Disclaimer: Charlaine Harris owns all.

Rated M for several reasons.

Chpt 38 Sundae

SPOV

A quick glance at the ormolu clock on the mantle confirms my suspicion that it's lunchtime a spit second before my stomach does.

The light tight shutters are up and someone has left me a tray of breakfast things.

This room is like something out of the Palace of Versailles. Overly ornate and gilded to within an inch of its life. It's gorgeous, fit for a fairy tale princess, but I don't think I could live with something like it on a permanent basis, I'd be lowering the tone with my unworthy presence.

But for now I'm going to sip my coffee and drink it in.

I feel, out of sorts. I realise that's hardly surprising considering what happened last night and my brush with an unpleasant end the night before but even after two cups of coffee I can't shake it, or ignore the reason. I expected Eric to come last night and he didn't. We'd agreed, even in the rumpus that was his acceptance of the crown that there were important things I needed to tell him. I was ready, those words were burning to get out, and although I wasn't looking forward to it I wanted us to get it out in the open and get past whatever the aftermath would be.

I feel a bit silly to be honest, after all he's just been crowned King, of course he'd be really busy, the whole idea was to protect the state and though I don't know much about it, I'm sure it can't be as simple as signing a few forms and willing everyone to know what he expects them to do.

Still. I'm disappointed.

There, I thought it, I am disappointed that Eric was too busy to come and see me. And not just because I'm ready to give him all my secrets. This is also not something I know much about but I think I've developed a thumping great crush on him, the kind that any fangbanger could be proud of.

So there you have it, a large dose of disappointment dripping with a top layer of embarrassment at my own ridiculousness. Sookie's Out of Sorts Sundae.

Wallowing isn't my style so instead I indulge my new professional habit of flitting through the minds around me, trying to get a handle on everyone and an insight into any problems. Rhodes was a harsh lesson on the consequences of not paying attention. There are about ten weres here, excluding Alcide and his pack mates, daytime security. The household staff also numbers ten, with another eight that seem to be office and secretarial based day staff. I can count about thirty voids resting in and around the Palace but even though I can access them now there's nothing to see, they're devoid of all consciousness. I only know that Eric is one of them because his light is resting quietly inside me and I can sense that he isn't far away. There's something else out there too, two of them, they feel familiar in a way but I can't get a lock on them and eventually I decide they must just be on the edge of my ever expanding range. Various other minds are coming and going on normal seeming day to day business, deliveries, sales pitches, maintenance . . . .

Nothing seems to be amiss. The thoughts of the people that belong here are all pretty much what I'd expect. Relief, curiosity, anticipation, a desire to prove themselves useful to the new regime.

I'm not sure how to feel about the pets, there are four of them, all young women, Eric's got himself his very own harem. Which is nice. Their thoughts are pleasant enough, if a little too vapid for my tastes. One of them is planning on leaving if she is allowed, she was genuinely fond of the Queen, the other three are plotting amongst themselves about the best way to curry favour with Eric. Which infuriates me, if it were up to me they'd all be packing their suitcases and departing the premises before sundown.

Great. Now I have nuggets of jealousy to sprinkle on my Sundae.

Anyway, it's none of my business. Time to get up.

Dressed I poke my head out of the room to find Alcide sprawled on an overly brocaded love seat across the corridor.

"This place in unreal." He observes, glancing up and down the heavily carpeted hallway. "It's like Midas went mental with an extremely gay interior decorator."

He leans forward conspiratorially. "There's a room down there with a gold toilet in it, I swear to God. Apparently no one's allowed to use it 'cos the gold is so pure its soft and they might leave butt marks in the seat or something."

Thank god for Alcide, laughing makes me feel better already.

…..

We ate lunch and afterwards said goodbye to Nathan and the others, who needed to get back to Shreveport, then we went exploring.

The mansion is surrounded by manicured gardens and renovated outbuildings, accommodation for the humans and weres who live here. The pets are in a converted horse barn, someone has a sense of irony. It's all very beautiful if a bit manufactured and formal, I can't see how a body could ever feel relaxed here, you'd be constantly afraid of breaking something or inadvertently making it look ugly. I wonder if Eric will have to live here now, it doesn't seem very him.

