A/N: A HUGE thank you to HeavenlyCondemned for your review! I'm so happy that you're enjoying this story! And another thank you to all of you who followed and favorited this story as well! I love you guys! Happy reading!

Chapter 17: Release Me

My head was pounding as I came back to consciousness. As the feeling in my body came back, I could feel a hand running through my hair. I groaned as I tried to move a little and brought my hand up to rub at my eye. There was a chuckle from above me and it made my eyes snap open. It was dark, so it took a moment for my eyes to adjust to it, but I saw that I was in a room with no windows. Looking up, I met the green eyes of Godric.

He had a smile on his face as he continued to run his fingers through my hair. He used to do that to help keep me calm. "I was getting worried that you wouldn't wake up Lev," he commented.

"How long have I been down here?" I groaned as I tried to sit up. Godric was the only one that would call me Lev for my middle name Levana. Also, for the Russian name that means lion. He always liked to make inside fun about how I was a wolf, not a cat.

Godric helped me sit up and lean against the wall. "It's been about two hours," he replied as I held my head with a sigh.

"Whoever hit me is gonna get it when I get to them," I grumbled, and he chuckled again. I looked over at him with a small smile. "I'm glad that I found you alive Godric."

"You should not have come," he told me sadly. "There was no reason for you to."

I looked at him in alarm as his words sunk in. His eyes held a pain and sadness that I had never seen before. I realized that it wasn't just the bond that had really affected him, but it was his own feelings. "You gave yourself up," I whispered in shock. "Why would you do that? There are so many that love you and need you here."

"You, Zander and Georgette are doing just fine on your own," he told me with a small smile. "And I couldn't be more proud. But they would have taken one of us eventually."

"What about Eric?" I asked and he looked at me in confusion. "Eric asked both me and my cousin to help find you. He's been distracted since you disappeared."

"Eric will learn to live without me," he said. "He has you." It was my turn to look at him in confusion, and he smiled. "You smell like him. He's your mate, isn't he?"

I nodded in confirmation and sighed. "I haven't told him yet. I'm scared that he would either use it to his advantage or move on after we sleep together."

He sighed. "That may have been my fault. It was how I was when I was a younger vampire."

"I doubt that," I scoffed. "Speaking of mates. What about Willow? Why would you do that to her?"

"Willow has a mate," Godric said as if it explained anything. "She does not need me around to complicate things."

"You fell in love with her," I concluded, and he nodded in confirmation. "But you are her mate. She needs you here." Godric looked at me sharply and searched my eyes for any deception. "I learned that you were missing from Eric, not Willow. She has been in your room and wearing your clothes since you went missing. Does that sound like someone with someone else as their mate?"

Godric looked away from me for a moment in consideration. I placed a hand on his arm, and he slowly looked over at me. "You have gotten to know Willow over the years since I left Dallas. Does Willow seem like the kind of woman to sleep with someone that is not their mate?"

"She would rather get shot with wolfsbane than betray someone's trust," Godric replied, and I nodded at that. "I am really her mate?"

I nodded while taking his hand. "We need to talk about that."

*Queen of the Wolves*

No One's POV

"You have got to be joking me," Eric deadpanned. He stood with Isabel and Bill outside the Fellowship of the Sun's perimeter. Bill was anxious to get in there, but Eric had ordered him to stay put. "This is the Fellowship of the Sun? That's their army? Scared little boys with bibles and crossbows."

"Don't underestimate them," Isabel scolded lightly. "Support for their movement is growing. Their leadership camps are overflowing with self-righteous extremists, all willing and ready to die for their cause."

"That can be arranged quite easily," Eric muttered.

"Not until we know for sure the Fellowship has Godric," Isabel warned.

"What about your boy Hugo, Sookie and Theodora?" Eric countered.

"They've been in there too long," Bill cut in with anger, frustration and worry. "We should go in there now. They need to be gotten out of there."

