Author's Notes:

Enjoy an extra dose of action.

*The characters in this chapter belong to their respective authors, CH, & AB.

**I OWN NOTHING**

Chapter 58

EPOV

I hold her the same as I have a million times. Close to my chest, her cheek nuzzled in the crook of my neck. Her soft breathe tickles my flesh. I inhale deeply, pulling her intoxicating scent into me. It washes away all the bad in the world for just a moment.

The closer he gets, the tenser Sookie becomes. He makes the final step into the room proper. She doesn't look at him, but my eyes are glued to him over her head.

"My precious child. What is going on? Where are the babies?" He comes to a halt 20 feet away. Good. At least he knows not to get to close.

"No 'Hello' or 'how are you feeling'? While I'm not surprised, I had high hopes for you. Figures." Her bored tone must have hit a nerve because the old fairy's true self is beginning to show; a sign that his control his tenuous.

"Normally, I would indulge such banter, but the welfare of my kin has priority." He pause for affect before continue this performance. "I don't know what magic has allowed vampires and an unknown type of creature to enter this realm, but I only expected it to be the two of you. That was what I told you when I began looking for a way for this one to be present. It was NOT to give them all a free entry!" His voice rises as he speaks.

"Did you really think I would be lax on protecting my mate and children? Silly fairy." I know taunting him is not what Sookie would want...usually. However, the rage that is building in her is...beyond powerful. And he does not even know it.

"I was not addressing you. Your presence here is a gift. You will do well to remember that vampire."

"You mean King. I guess you have gotten forgetful in your age. I think it time for you to retire." Before he can retort to my snide remark, Sookie's voice silences everything in the Universe.

"ENOUGH!" Her voice has the same inflection as Freya when she kicked Odin into the back of the palace. "The sound of your voice is vomit-sparkled bullshit as pure evil and nastiness mutates inside your mind. I know what you have done, what you're doing, and what you've planned. It ends now."

He opens his mouth to speak, but Sookie doesn't let him. "Just so you know, WE" she touches my cheek as she stands from my lap "welcomed two strong and healthy twin boys. We haven't picked names, but you don't deserve to know them anyway. You will not be a part of their lives."

"I do not know what lies this fiend has convinced you into believe, but know that I love you and only wish to protect my line. I failed to do this for your grandfather, my eldest son. I failed with your parents. Please...do not make me fail with you!" His performance could garner a Tony nomination at best. No Oscar.

We both laugh hysterically. His scowl is beyond satisfying. He is unsure, doubting himself on where he could have possibly miscalculated to cause such an unwelcome response.

"If I were trying to hurt you or your family, then why would I have helped you bring him here?! If I did not care, I would not have allowed you to be with a vampire? I love y-" he stops short as a wave of her power pulses, rebounding off the concrete walls as it shatters all the glass.

"I broke through your shields. I know everything." With those two sentences, it all fell into place for Niall. Her growing distance, his inability to successfully track our movements, all of it told him that she knew his master plan. I was watching him so intently that I saw the moment he decided to kill her. And it was in that same moments that I blinked in front of him, fully engulfed in blue flames as my fangs drop and grow longer by almost an inch. My other teeth have become sharper as well.

"So, here we are. I want you to know that after you are gone, we will unite the supernatural community and find a cure to the fertility issues of the Fae. I believe that you are the cause of that in the first place, so your death will be celebrated from this day forth.

You will not be welcomed into the Summerlands. I have not only seen it, but Fintan confirmed it. He knows the truth now as does my great-grandmother. I will make sure all of Faery knows of your true intentions and generations hereafter will know the consequence for such evil against another."

Sookie walks over to where I am blocking Niall's path. I do not take my eyes off him as she strokes my cheek. "Eric is my true mate and protector. He will deal with you and I will finish your brother. Then, I will take your head to the throne room and take over rule. Goodbye, Niall. I wish I could say it was nice knowing you." A kiss to my cheek and she steps away.

"Sookie?!" He shouts just as she pops out of the room. "SOOKIE?!" He yells again.

"There is no need. You sealed your fate long before this moment."

