Rasul escorted me downstairs to one of the meeting rooms. I could hardly contain myself, I was so excited at the prospect of going to live in Shreveport. I kept hearing Eric's words telling me to survive and be patient. And now, hopefully my wait was over.

Rasul left me alone in the conference room and I sat for a few minutes listening to my own heartbeat.

The door opened and Eric and Sophie-Anne entered, followed by Minh. I stood and smiled at Eric, who looked very serious. I nodded to the Queen who ignored me and I said hello to Minh who said a quiet hello back.

We all sat at the table.

"I'm doubling Sookie's salary," Sophie-Anne began with no introduction.

Minh took out a pad and pen from his jacket pocket and made a note.

"She is to be provided with room and board and a personal bodyguard twenty-four hours a day. Human during the day, naturally. She will have a cook and a cleaner at her disposal as well."

Minh kept writing.

"And of course, a car, and the expenses that entails. What else? Oh, and appropriate clothes. Eric will continue to pay the expenses to keep her house as well as the one she recently inherited from her brother in Bon Temps and continue to send us the bill. If you can think of anything else, take care of it, alright? Just see to her needs."

"Of course," Minh answered.

"You're excused," she said to Minh and he stood and left quickly.

"Now," she said to Eric, "You have her room ready?"

"Yes. We're all set. She'll want for nothing and be very comfortable."

She turned to me and said, "Do you want to go live at Eric's house?"

"Yes," I said, trying to contain my eagerness.

"Now, if for some reason you don't want to live with Eric, I want you to call me and tell me. My cell phone number is in your purse. Even Eric doesn't have that. We'll keep you safe, but here's where that 'happy' part comes in."

She leaned forward, looking me directly in the eye and continued, "You are in my retinue, but you are not in Eric's. There is a big difference. You are not required to let him feed from you, have sex with you, own you. Do you understand?"

I was not expecting that, but said, "Yes, I understand."

"Do you understand, Eric?"

"I do, Your Majesty," he replied.

She returned her attention to me and said, "If you aren't comfortable at Eric's house, we can work something out so that you can live in Bon Temps. Or if you prefer, Magnolia Grove. They're both close enough to Shreveport."

I must have looked a little confused, so she went on, "Eric is buying that property there and tearing that ridiculous house down. You can have whatever house you choose built and live there if you'd like."

"Thank you," I said to both Eric and Sophie-Anne.

"I'm working on that 'free will' thing. How am I doing?" she asked.

"You're doing fine, Your Majesty," I said.

She stood abruptly and left the room without another word.

Eric and I just sat and looked at each other for a long moment. I could hardly breathe.

Finally, he stood and walked to open the door. I got up and followed him. Rasul was waiting in the hallway holding my purse.

"Have a safe flight, Sookie," Rasul said as he handed me my purse, and then he bowed his head.

I nodded and said, "Thank you, Rasul." I looked to Eric, "We're leaving now?"

"The plane is waiting," he said.

I hesitated, wondering if there was anything in my room I needed. I thought of my car in the parking garage. It became clear very quickly that there was nothing that I needed here except to get out.

"Good night," I said to Rasul and I started towards the door with Eric right beside me. I was free to leave and I was leaving with Eric.