A/N - True Blood and SVM characters belong to Mrs. Harris, Alan Ball and HBO. Original characters and storyline are mine. All I can say is wow at all the support the previous chapter garnered. I throw a dozen cookies to each of you for all the reviews, feedback and alerts. Please enjoy.

Chapter 10

Scene 1 - SPOV - Disclosure

Eric emptied the mug he had caught, handing it to me for another refill. Pam was pouring the last vial from the first box, so I pulled the second over and began to empty it.

"Sookie, why don't you tell us about your day? It sounds like you had quite the adventure." Eric said as he ran a finger over the edge of his lips, capturing a loose bead of blood.

I shifted my gaze back and forth between them, "Really guys it wasn't that bad. The bar was full because of the new construction at the fairgrounds. You know about that right?" I asked Eric directly.

"Yes, I am aware of the development. I do not believe it will be successful, there is not enough traffic through the area to support such a large venue," he replied taking the glass I held out to him.

"Well, did you know that the development company was owned by a Mr. John Quinn?" I asked deciding to take all the vials we had emptied and rinsing them. The vampires did not answer me, just waited for me to continue. "Mr. Quinn came in to speak to Sam this afternoon, they had a business meeting. I guess Sam has been against the development, and as a business owner Mr. Quinn felt he needed to speak to him about his reservations." I saw that Eric had emptied another glass and prepared another. "Mr. Quinn brought a female companion with him; turns out she was his sister." I glanced up to catch Eric's eye, "she was the teenager held with you at the warehouse, the one we let go after Chow glamoured her. He said her name was Frannie."

Eric's eyes narrowed, "How interesting."

"Anyway, Sam asked me to watch the bar for him and when I stepped by the two of them Mr. Quinn got a whiff of my scent. I guess he had tracked Frannie back to the warehouse where my scent was the heaviest. He didn't know who I was until then. He knew she had been glamoured." I was getting hungry and since Eric had slowed down his rate of blood consumption I figured Pam could keep up with him. "I took Frannie's order for lunch, talked to Lafayette who gave me the message for Pam, and when her food was ready Mr. Quinn was waiting in the booth with his sister." I pulled out some bread slices; a chunk of ham, mustard and some cheese then poured a glass of Milk. "Mr. Quinn asked Sam for a moment to speak to me, which was granted."

I sat down next to Eric and took a bite of my sandwich, chewing slowly while I formed the words in my head. "He told me that I had a distinctive scent, one that he could pick out of a crowded building blind fold." Both vampires nodded in agreement, "He explained that Frannie had gone missing and that he had traded in some markers for information on her location but she got back to their apartment first, glamoured." I took a sip of milk then continued, "He then went on to say that he knew I was familiar with the supernatural world, told me he was a were-tiger and that word was out for people to give a head's up whenever I am seen." I looked right into Eric's eyes, "He said vampires are paying for information about who I belong too. He recognized your 'mark' as he put it. He congratulated me over my choice of protectors." I smiled wryly and finished up my sandwich.

"Eric is the perfect choice for you Sookie," Pam stated calmly, "There is no one who can care for you as he can."

I was taking the last draft of my milk and her words had the milk residing in my nose. I snorted and coughed while she reached over and slapped my back.

"You have to breathe Sookie," she admonished.

"I know Pam," I choked out trying to catch my breath through the milk and her forceful blows.

"Watching the two of you continue to bond is amusing, but I wish for Sookie to continue her tale," Eric said as he stood to get some more blood.

"Well I guess Quinn told me his story so that I would be intimidated because he demanded to know why I had taken his sister. I explained that I didn't know what he was talking about. I told him he should be thankful to have his sister back then stood to leave. It was late, my shift was over and I wanted to come home. He wasn't happy about it and he grabbed me." Eric growled at that point. "It's ok; Sam came over and put Quinn in his place."

Pam laughed, "Oh come now, the dog against the tiger."