"I should have known helping you gain such power would be the downfall of my plan, but it was essential at the time." He muses as if he has all the time in the world. He does not realize that he does not have tomorrow.

"It means nothing now that you have been discovered for the true traitor I knew you were deep down. Let us not delay the inevitable. I want to get to my sons." I materialize my father's sword and slash out.

Niall pops across the room by the single window. He turns towards me, holding his midsection. He looks down at the thick, purplish blood coating his hand with utter shock. He gaze finally meets mine as he finally faces Death.

SPOV

I don't immediately pop back to the farmhouse to deal with Breandan. My first stop is to the floor below.

I pop into the room to find Dermot and Claude cornered on the far side of the room as my ladies block the door, window, and stairs. They all gasps when I appear, except for Pam.

"SOOKIE!" My male relatives shout in unison.

Claude goes to speak before Dermot hisses at him. Having no choice but to submit to his elder, Claude bows and cowers away.

"We do not know what is going on, but these beings would not let us pass with Father to come see you and the children. And that one" he growls as he points at Betsy "...killed your other great-uncle, Dillon!" Sadly, I see that same gleam he wore before when he was still cursed and trying to kill me. His thoughts are muddled, but the intent is the same. His failure to seduce me the 'first 'time around didn't go unpunished. He was tortured and made to be the supplier of fairy blood to their top vampire supporters. Seeing their various faces confirms a lot of our suspicions, which will be helpful later.

I turn my attention to my cousin. He hates me because of the attention I was getting and the fact that I chose a vampire over 'one of my own'. To him, I should have been happy to become an incubator since I could not have children of my own. Of course, that was thrown out the window when we announce my pregnancy. Now, eradicating the abominations is what he wants to do.

Their thoughts just fuel the fire started by Niall. They don't realized how fucked they really are. Their wide eyes and gaping mouths must be a sign that they just learn their mistake.

"You should hate the man who repeatedly had you physically and mentally rape by his own brother than me for not falling for your previous advances. First, you couldn't have gotten past my aversion to inbreeding and incest. Second, you look identical to MY own brother! That's just fucking sick!" He brain is on overload, so I focus on the other leech.

"And you! The fucking drama queen! Maybe if you applied yourself instead of riding your sisters' coat tails, you could have excelled at something. Niall sold Claudette to Breandan and tried to do the same to Claudine, but she was smart and too useful because of her connection to me. What do you care about me having babies?! You fuck guys. What are YOU doing to further your race, asshole?" Claude tried to lunge at me, Dermot caught him. He slapped Claude in the face so he could get a hold of himself.

"Where is my father?" ask Dermot in the most calming voice he could muster. He was reeling at both my words about him and the fact that Claude was gay. Not only is he nasty, but he is also homophobic. What a big surprise there.

"He is no longer a factor. The question now should be what is to happen to you two?" I say just as calm.

"YOU CAN'T DO SHIT BITCH! You and the vamp demons you shit out will die soon. I will dance in your blood" he screams as he struggles still against his uncle's hold.

"You both have two choices. You either surrender into custody to stand trial for your crimes against the kingdom. Or you die right here and now. Make your choice." I turn my back to them and walk over to Pam.

She walks around me like a predator picking their first bite on their prey. When she is done with her appraisal, she stops in front of me again.

"You smell like you again. I glad I don't have to try so hard not to eat you now that you are...you again." she drawls.

"As opposed to what?" I ask.

"'Fountain of Youth' Sookie" says Pam.

"'Dying of thirst' Sookie" says Jessica.

"'Ooo, piece of candy' Sookie" adds Betsy.

Jaz, Suzie and I burst into laughter. I calm myself before the others as I pick up on the strumming intent to kill coming off of Claude. Deciding it was time to get going, I make the choice.

"Since you both refuse to acknowledge me, I will choose for you. You both have been found guilty of genocide against the Fae race as well as to the crimes you each committed against humans, other supernatural beings and your own family members. As Queen of Faery, I hereby sentence you both to death."

"You can't do this!" Dermot says with a good amount of misplaced conviction.

"I can because I was made heir by Niall upon his death in the event that he had not chosen another male descendant. He was so convince that he would control me and had no faith in either of you that he sealed his own fate. Even Breandan doesn't know about that, but he will learn once I'm done here."