The day staff are all polite and forbiddingly efficient. I have already been grilled by Smith, the Butler, on my food and beverage preferences so that he can ensure I am appropriately looked after whenever I am here. He also informed me that since I arrived sans wardrobe someone had arranged for the local shops to bring me a selection to choose from that evening, they would 'attend' me in my room.

Alcide got a very different grilling from the head of Palace security, a were bear named Vladimir.

Eventually we found ourselves out on the terrace soaking up the last of the afternoon sun.

"There's something you're not telling me." I observe finally tired of the effort of ignoring what he's been trying fairly successfully not to think about.

"Yeah." He sighs. "Northman's let me go, I'm heading home tomorrow, I won't be guarding you anymore."

I kind of suspected it but my body goes cold and freezes up anyway.

"Hey." He says softly, noticing my reaction. "You're safe here, much safer than you ever would be with just me to look out for you. And we're friends now, right, doesn't mean we won't ever see each other again."

"Of course we are." Crazy Sookie finally kicks in to save me. "And we will, as soon as I get home."

I'm not sure what ingredient this is adding to my Sundae, but it isn't a good one, I'll miss Alcide, he's been the only constant in my life for a while now. Other than Eric I suppose . . . .

…..

Having picked out a week or so of clothes as instructed by Smith, I spend a good deal more time getting ready than I would normally. I want smart professional Sookie with a touch of sexiness, I don't want to pale into insignificance beside the harem and I'm not even going to think about why, I'm just going with it.

I can't shake the foreboding that tonight is going to turn into the Sundae of Doom.

I've been so fixated on actually telling Eric my secret that I'm only now starting to think about what the aftermath might actually be. If I don't need Alcide anymore is that because I'm staying here in New Orleans, does that make me a virtual prisoner? Despite Eric blatantly kidnapping me I haven't felt like one yet, but I will if he insists I have to stay here for my own safety. He said he was keeping me close until he learned my secrets and tonight he will, might he send me home then, maybe sic Alcide on me again? What if his reaction is worse? I don't want to be a prisoner, I don't want to be sent away and I don't want to find out what worse looks like.

He woke up a while back but he hasn't been to see me and I can't pin down his mood, it's all over the place. Like mine.

Ah hell, the only way out of this is forwards, and it's not like I'm not desperate to see him anyway . . . .

Downstairs everyone of note is in the library again, this time there is a definite air of a King holding court, with plenty of people coming and going to pay their respects. Vampires, businessmen, politicians and the like.

Charles approaches me immediately.

"Ms Stackhouse. His Majesty has asked that you read the gathering and let me know, discreetly, if you hear anything he should be aware of."

I nod and turn to look for Alcide, for some reason I can't bring myself to seek out Eric in the throng, even though just a few minutes ago it was the only thing that got me out of my room.

Alcide has bagged us a couch in one of the less crowded corners and I hurry over to join him.

He hands me a gin and tonic as I sit down.

"Thanks." I murmur, taking a giant slug, tonight I'm finishing this gin and any other little friends that would like to join it. I'll take my Sundae with a drizzle of gin.

"What are we doing?" He asks.

"Working." I shrug. "Can you do me a favour and find me a pad and a pen, I forget things if I don't write them down as I go along."

"Sure." He unfolds himself to his full height and lopes off.

Settling back into the couch and sipping my drink I get down to work.

Alcide returns with something for me to write on and I jot down pretty much everything as the night goes on, no matter how inane, because it keeps me busy and keeps my eyes off Eric.

The three harem hoochies have all crashed and burned, so have the dozen or so lady vampires who've thrown themselves at him with varying degrees of enthusiasm. His mood is still all over the place but you wouldn't know it by looking at him, in the minds of everyone who is, he just looks composed and in control, like a good King should. He's attentive to everyone he speaks to, even though I know from experience that he's probably just as aware of what's going on in the room around him, the speakers always believe they have his undivided attention. Also from experience, reading his eyes, there are a couple of people he's spoken to he would clearly rather have killed with his bare hands.

