Chapter 3

I got up early to go for a run before breakfast, only to find Sookie out and about doing yardwork. I tried to talk her down, but she wouldn't hear of it. Giving up on my run, I decided to help her out. As we worked, Sookie told me about what happened the night before. It made me angry towards the vampires that threatened her. Angry that I wasn't around to help her out.

I threw some branches into a pile at the edge of the house, while Sookie was mowing. That was when Gran came outside to check on us. "Sookie! Teddy!" she called, and we both stopped what we were doing. We both started walking over to her and I saw she had two glasses of lemonade with her. "You're both gonna faint out here in this heat, honeys! It's barely 9 o'clock and already eighty degrees. Here." She handed us a glass each when we got close. "I made you two some lemonade. Fresh-squeezed."

"Thanks, Gran," we both chorused.

Sookie took some big gulps, while I just sipped mine. Gran looked around the yard at all the work we did in concern. "Goodness, what has gotten into the both of you?"

When Gran looked at me, I pointed at Sookie. "I was helping her," I muttered as I took another drink of lemonade.

Gran then turned to Sookie, who suddenly looked nervous. "I just need to stay busy right now, that's all," she defended herself.

"What?" Gran asked, then looked astonished. "How long have you…"

"Oh, I started uh… when the sun came up," she explained looking around. "But I was up much earlier than that. I just stayed inside."

"Are you concerned about the vampire?" Gran asked, getting worried. "Sookie, has he done something untoward?"

"No! No! Not at all," Sookie shook her head.

I scoffed. "Sounded like he did."

Sookie shot me a look to be quiet, and I just rolled my eyes at her. I took another drink as she gave Gran a censored and short version of how she feels.

"Well, that is a dilemma," Gran admitted. "Why don't you come inside, and let me make you something to eat? If you're gonna be out workin' like a horse, you ought to at least have somethin' in your stomach."

"Oh no, thanks," Sookie excused herself, handing her glass to Gran, who looked surprised. "I'm not hungry."

"I didn't ask if you were hungry," Gran said with an authoritative tone.

"I'll be in soon Gran," I told her as I handed her my glass. "I'll finish the mowing first."

Gran nodded her consent as she went inside, and Sookie followed her as I moved towards the lawn mower.

*Queen of the Wolves*

After I finished, I headed into the kitchen for breakfast. I sat down just as Sookie was heading upstairs. Digging into my food, I noticed the concerned look that my grandmother wore. "Is something wrong Gran?"

Gran looked at me startled a little. "It's just I'm worried about Sookie and the vampire," she told me honestly. Gran never tried to lie to me, mostly because of my hearing. But that was the kind of person Gran was, she never tried to lie to anyone. "She gets scared so easily by things that are so different from her normal life."

"The double edged sword?" I asked, and she nodded.

The double edged sword was what I called Sookie's ability. It makes having a normal life almost impossible, but when presented with someone she can't hear, she gets scared of them. She doesn't want to live with hearing everyone's thoughts but can't live without it.

"Do you need me to watch out for her?" I asked slowly.

"Oh honey," Gran consoled. "You have so much on your plate already. I don't want you over worked."

"It's no problem, Gran," I said. "It's what family does."

"If you're sure that it won't bog you down," Gran said in a worried tone. "Between your meetings, your pack, and your job, you already have your plate full."

I placed a hand on hers and gave her a soft smile. "Like I said Gran, it's what family does. But, right now, I have to run by the auto shop before work tonight."

I finished my plate before putting my dishes in the sink. I gave Gran a kiss on the cheek, then ran to get a shower.

*Queen of the Wolves*

I pulled my deep blue 1968 Chevrolet Camaro RS into the lot of Ranger Automotive. The auto shop was owned by Bryson Ranger and his twin sister Farren, both were Alphas in my personal pack. Bryson was the head mechanic and Farren handled the office. A few members of my pack worked at the shop, either as a mechanic or helping the business.

I saw Bryson in his work uniform, his dark red hair slicked back, and beard was trimmed as usual. His honey brown eyes sparkled as he spotted me and smiled, showing the dimples above his beard. I smiled back at him as I walked over. Bryson was standing next to an old Ford pickup truck, whipping his hands on an oil rag.

"Hey there Teddy," he greeted in his Georgia accent.

"Hey Bry," I greeted back. "Is there any word from the AVL?"

He shook his head with a frown, and a grunt. "Is there really ever one?"