"We are a patriarchy kingdom. You don't know or can relate to our people. They will not accept your reign" he fires back.

"That is another lie Niall told. Both his mother and father ruled this realm as a unit. Back when there were no fertility issues or war with other Fae, demons, or vampires. Those things wouldn't have happened if he hadn't murdered your mother and joined with Breandan. Niall purposely had a child with a human in order for me to be born. Not realizing that I would be the weapon of his downfall."

As the pieces fall into place, Dermot drops his hold on his nephew. Claude pushes pass him only to end up in Pam grasp. She holds him by the throat, feet dangling in the air.

Suzie steps up with her shotgun aimed directly at Dermot's face. "Give me a reason, douche. I would love to redecorate that wall behind you." He flinches at her imagery.

"As you can see, Niall's spirit isn't coming to you or Claude because to him, you both were insignificant. He is the monster who turned you both into spitting images of him to perpetrate his evil. It ends now." I send mental messages to Jaz, Suzie, and Pam. Taking a few steps away, Jessica and Betsy come to stand at my sides.

Pam sinks her fangs into Claude savagely. His builds up his light to blast her, but it fades just as quickly as she drains him. Dermot looks on in horror as his nephew is executed. He looks at me with a mixture of anger and sadness. He keeps thinking that if only I would have complied with Niall, none of this would have happened.

"I could never be what he wanted. I was meant for more. No fairy would've been strong enough to be my mate. I was made for Eric and he was made for me. Nothing can go against Fate. And that is why Niall is dead. A quick glance at Suzie, followed by a loud shotgun blast, and it is over.

My ladies crowd around me as I sigh with relief. Then, we are off to regroup with Karedon and Brynhild.

EPOV

These new power are amazing. I would have killed the fairy bastard as quickly and brutally as possible under any other scenario, but I used my newly acquired telekinesis to tire him out. His movements were already sloppy and unbidden due to his inability to teleport. His frustration, along with his misinformation of my new abilities, will be his end.

He drops to his knees, exhausted from having to dodge and defend each of my blasts that were faster and more powerful than his own. His breathing is labored. He is staring at his hand in utter defeat.

Being the pragmatic warrior I have always been, I decide to check his mind once more to be sure we had not missed anything. It seems that between Sookie's work of breaking through his shields and my beating; he can no longer defend his mind from an invasion such as this. Excellent.

I enter his mind and all his dirty little secrets are waiting for me to pilfer. The depths of his treachery against others are astounding. He puts most serial killers and insane vampires to shame. And this is just what he has done to those he did not know. What he has done or planned to do to his own kin are crimes of a much more heinous variety.

Niall's Memory:

A beautiful, young girl is brought into a dark round room with no windows. In its center lies a large, rectangular ritual table. Various items, unseen by the guard who carries the girl, lay near the upper right corner.

A lone figure stands at a point along the room's perimeter, furthest from the table. The guard is completely unaware of the figure's presence.

The unconscious girl is deposited onto the table. She is nude and unmarked. The guard turns and starts towards the door, but is brought to a stop by the girl's voice.

"please...don't let me die...like this grandf-" she whispers. . It is more of a labored moan that takes all of the strength she had remaining to say.

Scared of the repercussions he imagines he would face for not following direct orders, he uses more haste to exit the room, ignoring the girl's words.

The figure sudden appears on top of the table, on the girl's right side.

Unseen by the girl, whom fell back into unconsciousness after her last stand, the figure is hovering over her face as he begins a visual examination. She doesn't know that the further his descent, the more aroused he becomes.

The figure has just paused at the girl's navel when he registers another presence near him.

On the opposite side of the table, Niall appears. He produces an orb of light and lightly tosses it above them.

"You do know that I like to watch." The figure nods and climbs off the table. Facing one another, Niall and the figure begin removing their tunics and other clothing.

"I cannot wait until we have the female hybrid. She looks more like your wife. These took after Dillon. I like blonds more." Breandan says as he removes his final piece of clothing. He straightens and begins stretching to warm up his muscles.