"Keep it up Bill and I will send you back to the hotel," Eric growled in warning. Bill immediately deflated and took a step back. "Did you feel anything from Sookie?"

Bill shook his head. "She was scared for a moment, but she's annoyed and worried now."

"There's no sign of alarm from out here," Isabel told the men, drawing their attention to her. "And if Hugo were in serious danger, I would know it. I felt something earlier, but it passed. He's okay now."

Eric was only slightly worried, a feeling that felt weird to have. He felt Theodora's anger and slight fear before the link went silent. She had woken up and seemed to be a peace now. Eric wasn't sure what made him worried about her, but he was more attached to her since giving her blood. When they kissed, he knew that he wouldn't be able to have anyone else. He thought that if he kissed her, then he could get her out of his head. Instead, it made him want her even more. She was like an addiction to him, always needing to be around her and touching her, and he was feeling as though he would be happy to overdose.

"Tell me, what is it that you find so fulfilling about human companionship?" he asked as he turned to Isabel in curiosity. That was a hesitancy that he had with Theodora, despite her being a wolf.

"They feel much more strongly than we do," Isabel explained. "Everything is urgent, exciting. Maybe because their lives are so temporary."

"Yes, they certainly don't keep well," he commented with a slight growl. "Don't you find the prospect of him growing old, sickly, crippled, somewhat, repulsive?"

"No," she disagreed. "I find it curious. Like a science project. But you do know that this aversion to humans does not apply to Theodora. She is a wolf, not a human."

"What are you talking about?" Eric demanded.

"I saw how you two interacted at the nest," she told him plainly. "The way you immediately went to her side when she came in. The way that you both looked at each other. You both defended each other against anything that came at the other. You obviously have an interest in her and she in you."

"I do not have an interest in Theodora," Eric defended himself weakly. However, it sounded hollow even to him. He was not aware that it was that obvious to others. He also wasn't sure about her having an interest in him. "My only interest is finding Godric."

"Of course," Isabel said with a cheeky half smile.

She continued to look at him in a disbelieving way and Bill mirrored it on his other side. "Don't look at me like that," Eric whispered before raising his voice. "Do you really believe these fools could overpower a vampire such as Godric and hold him for weeks?"

"Stan is sure of it," Isabel told him. "But I have known Godric a long time. It's hard to imagine anything could overpower him."

"Not anything human," Eric murmured.

"Do you think another vampire could have killed Godric?" Bill questioned in worry. "Or one of the wolves?"

"The wolves wouldn't risk that," Isabel countered with certainty. "Theodora is their Queen, and they would not risk her anger. She can be quite the ferocious when she wants to be, and they know how much Godric means to her. None of them would dare to risk it."

"Maybe not alone," Eric muttered again. "We should head back. There's nothing we can do until they come back. It will be dawn soon."

*Queen of the Wolves*

They were walking down the hallway of the hotel to Bill and Eric's rooms. Stan had joined them at the hotel to see if the three that they sent in had come back. He was very condescending about them not being there. "Maybe the little rats ran off," he suggested. "Joined the Fellowship themselves."

"Careful," Isabel snapped. "Hugo is mine."

"Just as Sookie is mine," Bill reminded him angrily.

"Oh, please," Stan groaned. "If either of you cared about them so much, we'd have been in that church hours ago."

Bill growled at him while Isabel countered what he said. "With no plan, no exit strategy. That's why you'll never be sheriff, Stan. You don't think. Also, don't insinuate Theodora would side with them after everything she's done for us."

"She hasn't been in Dallas to do anything in years," Stan snapped. "And you're too chicken shit to act. That's why we been gettin' Godric's coffee for the past forty years." He then turned to Eric, who had his back to them. "And you, the Fellowship has your maker, telepath and wolf, and still, you do nothin'."

Eric spun around, grabbing Stan's shirt, and pinning him to the wall. "Are you questioning my loyalty Stan?"