Eric shook his head and I knew then he was aware of Sam's past. "No actually Sam shifted into a larger tiger and kicked Quinn's ass. When all the posturing was done, Quinn left and Sam clued me in on his old habits. Did you know about this Eric?" I asked wondering just how many more secrets my friends were keeping from me.

"I know what Sam is capable of. I would not have trusted your safety with him otherwise. He like Quinn, made a lot of people money in his younger days," Eric admitted as he drank the last bit of his blood down. He looked so much better now, the vitality pouring from his eyes and skin.

"So why do you treat him so nasty when you are together?" I questioned as I gathered the dirty glasses and began to wash them.

"He had a powerful position that he threw away when things did not go his way. He just ran away and now we have the likes of John Quinn to deal with representing his community. I have no use for cowards," he simply stated. 'So Sam told you about the arenas and you think you have figured everything out?" he asked me.

I shook my head, "Not just Sam," I pointed to my head. "For folks that keep saying what a wonderful gift I have, you all seem to forget I hear a lot out there which is left unsaid."

"I do not forget, though the way you are able to intuit solutions is fascinating." Eric admitted taking a now dry glass from me and placing it on the shelf that had been just out of my reach.

"So I was right?"

Pam had disappeared up the stairs to get cleaned up.

Eric guided me back to sit on the couch. We got ourselves situated so that we faced each other.

"You are correct about some things, the Hotshot connection for one. The fight clubs are a bit different, at least as far as your thoughts about ownership. They are privately held by a consortium based in another state, whose laws are not as strict when it comes to the usage of drugs."

He clasped my hands and his face took on a cold hard appearance. "Sookie you cannot tell anyone what you know about 'v' or the connection to the Queen and the others. By rights I should kill you now." My terror flared between us. He rubbed his fingers across my knuckles in reassurance. "You are right to fear the possibility, but not from me. Sookie this is where I hope the maturity you have shown since returning home is more than a facade. You must keep silent or you risk all of our lives, not just your own but me, Pam, Sam, your friend Lafayette and yes even your reckless brother." My eyes widened in apprehension. My brother is wrapped up in this too? I thought.

Eric let my hands go, "Your brother knew about the 'v' in Hotshot, he tried to keep your human drug enforcement agency from finding out about it to protect a woman. He is now considered an accessory in their eyes. Having any government agency watch over your shoulder is not a smart thing, especially when he has a sister with gifts like you have. So far you have kept beneath the notice of powerful humans. What do you think would happen if knowledge of your ability made its way to those concerned about national security?"

I was starting to shake. I had never thought about the ramifications if my power leaked out to those in the human authority. I only worried about the supernatural. You would think my experience with the Fellowship of the Sun and their condemnation of my association with vampires would have opened my eyes to the human possibilities. I felt tears gather in my eyes and felt my lip quiver. I had never felt as alone as I did right then. Would I ever find a place where I belonged where I wouldn't be hunted for my disability.

Eric pulled me close, leaning over to lick the tears from my face. "Shh, Sookie you are never alone, not anymore." He was placing soft kisses on my lips between his words. I had forgotten he would know my despair and loneliness through the bond. "You have me and Pam now, for eternity if you wish." He peered deeply into my eyes willing me to feel his honesty.

I smiled at him shakily the emotions behind his words were sincere, even if the context made me uncomfortable. I leaned into his ministrations then gently pulled away and rose to my feet. Pam was coming back down the stairs, dressed for Fangtasia. "Thank you Eric, I think I am going to go up to my room and relax for a while, maybe read, while the two of you catch up with things. I'll give you a bit of privacy."

"You're looking quite spiffy Pam, have a good night and thanks for finding the blood. Maybe he won't be so grumpy anymore." I laughed pointing at Eric who scowled. "Or maybe not, anyway, if you want you can keep some of your things here still, you know in case there is another emergency. I really wouldn't mind." I doubted that she would be staying here anymore especially with Eric close to normal.