There were a few in my pack that didn't think that I should be negotiating with the American Vampire League. But I had to, for the other packs. Recently, many wolves have found their mates in vampires, but vampires weren't really liked by our kind. It was a tricky situation.

I sighed at him. "No news is good news, right? We have to try Bry, or else we don't move forward."

Bryson blew out a heavy breath but nodded at me. "I know, Ted. It just sucks that they want to be so damn stubborn about it."

I nodded and patted his back. "It'll get better Bry," I told him. "Is Abbie back with your sister?"

He nodded to me, and I patted his back on more time with a smile before moving onto the office. Walking in I saw Farren Ranger, Bryson's twin sister, on one side on the phone and Aberdeen Von Stein, Bryson's mate, on the other side on her computer.

Farren's wavy, shoulder blade length, raven black hair was in a low ponytail, that fell over her right shoulder as she spoke on the phone. Her dark brown eyes looked over at me and smiled at me. I smiled back as I moved to Aberdeen.

Aberdeen, or Abbie, smiled at me as I sat down in front of me. Her electric blue eyes always lightened up when she smiled. Her waist length, straight hair was dyed white with pale pink and pale blue streaks was in a braid over her left shoulder with bangs framing her face. "Hey Teddy," she greeted. "Fae should be with you soon."

"That's fine," I told her with a smile. "Any news?"

She shook her head with a frown, and her eyes darkened. That was one thing about Abbie, her eyes were a mood indicator. They would darken when she was upset or angry and they would brighten when she was happy or excited. "I still don't think this is a good idea, Teddy."

I shook my head. "You and your mate, I swear," I groaned. "I don't want to have to repeat myself over and over Abbie. You both need to trust my decisions."

Abbie nodded still frowning, clearly still not happy about it. It was then that Farren hung up the phone and looked over to me with a worried look.

I furrowed my brow at her look. "What's wrong Fae?"

"You might wanna go to Dawn's place, Teddy," she said, and I gave her a confused look, gesturing for her to continue. She sighed. "Sookie found Dawn dead and they think that Jason might have done it."

That was all it took for me to practically fly out of the office to my car. I knew it looked strange and I probably got a lot of confused looks, but I didn't care at that moment. My family needed me. I peeled out of the parking lot and towards Dawn's house.

*Queen of the Wolves*

I pulled onto the road where Dawn had lived, only to see crowds of people all standing around trying to see what was going on. I rolled my eyes in disgust as I got out and made my way through them towards the house. Ducking under the police tape and ignoring the deputies, I saw Sookie sitting on the porch with Sam sitting next to her. "Sookie!" I called.

Sookie stood as I came around the railing, grabbing me in a hug. I returned the hug, rubbing her back softly as I felt her take a shuttering breath. We pulled back and I put my hands on her shoulders. "What happened?" I questioned. "Why were you here? Where's Jason?"

"I asked her to come here after Dawn didn't come in," Sam explained as he stood. "I thought that she just overslept."

"I found her dead though," Sookie stated, her voice sounding in shock.

"Where's Jason?" I repeated.

"Bud and Andy already took him to the station," Sam told me, and I cursed in Gaelic. Sam looked at me curiously but wasn't able to comment. A deputy walked over to us.

"Excuse me, are you Mr. Merlotte?" the deputy asked looking at Sam.

"Yes."

"Detective in charge tells me you're the landlord," he explained, and Sam nods telling him he's correct. "We need to get in the victim's storage unit, but we don't have a key. If you could find one, it'd be a big help right about now."

Sam took a key ring out of his pocket, and before leaving, gave Sookie a kiss on the head. When he left with the officer, Sookie turned to me. "I convinced San to keep the bar open tonight," she told me. "I don't need to be alone with my thoughts right now."

I nodded to her. "I'll come in too. Sam will need help tonight."

It was then that Mike Spenser and a kid that was at least nineteen, came down with Dawn's body in a black bag. "Hey Sookie, Teddy," Mike greeted. He then nodded to the kid. "Neil Jones, my new apprentice. He's from Kentucky."

"Hi," Neil greeted in a meek voice.

"Uh… hi," Sookie greeted, still in a daze.

I put a hand on her arm as they put Dawn's body in the van, and she looked over to me. "Are you sure you're okay to drive?" I asked her in concern. "You seem kinda out of it."

"I'll be fine Teddy," she replied. "We need to get home and tell Gran what happened."

I nodded. "I'll also call Felix for Jason. That dumbass won't realize that he can have a lawyer with him."