I wish I had his undivided attention.

In fact as the night wears on I'd be grateful for any bit of attention at all. I'd discreetly sniff my armpits except that a) it would be extremely common and b) I've showered and am as fresh as a daisy. If Alcide weren't beside me and occasionally murmuring things in my ear I'd be downright lonely right now. Because we're bonded he couldn't be ignoring me any more pointedly if he cut me dead in a tight corridor. This knowledge is sprinkling my Sundae with hurt and making me hate myself a little.

Eventually I summon Charles, who is at least looking over at me from time to time to see if I've anything to tell him.

"Ms Stackhouse?" He enquires, perching on the arm of the couch.

"The man from Carnival Entertainments is a spy for the King of Nevada. One of the female vampires is too but I'm not very good with working out whose thoughts are whose if I don't know the vampires. They don't seem to be plotting anything themselves but they're being well paid for any little bit of information they can provide. They've been told to find out more about me too, I suppose we might work at which vampire it is that way."

Charles nods, his eyes alight with approval.

"I can see why the King values your loyalty and intelligence so highly." He murmurs. "There are two possible female vampire who may be in league with Nevada, Gayle and Serena. Let me take you around the room and introduce you to a few people including them, you might pick something up."

I nod and we both stand so we can work the room and now I can feel Eric's eyes on me, though I've no idea what to make of his annoyance.

Charles is a witty and urbane vampire and he introduces me to everyone with the respect he would show another vampire, which he maintains regardless of how rude the vampires and some of the humans are in return. The King's Pet has to be acknowledged but not much else apparently. Eric is getting more and more annoyed and some of it is starting to leak into me.

Eventually Charles introduces me to Gayle. Unremarkable to look at. Can't see what Eric sees in me though she does think I smell nice, she'd break her neck to be under him if he fell but other than that nothing of note. Of course, new jealous Sookie, would like to stake her.

"Not her." I whisper as we walk away.

"She is a complete trollop." He whispers back. "I have always avoided her like the plague, which she probably has."

I manage to stop sniggering in time to be introduced to the next group.

The usual. I smell nice and they know they have no chance of bending me over a table while they sink their fangs into my long graceful neck. Vampires are apparently extremely predictable, the table thing must be their equivalent of the missionary position.

Finally I meet Serena. Bingo. She's pleased Charles has brought me over so she can find out as much about me as possible for Felipe, who I'm guessing is the King of Nevada. We chat for a few minutes with me evading most of her questions and then Charles excuses us by saying that he needs to return me to Eric.

"I am assuming that is her." He murmurs.

"Yes, Felipe?"

"That's Nevada." He confirms. "I will tell His Majesty later."

"Okay. Thanks."

"It is my pleasure Ms Stackhouse." He says graciously, depositing me at Eric's side and moving away.

Awkward. I can feel his body stiffen even though a few inches separate us and now there is no denying that he is ignoring me. Fortunately Smith arrives at my side with a gin, I've lost count of how many I've had by this point, and I lavish attention on it like a long lost friend, my cheeks flaming with embarrassment and anger. The giant red cherry on the top of my Sundae. I still need to talk to him so now I'm here I'm going to channel my inner limpet, unless he's jerk enough to send me away I'm staying right beside him until he lets me tell him what I need to tell him.

It turns out to be a test of endurance and Stackhouse stubbornness, but since he doesn't require a comfort break it's inevitable that we'd end up temporarily alone in the crowded room at some point.

"Eric we need to talk." I hiss.

"Not now. I am busy." He hisses back, looking at me for the first time.

Alright Mr Frosty. My gin and I have got your number. I look around us and raise my eyebrow pointedly.

"You do not demand my attention." He growls coldly. "You are my human."

My higher brain functions wish me luck and vacate the premises. I've heard the expression 'incandescent with fury' but I never thought I'd actually feel it, for the record it rushes up from the tips of my toes and right out of my startled mouth.

"I am not your anything Eric Northman, human or otherwise! And we both know it's otherwise! Do you want to know what's been going on under your stupid nose all this time or not?!"