"Just trying to return Godric to his rightful position," Stan told him carefully with a small chuckle.

"Oh, really?" Eric asked in a disbelieving tone, letting go of him. "'Cause I think maybe you have another agenda. Maybe you think starting a war with the Fellowship with distract us from the truth – that you're so starved for power, you murdered Godric for his title. Also, putting Theodora in danger so she won't suspect anything."

"That is a lie," Stan growled back him. "How dare you accuse me?"

Isabel put her hand on Eric's chest in order to calm down the tension. "Eric, we don't know this," she cautioned. "There's no proof."

"Not yet," Eric growled, taking a step back and shrugging off her hand. "But I will find it. And when I do, there will be no mercy. From me or Theodora. In the meantime, you two can stand here and quibble over his position or run into that church and kill them all. I no longer care." He turned his back to them, and a little blood came from his eyes. "If Godric is gone, nothing will bring back what I have lost."

He entered his room while Stan and Isabel left the hotel. Bill stared at Eric's door for a moment. He didn't think that Eric realizes how much he was talking about Theodora. Bill was unsure of what that would mean for both Eric and Theodora herself. Sighing, Bill decided to leave that for later, and went into his room to rest.

*Queen of the Wolves*

Theodora's POV

Godric's eyes were starting to drop, which meant that the sun was coming up. I scooted over and helped him lay on his side to put his head in my lap. "Rest," I instructed with a soft smile. "I'll watch over you. We'll talk more when you wake up."

Godric nodded in consent before closing his eyes and went still. I sat there for most of the morning just thinking over everything that he told me. It was slightly disturbing at what all was done. A plan was slowly forming in my mind for what to do about it.

It was then that a door was opened, blinding me for a moment. When my vision cleared, I realized that there was a fence between the door and us. Reverend Newlin and Gabe walked in with Steve offering a bright smile and Gabe offering a creepy one. Steve stood there with a water bottle in his hand and put it through an opening in the bottom of the fence, letting it roll to me.

"Good morning!" he cheered. "I see that you're still alive for spending the night with a vampire."

All I did was stare at him with a deadpan expression. I wouldn't give them anything that they wanted, which was for me to get angry at them and reveal myself again. They wanted to see what they saw last night.

"I'm actually glad that you're alive," Steve told me as he brought a chair into the room and sat in it. He leaned his elbows on his knees as he stared at me. "We wouldn't be able to find out what you are if you were dead."

"Well, you just wasted your time then," I drawled as I leaned my head back against the wall.

Steve chuckled at me. "Well, we just want some answers. If you answer my questions, I'd be happy to let you out, feed you and send you on your way."

I looked at him bored and noticed the slight crazy look in his eyes. From what I know about the reverend was that his father and family were killed in a freak accident. However, Steve believed that vampires were the ones that killed them. It seemed to me that his grief was taking a toll on his mental state. I scoffed with a smirk, and then leaned back while closing my eyes.

I kept my eyes closed as he sighed. I heard the chair scraping on the ground as he left the room. The sound of the door closing made my eyes open partially. My mind kept going back to what Godric told me. A part of me couldn't believe in, but a bigger part of me wasn't surprised.

I decided to try and get some sleep. I readjusted how I was sitting and fell into a restless sleep.

*Queen of the Wolves*

I could feel myself waking up as there was movement in my lap. Opening my eyes, I watched as Godric shifted a little, waking up himself. He looked up at me with his green eyes and gave me a slight smile. "Good mornin'," I greeted him with a soft smile. He sat up and studied me for a moment. "What?"

"Have you gotten any rest at all?" he asked in concern. "You look tired."

My smile widened at that. "I got some sleep even if it wasn't very comfortable. How about you? When was the last time you had any blood?"

"I require very little blood anymore," he deflected, and I narrowed my eyes at him. Godric sighed but then chuckled at how I was. "I forgot how protective you are of those you love. I have not had any blood since I got here."

