Your plane will take you back to New Orleans."

"You're not going with me?"

"No. I still have meetings here. I can't tell you how I agonize every night at the thought of your being at the palace without me. Have you been bitten again?"

"No. The Queen said I could wear the choker all the time. And I never go into the parlor."

"That's good. The Queen is beginning to understand your value."

"I told her I love you. She asked me. I hope that wasn't a mistake," I said.

"No, it's fine. She's not a fool. I'm pretty sure she knows what's between us now. She's had some time to adjust to the idea and has shown none of the objection I'd feared. I'm hoping to use that to our advantage."

Eric's cell phone rang from the closet. He got out of bed and retrieved it from his jacket pocket. He looked at it and said, "Your car's waiting downstairs," as he tapped a message into the keypad.

I got up and started putting my clothes back on.

Eric said, "I wish we had more time. I have so much to tell you. Just know that I'm working on a plan that will get you out of the palace. Just try to hang on. It won't be much longer, I hope."

Once I was dressed, I handed Eric his room key from my pocket and picked up my purse. He walked me to the door and took me in his arms.

"Sookie, I didn't know about Bill. About why he went to Bon Temps."

"Okay," I said.

"Never forget that I love you and I will not stop trying until I can free you from the palace. Just stay alive and be patient. I'll take care of everything else."

"Survival is the first order of business," I said.

"That's my girl." He smiled a soft smile and kissed me.

When he broke the kiss, Eric opened the door to a waiting Rasul. Eric handed Rasul my carry-on bag and wheeled my suitcase out, completely ignoring the fact that he was stark naked. Rasul didn't flinch either. I blushed enough for the three of us.

Eric said, "I'll see you soon," as Rasul and I headed down the hallway. I waved my hand but didn't look back, not trusting that I'd be able to control my tears.

When we got into the elevator and the doors had closed, Rasul asked, "Do you mind if I ask you Sookie, are you Eric's?"

"Well, I don't know much about your rules, but yes, in my heart, I am."

"Thank you for telling me. I will honor your heart."

"Thank you, Rasul."

"You should put your choker back on."

"Oh, right. Thanks for reminding me."

I took it from my purse and Rasul helped me fasten it before we exited the elevator and found our waiting limousine to take us to the airport and back to my beautiful prison in New Orleans.