"Thank you Sookie, I may take you up on that. We will have to go shopping some night," she grinned at me. "Eric can pay for it."

I snickered and waved, taking the stairs back up to my room. I flicked on the lamp next to the bed and picked up the book I had been reading. The hero and heroine had gone their separate ways once their mystery was solved though with three chapters to go, it was predictable that they would end up back together. If only life could be written in such a way. I dropped the book and slipped into a daydream.

My life was normal, no thoughts in my head that were not mine. My parents loved me, especially my mom. We spent a lot of time doing girl things together. Dad and Jason spent tons of time in the garage working on cars and Dad coached Jason's football team. We all moved into Grans house so we could take care of her. I was popular in school, the beauty queen and head cheerleader. I won scholarships and planned to take classes so I could become a teacher. I met a handsome charismatic man and we fell in love, his blonde good looks familiar. We had a fairy tale wedding...

I must have fallen asleep because the rumble of the hydraulics woke me as the house was locked down. I glanced at the clock; it was two am in the morning. I was a bit disgusted at myself for my dream; nothing was as perfect as that little fairy tale. My mother would have resented me even without my powers, for she had an unhealthy obsession with my father. Now I knew it was from the fairy influence, something that was inescapable. My Gran was the rock and my foundation, to wish for things to have been different would be a slight to her memory.

I felt icky from the day and still a bit tense so I decided to enjoy the oversize bathtub. Maybe a bit of scent, some candle light and some soft jazz would help me relax and remember what it felt like to be human.

I was humming as I lit the candles in the bathroom and set my iPod on the convenient base on the vanity. The iPod had been a gift from Jason after the Rene incident, his way of an apology, but the base was another one of Eric's ideas. The room was steaming now and I quickly stripped out of my nasty clothes, tossing them in the hamper before I sat on the edge of the tub and drizzled in one of my favorite comfort scents. The oil was heady with sandalwood, bergamot, vetiver and musk with a touch of wintergreen all combined for a rich woodsy scent.

I sank into the steamy aromatic water with a contented sigh, my eyes closing in bliss. I flicked the switch for the tubs jets with my toes and moaned as the pulsing water caressed my skin.

"To hear my name spoken in such a way," his rich voice rumbled, "would truly be a gift from the gods."

My eyes snapped open to find him standing in the shadows of the doorway, his eyes glowing from reflections of the candle light. He stepped forward into the soft light, dressed only in his boxers, alabaster body gleaming. My breath caught at his beauty, muscles flexing and sliding underneath his skin as he stalked toward me. He stopped at the edge of the platform, standing proudly under my admiring eyes. I reached out to touch a muscled thigh. "You are so beautiful," I whispered glancing upward to be trapped in the grip of his eyes.

"I want you Sookie," he whispered his eyes blazing, "the question is do you feel the same?"

I reached for him, my eyes never leaving his as my hands strayed to his waistband, one finger tracing the path of golden hair. I could feel him tremble under my touch, his fingers clenched at his sides.

"You have set the scene like a master, was it for me?" his voice a growl. His eyes asking a question. I felt the power in the moment. I could send him away with a flick of my wrist and he would leave without contest. I considered for a second then shook my head internally. No, I came close to losing him once; my pithy fears were not worth the gamble of turning from what I could find in his arms.

My answer was to tug his boxers down and watch as he kicked them away. My eyes dropped to the bounty standing tall before me and I reached to gather his length in the palm of my hands. He arched into my hold, steel hidden in silk his body twitching.

"Sookie?" he whispered hoarsely.