*Queen of the Wolves*

I followed Sookie to our Gran's house and called one of my Alpha's, Felix Rouge. Felix and Georgette owned a law firm together and assured me that he would head over to the station for Jason. As we walked into the house, Sookie quickly shared what happened through our connection. I was appalled at what the killer did to Dawn. Dawn was like Jason when it came to being horny, but she didn't deserve that.

We found Gran next to the kitchen sink when we walked in. "Hey, Gran," Sookie greeted weakly.

Gran looked up at us in despaired. "I heard."

"About Jason too?" Sookie asked.

"Um, hmm," she nodded. "He didn't do it, you know."

"We know," I spoke up.

"Jason may be many things, but he is not a murderer," Gran insisted.

"We know," Sookie said.

"The thing is though, Sookie, Teddy, in all the years that I've lived in Bon Temps, I can't recall but two, maybe three murders," Gran explained to us, looking distraught. "And now there are two in one week. People are not gonna stand for it. And if the police can't find the person, who did it, they're gonna find Jason. He needs your help, Sookie."

"Gran how am I supposed to…" Sookie started, but Gran cut her off.

"You use the gift God gave you," she insisted. "Listen in on people, keep your ears open. You're bound to hear somethin'."

"It's got nothin' to do with my ears," Sookie argued weakly.

"Whatever it is you use to listen, use it," Gran insisted again. "He is your brother, Sookie."

Sookie nodded. "Okay."

"Good girl!" Gran praised, giving her a hug. When they separated, Sookie went upstairs to get ready, and Gran turned to me. "Teddy—"

I cut her off. "I watch out for my family, Gran. Whoever this is, has messed with my family and they won't get away with it."

Gran gave me a grateful smile. "Thank you," she whispered and gave me a tight hug.

*Queen of the Wolves*

"Come and pick up your fucking orders out the window!" Lafayette yelled from the kitchen.

"I'm going as fast as I'm allowed Chocolate Thunder," I replied with a wink as I took my orders.

"Now, you can take your time White Lightning," Lafayette smirked and winked back.

I smiled and went back to taking my orders out. I got lost for a minute when I passed by Bill, who just walked in. "Evenin' Bill," I greeted with a smile. "Just sit down, and I'll be with you in a sec."

"Evening Theodora," Bill greeted back and went to sit down, even with most of the bar staring at him.

I quickly put my order down at one of my tables, and then stopped Arlene. "I got him Arlene," I told her. "Just take a couple of my tables."

Arlene gave a sigh of relief and a nervous laugh. "Oh, thank you, Teddy," she said. "He creeps me out."

I just smiled at her as I walked over to the booth that Bill sat in. "What can I get for you tonight, Bill?"

"May I have a bottle of O Negative, please?" he requested politely.

I smiled at his manners and wrote down his order. "Coming right up."

"Is something going on?" he asked me. "It's pretty crowded in here tonight."

I sighed as I looked at him. "Dawn, one of the waitresses here, was found dead today, same as another girl."

"Oh, sorry to hear that," he said with some shock in his voice.

"Thank you. I'll be right back with your drink," I smiled at him and walked to the bar as Tara just pulled the True Blood out of the microwave.

She placed it in front of me as Sookie walked up next to me. "Do you mind if I take it to him?" she asked me, and I raised an eyebrow at her. "I just want to ask him something."

"Alright." She took the bottle to Bill and then lead him outside. People started to talk loudly again, but I just continued to work. After about a half hour of working, Sookie came up to me and brought me to the back. "What's goin' on Sookie?"

"We're leaving," she said as she grabbed her stuff.

"Huh?" I retorted. "And why are we doing that?"

"We're going to that vampire bar in Shreveport," she explained to me, and I gave her a confused look. "It's the same bar that Maudette and Dawn hung out in, and Gran asked me to listen in to clear Jason's name. Will you come with me?"

I sighed at her. When Sookie decided something, it was impossible to change it. "Please tell me someone else is coming with us or I'll call one of the boys," I pleaded.

"Bill is taking us," she replied.

"Great," I muttered sarcastically. I rolled my eyes as I grabbed my things. "Third wheel goes to me."

"Oh, don't be so dramatic," she said back.

*Queen of the Wolves*

"I still think that I should call one of the boys," I stated as I watched Sookie get ready.