Niall, also nude now, agrees. "From what I've seen with Hela, she has even more fight than Daph'ne. We will have much fun with her in between the births."

Both men join the girl on the table. Niall doesn't waste any time as he grabs both the girl's knees and spreads them. Both men look and shiver with lust.

Before either man could ponce on the girl's exposed womanhood, Breandan speaks. "She spoke. Right before the guard left. She begged for you not to let her die like this. You do know that she will know it was you who did this to her when she arrives in the Summerlands, correct?"

"Yes. But the question you should ask brother is whether I care. And I do not. They are mine to do with as I please. This one is no longer useful to our plan and could have become an obstacle if not silenced. We couldn't let that happen, could we?" Niall says this as he probes her intimate flesh with his fingers to distract his brother.

"Absolutely not. Next time, bring the false goddess with you. She can reanimate them and make them more appreciative." Breandan adds his own fingers to the violating act as he begins stroking himself.

"Will do. But she cannot be present when we have Susannah. She is only for us." Breandan just nods as he viciously bites into the girl's breast.

Present

The blinding rage has begun. The entire tower shakes as I grab him by the throat, burning the skin and muscle as I tighten my grasp. The sharp edges of his spinal column break the skin of my hand, but I feel nothing.

That was his granddaughter. He did similar things to his own wife. He planned to do worse to MY Sookie!

Using my free hand, I slowly begin ripping his flesh from his body. I plan to pick his spine clean.

I had just made it to his ribcage when the foul smell of magic hits my nostrils.

"Are you here to surrender? I hope so because I would not mind rending you piece by piece too." My words may be calm and steady, but I am extremely volatile.

"It is only in your dreams that you wish to do me harm. You should be nicer to me. I may allow you to be my pet when this is over." She advances on me but stops just outside of my long reach. "Mmmm. I see that mix blood is smarter than I thought" she says as she sniffs the air around me.

"It is no matter. I will get you and bring her to her knees. This" she gestures to whatever was preventing her from touching me "is but a snag. I will take great please in breaking you."

She disappears and I return to my current task. Her words add to my ire. He is the reason she is involved. Bloodlust now taking over, I finish. All that remains is the head and spine of the former ruler of Faery. The look of terror is very satisfying.

Now I can join my Goddess.

SPOV

The ladies and I pop into the throne room. There are only two people here at the moment, Karedon and Brynhild. Both bow reverently. I leave the protective circle of some of the closest woman I've ever associated with at one time and take the throne.

Many won't know how reluctant I am to sit where he sat. I never wanted power. I wanted peace. Pam is the only one to look at me now with slight sympathy in her eyes because she knows. Eric knows how I feel better than anyone else could. I remember how much he didn't want the responsibility. He told me that although he ran from it for centuries, it always came back to the choice; be hunted and under threat for all eternity as a slave or rule all to be free. He faced this choice as a human and when he refused, his parents were killed. As a vampire, the offers to become a king began soon after his first 500 years. He refused all of those, until we 'first' met. Our love caused him to reconsider. He and Pam were ambushed as he prepared to take the kingdom from Bill.

When I returned, I knew that we both would have to do this. After saying as much, Eric and I agreed not to run anymore. The next day, Eric announces the date of his coronation and I began studying the history of Faery.

When I was in Niall's mind, I not only learned of his crimes against me, but the thousands that died at his hands or actions. A lot of Faery's own history was lies, written to secure his future hold over the race. But that was about to end ASAP.

Having finally gotten comfortable in the throne, I turn to the captains of my defense.

"Report" I command. Karedon looks over at Brynhild, who gives him a smirk and nod, and then he proceeds.

"As you ordered, our guards successfully ushered the entire population into the Grand Hall. Niall's advisors, court officials and courtesans are in the seating area outside under guard, waiting furthers orders. My communications officer is ready for the kingdom wide broadcast when you are, your Majesty." He bows again to acknowledge his part is complete. I nod again and give the Valkyrie my full attention.

"Milady" she begins with a curt nod, "our force was able to move the royal forces to the Barracks. They are currently on lockdown until you instruct further. Half of our warriors are securing the Barracks and the other are doing the same at the Grand Hall. There were only five casualties amongst the royal guards. We all await your command." I nod to her as I did Karedon.