I rose to my knees in the tub, glorying in the flare of lust I saw in his eyes. I urged him closer my eyes still caught with his as my lips lowered. My tongue flicked, gathering the moisture that had risen with his arousal. "Mine," I whispered and dropped the shields from our bond pouring all I was feeling his way. The triumph flared in the sapphire eyes to be replaced with awe and pleasure when my lips closed around him. He buried his hands in my hair but allowed me to set the pace. My tongue was a busy thing twining and flicking, rubbing all around him, my hands working diligently. I based my rhythm on his body's reaction and the feelings humming through the bond. I felt his body tense and swell even more at the light scrape of my teeth, he growled a soft warning but I only pulled him deeper, tongue and lips working harder. His release the shout of my name. I gave a smile of satisfaction as I licked him clean, starting to appreciate the perks of the bond between us.

I had never felt as female as I did basking in the glow of his eyes. His smile was wicked as he nudged me backwards so that he could join me in the cooling water. He turned on the hot water and flicked the drain allowing some of the cooler water to leave. Soon the room was steamy again. His hands were busy over my body, every touch plucking at nerve endings that led to my nether regions.

He lifted me to his lips, tongue flicking and tugging on my nipples, worshiping. My hands clenched at his shoulders and I let my head fall back, my knees falling open on either side of his hips. He moved back up to my lips, one hand buried in my hair tilting my head to allow him full access as his tongue traced my lips, asking for entry. I eagerly granted him entry remembering his soul deep kisses. While he plundered my mouth his other hand stroked over my body until he found moisture hotter than the water around us. His palm measured cupping, the heel rubbing before a finger slid between silken folds, gently probing then sinking home.

I moaned into his mouth, caught in the hurricane he was building with hands, lips and tongue. Never had I felt such pleasure, such ecstasy, certainly not in Bill's arms, that Eric demanded from me. I ran my tongue over a descended fang not caring about the blood I spilled. He snarled and sucked at the wound, his fingers doubling in rhythm. I responded by biting his lower lip and the moment I tasted his blood it was all over. The bond contracted and then expanded joining us together, permanently. We felt each other's desire and pleasure, doubled and tripled. I clenched around Eric's fingers screaming my release only to shout again when he slid deep. My body flexed to accept his presence and though we both felt the pull of ecstasies embrace the pace he set was slow, savoring.

I could feel him everywhere, inside and out.

"Oh god Eric," I moaned writhing wanting to ride him hard.

He urged my head to his chest and I accepted the invitation, nipping and sucking on his hard little paps. His other hand guided my hips. He flexed and pressed deeper, drawing a gasp from my lips.

"This is best," he muttered his mouth buried near my ear, another thrust and I clenched around him. "This is right," he said with conviction, "so right."

Emotion flowed, traveling through us as pleasure climbed to a glorious peak. We were two who became one in that moment to float among the stars.

The cooling water pulled me from a stupor causing a shiver and goose bumps to rise. Eric lifted me gently from the water then carried me to the shower where he cleaned every millimeter of skin. We made love over and over, first against the cool tiled walls then again as he rocked me on the showers bench.

He stole my bones and tucked me in bed as naught but liquid. He padded back into the shower to douse the candles and music before sliding in to gather me close.

"You are Mine, Sookie Stackhouse," were the words he whispered. I smiled and snuggled closer the bond between us told me the truth, what over flowed between us that neither of us could say. I didn't need the words, I could feel them and so could he as I tumbled into a deep slumber.

Scene 2 - SPOV - It's Friday

I looked at my bundle of loot with smug satisfaction as I slammed the trunk of the car. Today was Friday the 13th of all things and I had the day off. I had done the house hold chores under a haze of satiation, my body aching in a wonderful way. The Viking had proven worthy of his massive ego. No wonder Bill had been so fearful of Eric and me together, his skills were naught but those of an animal in comparison. I mourned the loss of my innocence to the wrong man, but memories of the previous eve would soothe away the regret. I felt like a woman in the fullest sense.

I carried the packages into the house, tucking the groceries away before toting the rest upstairs. A glance at the clock said I had little time, so I stripped quickly and slid into bed next to my lover. I tucked my hands under my chin and watched him, resisting the temptation to touch. The bond flared to life and his arm moved, reaching out for me. His eyes flew open at the touch of my skin and a smile lit his countenance.