She wore a white dress with red flowers and red heels, like a girl going to church. I was dressed in a tank top with graphic designs on it, black jeans, black ankle boots and my black cropped leather vest. My shoulder blade length, wavy, deep auburn hair was down, and my tattoos were in full view. I was dressed how I usually am around my pack and was rather perfect for a vampire bar.

"We'll be fine with Bill, Teddy," she reassured me as she fixed her hair.

"I'm sure," I muttered, then raised my voice a little. "Just a little bit there and the first sign of trouble, we leave, understood?"

Sookie sighed as she turned to me. "I understand Teddy. But I promise we'll be fine."

"We'll see," I replied.

*Queen of the Wolves*

I parked my motorcycle next to Bill's car in the parking lot of Fangtasia. I didn't want to ride in the car with the two of them. I already felt like a third wheel and didn't want to endure their flirting-non-flirting thing. Taking off my helmet, I shook out my hair and ran my fingers through it as Bill helped Sookie out of the car. As we went to walk towards the door, Bill put a hand on Sookie's waist and tried to do the same to me, but I stepped away.

"I appreciate the offer for protection, but I can handle myself Bill," I told him with a confident smile.

Bill looked unsure and glanced to Sookie, and she nodded her head, agreeing with me. But, he couldn't argue as we stepped through the line to the building. We were stopped at the entrance by a blonde vampire with her hair in an elegant bun and her deep blue eyes looked bored. She wore a leather bustier dress with a black chocker and black pumps.

"Bill," the vampire drawled in a bored tone. "Haven't seen you in a while."

"I'm mainstreamin'," Bill replied, looking a little uncomfortable.

"Good for you," she droned sardonically, before turning to Sookie and me. "Who are the dolls?"

"Pam, this is Sookie and Theodora," Bill introduced us. "Ladies, this is Pam."

"Pleased to meet you," Sookie greeted with a smile and extended her hand for Pam to shake. I reached out and gently moved her hand down, and she gave me a puzzled look.

"Can I see your IDs?" Pam requested.

I handed over my ID with a bord look, while Sookie chuckled nervously. "Oh. Sure. How funny. Who'd have thought? Getting carded at a vampire bar."

Pam handed back my ID and went to take Sookie's. "I can no longer tell human ages," she explained, looking at the ID. "We must be careful we serve no minors… in any capacity. Twenty-six and twenty-five, huh? How sweet it is."

Pam let us in, and her eyes lingered on me as I passed her. I pretended not to notice. Most of my kind tried to stay away from vampires and didn't visit their bars. Vampires could tell that we weren't human, but couldn't tell exactly what we were because we were different than the normal werewolves. I just had to hope that they didn't find out who I was.

As Sookie put her ID away in her purse, we both looked around the room. The walls were a blood red and there was black leather booths and cocktail tables with stools. There were also dancers on stages and poles around the room that were in gothic clothes. "This feels a little bit like what a vampire bar would look like if it were a… a ride at Disney World," Sookie commented.

"You said the same thing about our bonfires," I joked with a smile and Sookie returned the smile.

Bill sent me a curious look but cut off our joking. "Well, don't get too comfortable. It tends to get more authentic as the night wears on."

"Duly noted," I muttered as I noted the exits.

"Can I get you both a drink?" Bill asked as we approached the bar.

"Uh, please," Sookie replied, and I just nodded.

As we came to the bar, there was a tattooed vampire bartender with shoulder length black hair. He wasn't wearing a shirt, but he wore a leather vest and a necklace. "How's it goin,' Bill?" he greeted without a smile.

"Very well," Bill responded politely.

"I'll say it is," he commented, looking Sookie and I over. "These your meal for tonight?"

"These are my friends Sookie and Theodora," Bill corrected. "Sookie and Theodora, Longshadow."

"Nice to meet you," Sookie greeted, and I just nodded. There went her manners again. Longshadow just stared at us in response. "I'll have a gin and tonic, please."

"Bourbon, straight," I requested.

"And I'll have a bottle of O Negative," Bill ordered. "Longshadow, Sookie here would like to know if she could ask you a few questions. Would this be acceptable?"

As Sookie asked her questions and Longshadow mad our drinks, I took another look around the bar. I noticed a raised platform in the back with what looked like a throne on the platform. Sitting on the throne, was a vampire with pale blonde hair that brushes his broad shoulders. He looked tall, just from how he was sitting. His long legs were stretched out in front of him as he lounged. He was dressed in all black and had a powerful aura to him. I couldn't help but feel drawn to him. There was a stirring with my wolf as I looked at him and I had to shake my head to snap myself out of my daze.