I sit and reach out to all the minds around me. Those gathered in the seating area are mostly nervous and scared. They have been told that I was heir to the throne, but that's pretty much it. They knew nothing of his plans, my relationship with Eric, or my pregnancy. This surprises me a little, but he has ruled the kingdom under false pretenses and I doubt any would ask questions. That is until I find single brain thinking about me.

I vaguely register the voices rising in front of me. All my focus is on the being who is picturing my face. I raise my hand and all other noise ceases. He isn't thinking anything bad, which is a good thing...for him. He is wondering if I'm worth the risk that his love is taking with their lives and the safety of their child. I pull out of his mind immediate.

So many things run through my mind. How did I not notice? I have been pregnant for the almost three months before today and could barely fit through the door. Then I hit me. She hid it by cloaking her scent. One of the many family traits we shared with the bastard.

"Bryn. Send someone to my mother. They are to inform her that my cousin is with child and to make sure they both are safe and healed if needed." She nods and begins issuing my orders to an unseen warrior.

"Karedon. Bring me Colman. He is in the seating room." His eyes widen at my request, but he follows it without hesitation. He is thinking that his old friend wouldn't have aided Niall in his plots against his Queen, regardless of his orders. He is devoted enough to accept that he may have to kill his friend if that proves to be wrong. I'm glad that it isn't, especially for Claudine's sake.

I registered his power while in his mind and it is astonishing. He has the years and knowledge to teach me some new tricks. I hope he and Eric will get along. There are a lot of alphas in our family and being the newest can be tough. That's how animosity and later hatred are spawned.

Karedon leads the tall man I to the room. He is the darkest in the room, both in skin color and aura. He isn't a fairy or demon, yet I haven't ever seen a glow like his before. Where Eric's outshines all other, this man's pushes all others away. It was so amazing, just looking at 'Eric's opposite', that I forgotten to blink and Pam was calling my name.

"Sookie! I think we're past the 'greener side' at this point, regardless of how sexy he may be." Of course he heard her, so his ego shot up. At least they have one thing in common already.

"What? Shut up. It's not like that." I swat her away, since she was right next to me, and I turned my attention to the newcomer.

"What did Claudine tell you about me?" All eyes in the room focus on him in that instance. Though his mind went into defense mode, plotting his escape and defense against a direct attack from Suzie and Jaz (the two closest to him with drawn weapons), his face betrays nothing. There's another commonality.

"I would be glad to answer your questions once you tell me where she is? And what is going on?" His voice is as smooth as silk, but the threat underneath is well heard.

"Do you know who you are speaking to?" Pam asks in her bored tone. Her hand on her hip is very reminiscent of Fangtasia.

"Yes. She is Princess Susannah Brigant. She may someday become heir, but she was on a pilgrimage to the human realm. I see that went well, your Highness." He bows to one knee, swiping out his arms in a submissive fashion. Pam and I exchange looks and smirks. There's number three.

Bryn moves to strike, but she catches me shaking my head and stops. I give her smile in understanding her need to defend my honor.

"Karedon. Tell him of Claudine's condition when she was found."

"Yes, your Majesty." He says this to convey a message to Colman that things are not as they seem. Colman, to his credit, doesn't give away that he knows Karedon. He is a very great actor. Lucky for me, the real man inside can't hide from me or my fairy-godmother.

"My officers found her in the library. She had been severely beaten. She was using her light to heal herself, but it would have taken many moons to complete such a task. I was called immediately. I arrived and brought her to you. My Queen." Colman's anger was only stunted by the surprise at his friend addressing me in such a way, but his anger couldn't be contained.

"She is safe with my mother, the Goddess Freya. I had Claudine taken to safety along with others like our cousin, Hunter, whom she saves from bondage here and my children. You may not be able to tell, but I just gave birth to twin boys about an hour ago."

"Do you know who hurt her?" He asks, barely containing his rage.

"Yes" I answer simply. He doesn't like my simple answer. He pops to the first stair of my throne. Weapons being cocked and unsheathed ring out through the room.