"My greatest wish is to rise with the sun, and here I awake to find my dream come true," he whispered against my lips before kissing me thoroughly. We christened my bed and then the shower again, where he showed me another way to feed. I feared the blush upon my cheeks, when memories of where his fangs had pierced echoed, would be a permanent thing.

We dressed together and I asked him to braid my hair. His fingers were quick and nimble and I remembered that once his locks had been as long as my own.

"Do you miss having long hair?" I asked as I secured a gold stud in my ear.

He watched us in the mirror, standing behind me with his hands on my shoulders.

"Yes, I enjoyed the feel of it on my skin and of course the attention it gathered from the females," his eyes were teasing. "But the shorter style serves me well in the human world. I appear to be approachable. I do not have to work as hard for a human to relax around me. I can grow it back swiftly if I want too"

"I don't know Eric," I spun in his arms and stole a quick kiss, "If you were dressed in one of your suits and lounging in the bar like a GQ model, I think it would scream 'You can look but you cannot touch' too me. I would be nervous as heck to be around you."

His grin was crooked before he brushed a kiss to my forehead, "You would always be able to touch."

Before we could get carried away again his phone rang causing him to pull away to answer. I recognized the ring-tone as Pam's and took the opportunity to pull on my heels. I had let Eric pick out my clothes, surprised that he did not choose a dress. He chose my black jeans and topped it with a sapphire blue wrapped top that clung in all the right places, a gift from Tara. He had dug through my jewelry with a frown until he had found a sapphire pendant of my Mothers which he slid onto a gold chain and then handed me the matching gold studs.

I had frowned at the expression on his face. "I know I don't have a lot of jewelry Eric, but what I have is quality." I felt like I had to defend my things. "It's not my fault that most of it was silver," which was the honest truth. I ended up dividing my jewelry into different boxes so that I didn't accidentally wear something that would hurt my friends.

He had not answered me, just stood there watching while I dressed, with a thoughtful expression. I finished transferring my wallet, keys and phone into a leather clutch just as he ended his phone conversation.

He tucked the phone into his pocket and held his hand out for me. "Ready?" he asked.

I nodded and he led the way from the room. He helped me into my leather jacket then zipped around the house to make sure everything was locked before we headed for his car. My eyebrows lifted when the sound of shutters and doors closing echoed from behind us with a press of his finger. "You have a fob too, it should be in your glove compartment," was his only response.

Then we were on our way to Fangtasia and an evening I approached with apprehension, even dread, which was tinged with a dash of excitement. This would be our first time in public as a fully bonded pair, something every vampire on the premises would be aware of the instant we entered. Our bond was alive and throbbing between us, an emotional highway that neither one of us wished to filter or block.

I glowed with the blood I had taken from him over the night. I had no need for make-up and my hair once similar in color to Eric's was now a perfect match. My strength and senses were heightened with the night appearing crystal clear to my eyes.

We made quick time from my house to the club. Eric helped me from the car after we parked then led the way to the employee entrance of Fangtasia. I stayed a few steps behind him to admire the view. He was dressed in leather pants, vest and bikers boots. The leather showed off his assets to perfection. I knew he would rather be in jeans and a t-shirt, but he planned on manning the throne this evening. He wanted to make sure that any rumors of his infirmity were put to a final rest.

We stopped in his office where he thumbed quickly through a pile of invoices and purchase orders. I watched as he approved, marked and filed at vampire speed.

"That's impressive," I murmured when he was finished.

"I hate paperwork," he admitted with a smile escorting me out of the office and into the bar with his hand on my back. The live band fell silent at our appearance and the customers voices followed swiftly behind. The pride Eric was flooding the bond with had me straightening my spine and throwing my shoulders back with my head held high as he escorted me, through the crowd which parted before us, to his throne where Pam stood waiting.