I looked back to the bar as I suddenly felt eyes on me. Longshadow had finished our drinks but held up a picture of Maudette. "This one," he said. "She wanted to die."

"Everyone who comes here does, in their own way," he explained and then looked to Bill. "That's who we are: Death."

I rolled my eyes as I picked up my drink, and Bill paid for the drinks. We all walked to one of the unoccupied cocktail table. I sat down as I took a sip of my drink while glancing around. My eyes met a pair of ocean blue eyes of the vampire on the throne. He looked me over before looking back at my emerald green eyes. Smirking, his eyes were daring me, and I just rolled my eyes at him.

"Bill, who is that on the platform?" I asked turning from the vampire.

"Who's that?" Sookie echoed.

"Oh, you noticed him, did you?" Bill asked with a dejected tone.

"No, it's not like that," Sookie defended.

"Everyone does," Bill said. "That's Eric. He's the oldest thing in this bar. Why do you ask Theodora?"

"He's been staring at me," I replied.

Suddenly, there was a loud crash and we turned to see the man from earlier had been kicked by Eric and had gone through a table. The smell of blood filled my nose and the sounds of fangs clicking down sounded through the room. There was a young-looking female vampire that made it first. "Hi," she said. "I'm Taryn."

She helps him up of the floor and takes him away. Bill then turns to Sookie. "Still think you're in Disney World?"

Sookie looked sheepish, but then notices my furrowed brows. 'Is everything okay?' Sookie's voice echoed in my head.

'I'm okay Sookie,' I thought back to her. 'There's just something going on with my wolf, but we'll talk about that later. Right now, you need to focus.'

Sookie nodded and looked around. Bill slightly picked at the label of his bottle, and I took another sip of my drink.

"So, what do you wanna ask?" I spoke up, and Bill looked a little startled. "I can see that you wanna ask me something Bill. If I don't want to answer, then I'll tell you."

"Sookie told me that you can only hear her," he started, and I nodded in confirmation. "But I can tell that you are not human. So, what are you?"

I rolled my eyes. "You have terrible timing. I'm not gonna say it in the middle of a vampire bar with most of those vampires listening in." I smirked at him. "But I don't know you as well as I would like in order to tell you anything, so you'll have to wait. Next."

"How about why you left Bon Temps?" he switched topics with a nod of respect. "Sookie said that when your mother died, you left to live with your father when you were young."

I scoffed a little, taking a heavy drink. "My dad isn't exactly father material. It started out like that, but I bounced around a little with family. I eventually ended up in Dallas with a good friend that helped to take care of me. He helped me realize who I was, and I wouldn't be who I am today without him."

Bill gave me a fond smile. "Sounds as though you care a lot for him."

"It's not like you think," I smiled back. "He's more like a brother to me, but closer than family. It's hard to explain."

"I think that I can understand a little."

I smiled at him before looking to Sookie. "Hear anything dear cousin?"

"All anyone's thinkin' about here is sex, sex, sex," Sookie complained.

"One needn't be telepathic to pick up on that," Bill joked with a smile. It then dropped as he noticed something over my shoulder. "Uh-oh."

"Don't say 'uh-oh'," I pleaded.

Sookie nodded. "Vampires are not supposed to say 'uh-oh'."

"It's Eric," Bill explained. "He's scanned Theodora twice. He's goin' to summon us."

I turned around as Sookie asked if he could do that. I saw Pam standing next to Eric, both of which were staring at us. He smirked at me and fought the urge to growl. Bill helped Sookie off her seat and offered his hand to me, but I stepped down on my own. The perks of being tall.

We walked over to the platform, and Eric was still smirking. "Bill Compton," he greeted. "It has been a while."

I was thrown as a light shiver went down my spine at the deepness of his voice.

"Yes, well… I've been…" Bill started but was cut off by Eric.

"Mainstreaming," he said as if it was a joke. "I heard. I see that is… going well for you."

"Yes, of course," Bill started gesturing to us. "Uh, sorry. Eric, these are my friends…"

"Sookie and Theodora Stackhouse," Eric cut him off again and I resisted the urge to roll my eyes.

"How do you know our names?" Sookie questioned.

"I never forget a pretty face," Pam spoke up and pointed to her head. "You're both in my vault."

"Fan-fucking-tastic," I drawled, and Bill grabbed my hand in warning.

Eric, who heard me, smirked in amusement. "Well, aren't you sweet."