With the force of a missile, Eric blinks in between us. He is covered in blue flames, gripping the decapitated head and spinal cord of Niall in his right hand. A bag of golden fairy dust in his left. He growls and bares his fangs at Colman, who was blown back by Eric's arrival. He skids a few feet, but is on his feet in an instant. Karedon pops to his friend's side, laying a comforting hand of warning on his arm.

"Be still, my brother, and listen." He is almost begging, and Colman struggles to trust his best friend since being brought to this realm as a child slave.

"This is the one responsible for hurting my wife's fairy-godmother. Who the fuck is asking?" Is it wrong that I'm aroused by this display of machoness? Pam rolls her eyes as she joins the others before us.

"This is Claudine's mate, Colman." I tell Eric aloud, but I tell him telepathically that he is also her baby-daddy. He frowns at that description. He nods, moving to the spot Pam just vacated.

"He must have found out about her duplicity. Or was it-" he muses as he tries to find the reason for a brutal attack on his beloved.

"He suspected her of not putting enough effort into helping him. Our unexpected arrival today interrupted his beating. He planned to send her to the dungeons to meet the same fate as many of the women in our line, including Claudette." Eric drops both the head and bag to pull me into his arms.

"Never" he whispers. He must have seen some of what I saw.

"I know" I reply. Turning to face the group, I order them to go to the study. Karedon and Colman remain close as they file out of the throne room. Once alone, I cry. I'm both relieved and exhausted all of a sudden. Only he can help me get myself back together.

EPOV

"Shh, my lover. We are almost done." I can feel and see how anxious she is to hold the boys again. I caught glimpses of thought - their impressions of what they were seeing as they we born. It was beyond amazing to physically have them in my arms, well hands at least. The ache I feel for them is new, yet very familiar to when Sookie and I are apart.

Her sobs are lessening. Soon, they are but sniffles and then deep breaths. I grasp her face, using my tongue to remove her tears before we are joined by the others.

"I'm okay. What is are next move?" she asks.

"We need to finish shoring up your reign here. Then, we return to the farmhouse to regroup." I reply. She has enough to worry about as it is so I do not say anything about her intended showdown with Breandan. I really want to keep her from this. And he, for lack of a better term, created the murderous twins as well as the entire 'pure-blood' perspective. And he is (or was) Niall's older brother. I can kill him just as easily as I did Niall. I cannot agree to assume that he will be happy to learn of his sibling's demise, if he does not already.

"How do you feel about Colman?" I ask to distract her from the self-doubt I was beginning to feel through the bond.

"To have someone so powerful at his disposal, Niall sure did underutilize his talents. He has a lot of knowledge about welding different powers. He could teach us both some things." Normally, I would have raised an eyebrow at that, but I cannot. A helping hand in mastering them more quickly would be much appreciated.

"I have encountered him on several occasions, all of which were typical. However, he was usually alone. I did not know him to be a part of Niall's court." I am not surprised that he was able to hide the connection. I guess that is part of his nature, whatever that is, perhaps hiding it is his ability.

"We should ask him" she says, answering my unspoken thought. I nod and kiss her forehead. She sends a silent message to Pam and soon we are gathered once more.

"Tell me about those in the other room" Sookie says to Colman. He looks at me, then Karedon, with trepidation. "There's no need to be nervous. If I thought you were a threat, you'd already be dead." He releases the breath we all knew he was holding before answering my wife.

"They are weak and petty. They did nothing more than scurry around, doing whatever to stay on Niall's good side. He had become quite volatile in the last several days. Most are opportunistic idiots who ride the back of anyone they feel will can give them power over others." Sookie and I both sense the truth in his words. He is very trustworthy and honest, a particular trait that most likely kept him on Niall's bad side.

"Thank you for your report. I know that you are not Fae. We both know that Niall lied to you about how you came to be in this realm, but you still made this place your home and grew to love those around you. Now that he is gone, do you still want to call Faery your home?" she asks.

"My home is wherever Claudine and our child dwell." Good answer.

"Okay. From this moment forth, you are my chief advisor, Secretary to the House of Brigant. You will watch over the kingdom and relay my commands to the population until Claudine is fully healed. Then, you will retain this position and become Consort to the Princess of Faery."