Eric stopped on the last step and turned so that we were facing everyone. He looked over the crowd before he spoke, "This is a very special evening," he announced to the attentive throng gathered below him. "For tonight I have the pleasure of officially introducing to you my Bonded, Ms. Sookie Stackhouse." His gaze caught every vampire on the premises. "Treat her as you would me, or face the consequences." He lifted my hand to his lips and smiled then motioned for me to be seated. I saw Pam take a seat on the other side of the throne, now we were three upon the raised platform. She flashed a grin at me before resuming her normal look of boredom. Eric was the last to sit, his face cold and arrogant, daring anyone to question his authority. The bond told another story, he was very happy right now.

He flicked a glance at the band who immediately resumed playing and soon the dance floor was flooded with twisting bodies. The next few hours flew by fast as the vampires in the bar approached the throne one by one, reaffirming their fealty to Eric as Sheriff and glancing at me with curiosity. Pam leaned over to whisper in Eric's ear when four strange vampires approached, two males and two females. A smile flashed for just a moment on his face when they stopped and bowed to him.

I was caught by surprise when he made the introductions. "Sookie, I would like you to meet some friends of mine. They have graciously accepted the invitation to locate to my Area. May I introduce you to Thalia, Indira, Maxwell and Clancy?"

At each introduction I received a faint nod, something I had never viewed between a vampire and a strange human.

"How do you do," I said with a smile pulling my southern manners around me.

They did not answer instead returning their attention to Eric and Pam. I let the sound of their voices wash over me as I examined the new vampires.

Thalia was tiny for a vampire, barely topping five feet. Her hair was a mop of dark curls, her features the type which could have graced a roman coin. Something about her screamed 'ancient' to me perhaps she was close to Eric's age. Indira was also small, her eyes the color of milk chocolate and her hair a black silken fall down her back. Her Indian features were delicate and beautiful, her skin the color of toffee. Maxwell was a tall and rangy black man, with slightly graying hair and spectacles. He reminded me of a book keeper instead of a creature of the night. Clancy I flat out did not like, there was something so fake about him. Maybe it was his red hair, a color so bright it couldn't be real. Or the flash of the scorn in his eyes as he took in my form. Everything about him was average except for the hair. He gave me the creeps.

Eric brought me back into the conversation explaining that all four vampires would take their turn enthralling the vermin. Thalia was a fighter, someone used to being a body guard, or an assassin, I thought. Maxwell and Clancy would help Chow at the bar, so he could have more time off. Indira would be managing some of Eric's other properties.

I felt relief at the knowledge that Eric now had vampires he could trust to have his back other than Pam and Chow. Eric acknowledged that relief by squeezing my hand after the vampires took their leave.

The bar was hopping and Pam went to man the front door, apparently there was a line stretching through the mini mall parking lot. Eric was caught up answering emails and apparent text messages on his phone so I carefully dropped my shields and scanned the crowd.

Clancy was behind the bar with Chow, who was showing him the location of various brews. I discovered that the four couples taking up the back wall of booths were all underage, something that would not have occurred with Pam on the door. I caught Chow's eye and tilted my head toward the back wall. He raised an eyebrow and I nodded, that was all it took for him to move and escort them outside. Clancy watched all of this with a curl to his lip. I stared at him steadily, daring him to do anything. I felt the brush of his glamour against my mind and smiled, giving a small shake of my head to chastise. He swiftly turned his back on me to sort some bottles. Thalia caught my gaze from the far corner and smiled.

Eric watched all of this with amusement, "Anything I should be aware of Lover?" he asked.

"Just some underage kids, as you can see Chow is handling it."

"Clancy?"

"Just found out glamour does not work," I replied sharing a smile which grew wider with his full throated laughter. The fang bangers who had been crowding nearer stopped and stared in wonder. They had never heard the Master laugh like that before.

I winced at their nasty thoughts and raised my shields again.