"Not really," I shot back, and Bill gripped my hand again. I pulled my hand away and shot him a look. I wasn't about to be intimidated by a vampire, no matter how old he was.

Eric's smirk widened as he turned his head slightly to speak to Pam. "Vår lilla djurpark böjar växa till sig. (Our little zoo is starting to grow.)

"Jag vet. (I know.)" she responded.

I believed that they were speaking Swedish. Even though Swedish was one of the languages that I know, I wasn't about to broadcast it. Being Queen, I had to learn a lot of languages. There were many packs that spoke in the language of their home countries, so I had to be able to understand them.

"Well, Miss Stackhouse, Miss Stackhouse, I understand you've been asking questions about some of my customers," Eric said, switching back to English.

"Yes, we have," Sookie confirmed.

"If you have anything to ask, you should ask it of me," Eric demanded, then he looked to me, looking me up and down. "Anything you need to ask me."

I only gave him a deadpan look and held my hand out to Sookie. "Pictures please Sookie."

As Sookie handed me the pictures, Pam smirked. "So, you do have manners," she droned.

"Only when really needed," I snapped back. I stepped forward and held out the pictures to Eric. "You recognize either one of these girls?" He took the photos, but before I could move back, he grabbed my wrist and pulled me next to him. I ended up sitting on the arm rest of his chair and he pointed at me.

"Stay there a moment," he ordered. I went to protest and stand up, but a look from Bill had me staying put. Eric first pointed to the picture of Maudette and then to Dawn. "Hmm… well, this one offered herself to me. But I found her too pathetic for my attentions. Now, this one, however I have tasted."

I had to force myself not to growl at the thought of him near Dawn, which confused me. My wolf and I was angry that he was near another girl, even though I just met him.

"I remember them both," Pam spoke up.

"On account of the vault?" Sookie quipped and Bill grasped Sookie's hand in warning, like he had with me.

Both Eric and Pam looked at Sookie. "Never had either of them, though," she continued, ignoring Sookie's comment. "They weren't really my type."

"Well," I spoke up, plucking the pictures from Eric's hand. "Thank you very much, but that is all the time we need to take."

I stood, but Eric grabbed my wrist again. "I'm not finished with you yet!" he raised his voice a little. He then smiled at us. "Please. Sit."

Bill helped Sookie into the seat to Eric's right and Eric pulled me back down, only to sit in his lap this time. He wrapped his left arm around my waist. I could feel my body relax and my wolf howled in my mind. It honestly scared me.

"So, Bill," he started as he looked over at Sookie. "Are you quite attached to your friends?"

"Sookie is mine!" Bill growled.

"Yes," she agreed. "I am his."

I looked between the two of them and wondered when this happened. She didn't mention to me that Bill claimed her.

"What a pity," he drawled. "For me." He then turned to me. "What about you? Are you Bill's as well?"

I scoffed. "I belong to no one, and that includes you."

"Feisty," he grinned before turning to Bill. "Sit with us. We have catching up to do, you and I. It has been too long."

Bill sat down to his left with a hesitant agreement. Suddenly, I felt cool fingers brush against my upper right arm, right where one of my tattoos was. It was one of the symbols of my people, the wolf cross was large and stretched down to my elbow. I turned my head a little to look and see Eric was staring at my tattoo and tracing it with his fingers. His ocean blue eyes lifted to look at me. Before anything could be said, Sookie broke the silence.

"We have to get out of here," she urged.

"Sookie," Bill warned.

"Eric, the cops are coming," she said quickly. "There's gonna be a raid."

"Tell me the two of you are not undercover cops," he demanded as his arm got tighter against me.

"We're not, but that man in the hat is," she retorted quickly, and we all looked to see a man in a hat on the dance floor, looking around suspiciously.

"Even if you're right, we do nothing illegal here," Eric insisted.

"There's a vampire named Taryn in the ladies room with that you kicked before," she reported quickly. "She's feeding on him."

Before she could answer though, the police came bursting in. Eric quickly stands up, pulling me up with him. He took my hand as he started walking. "Follow me."

We followed him out the back and into an alleyway. Bill picks up Sookie and Eric lets go of my hand.

"I enjoyed meeting you both, Sookie and Theodora," he said. "You both will come again."

"I'll meet you at home, Sook," I called to her. I ran to my motorcycle, quickly pulled on my helmet, and peeled out. I drove fast back to Bon Temps, and I could still feel the cold fingers of Eric on my arm.