At my pained expression Eric asked in concern, "Are you ok?"

"A lot of not so nice thoughts just spread through the crowd. I am not too popular among the fang bangers at the moment. I just had to put my shields back up is all."

He relaxed, "We need to stay until closing but I hope you will grant another wish tonight."

I was intrigued and leaned close to ask, "What wish would that be?"

"Will you come home with me tonight? To my house?" he queried a sense of expectation hanging in the air.

"Yes," I replied letting his joy and contentment roll through me.

His fingers flashed over the keys of his phone and Pam sped back to his side.

"She said yes?" she asked watching me.

He nodded.

"Then I will handle everything," she said before disappearing in a flash.

"Where is she going?" I asked watching the debris float back to the floor from the wind of her passing.

"She is taking care of some things for me," was all he said with a chuckle at the pout now on my lips.

I went back to scanning the crowd, locating a few more under age tourists and one wanna be drainer. Thalia had the pleasure of escorting him to the lower chamber where he would be questioned. I felt nothing for his current situation, after Eric I would never argue against the vampire way to handle drainers.

Another hour passed and Pam returned to whisper in Eric's ear before returning to the floor. Eric and I were speaking quietly when Thalia approached Eric with a warning; there were two vampires at the door asking to speak to Eric.

He nodded then leaned over to me. "Sookie I need you to be strong for me right now. Just remember that everything I say and do is for your own protection. I ask that you pull on your poker face and hang on to it as tight as you can. Please do not speak or react to anything you may see or hear. Will you do that for me?" he asked.

I hesitated then agreed, allowing my face to fall into one of neutrality, almost as hard and cold as Eric's. Just in case I built up my shields to make them stronger leaving only the bond open.

"Good girl," he let me feel his approval. "Do not answer any questions unless they are from me, otherwise say nothing."

I made sure I was sitting straight with my ankles crossed and my hands on the arms of the chair, my back straight and my chin held high.

"Perfect," he whispered then watched the crowd around the front door. I peeked at him from the corner of my eye. His face was flawless white marble and his eyes were frosty blue. He sat in the throne with the presence of a King, ancient power spilling out from him to flow over my skin and over the crowd. The feel of which seemed to drive the humans to frantic efforts to garner his attention.

I caught sight of Pam cutting across the floor, followed by a very young vampire. He was a teenager, maybe sixteen when he was turned, with silver blonde hair and spring green eyes. He exuded so much malevolence that I almost missed the dark head dodging his heels. What was Bill doing here?

Pam stepped up behind Eric and remained standing. The stranger and Bill stopped at the foot of the throne.

"Eric," said the blonde without an ounce of submission in his body language.

"Andre," replied Eric in the same tone.

Bill looked awkward hovering in the rear. I ignored him waiting for a clue from Eric.

Andre was the first to break, "Shall we adjourn to a place of privacy for our discussion?" he asked.

Eric said nothing, waiting, though he must have signaled Pam in some way for she indicated the path to the back hallway.

"Eric's office is right this way, if you would follow me." She turned her back without waiting expecting them to follow. Andre nodded to Bill who moved off right away, then waited for Eric.

I guess neither one wanted to place their back to the other. Eric stood and offered a hand to lift me to my feet. I took it and rose gracefully then waited patiently. The flood of appreciation through the bond was my reward.

"Not the human," stated Andre.

"She is my Bonded," Eric stated simply brooking no argument.

A hiss was the only answer. The three of us made our way to Eric's office with an awkward pause when Andre realized that Eric refused to go before him. When all the male posturing was over with and we were finally all seated, Andre was quick to explain his presence.

Andre's smile was evil personified when he spoke "I am here for the Telepath, the Queen has placed me in charge of Louisiana. Ms. Stackhouse leaves for New Orleans with me tonight."

I managed somehow to keep my face expressionless while inside I was shrieking with anger. I was so sick of the Vampire Queen interfering in my life.