I lifted my wrist and held it out to him. Godric immediately shook his head and pushed my arm down. "Godric," I said slowly as I shrugged off his hand. "I don't care how much blood you need now a days. You need to keep up your strength. I'll say what I told Willow. She would not want you to starve yourself."

Godric looked at me confused. "What do you mean?"

I shook my head. "Feed first, then I answer."

He sighed, taking my wrist in his hand before dropping his fangs and biting into my wrist. I hissed at the sting, but that quickly faded. Godric didn't take a lot of blood and licked away the blood from the bite as it closed. He licked the blood from his lips as his fangs retracted then he looked at me in question. "What did you mean?" he asked again.

I smiled at him. "Willow had locked herself in your room since you went missing. She looked like a wreck, especially when she couldn't feel you."

"She can feel me?" he asked in confusion.

I sighed. "You know how the mating bond works. But it takes an exchange of blood. She told me that you had offered her blood to protect her, and that you also took blood from her."

"We're already mated," Godric whispered in astonishment. Then a genuine smile made its way onto his face.

I smiled along with him, happy that he seemed to be happy with that. The moment was broken by hearing a loud scream that sounded through my hearing. I recognized that scream immediately and I stood quickly. Godric stood with me and looked at me in concern. "What is it?" he asked. "Do you know who that is?"

I nodded quickly and moved to the fence. Godric used his vampire speed to get in front of me. He grabbed my arms and looked at me with his green eyes begging me to explain. "That scream came from my cousin, Sookie," I explained quickly. "Eric had both me and Sookie come here to find you. They separated us and they could be doing anything to her. Please Godric, you have to help me save her."

Godric got a hard look in his eyes before he picked me up bridal style. Then everything was a blur until Godric put me on my feet. I took a moment to let my world stop spinning. When it did, I saw Godric holding up Gabe by his collar, choking him. Looking towards the corner that Godric was looking at, Sookie was sitting there staring at the vampire in front of her. I ran to her as she was buttoning her dress back up.

"Sookie!" I exclaimed as I kneeled next to her. "Are you alright? You're not hurt, are you?"

Sookie quickly pulled me into a tight hug, and I hugged her tighter as she started to shake in my arms. 'He almost…' she trailed off in my mind.

I pulled back as her thoughts were chaotic and I couldn't make out what she was trying to say to me. Although, looking into her terrified brown eyes that were swimming with tears, I could understand what almost happened. A deep growl ripped through my chest as I let go of her and spun around to the man being choked. I could feel my eyes start to glow silver as my canines elongated. I bared them as another feral growl ripped its way through my chest, radiating through the small area, and made Sookie and Gabe jump with wide eyes.

"First, you hold my cousin at gunpoint and then you try to rape her?" I growled, my voice going deeper as my anger rose and my body began to shake.

I took a step forward, but Godric held out his hand towards me, telling me to stop. "Calma síos mo Bhanrion (Calm down my Queen)," he pleaded calmly in Gaelic. "Cuirfidh tú eagla ar an duine. (You will scare the human)"

It snapped me out of my anger, and I looked at him in shock. He gave me a small smile and a single nod. He was declaring his allegiance to me by saying that. It was something that I didn't know how to deal with. Sookie's voice brought me back to my cousin who slowly stood from where she was. "Teddy?" her voice called in hesitation. "Is this Godric?"

I turned to her and walked back to her to wrap my arm around her shoulders. We both looked to Godric when Gabe began to speak. "Godric, it's me," he groaned. It sounded as if he was begging to me. Godric only stared at Gabe with disgust in his eyes.

Without much effort or hesitation, Godric snapped Gabe's neck with a loud crack. He let him fall to the floor without blinking. He turned to us with a small smile. I smiled back at him and squeezed Sookie's shoulder. "Sookie, this is Godric, Sheriff of Texas' Area 9," I introduced them. "Godric, this is my cousin, Sookie Stackhouse."

A/N: I'm sorry that this is shorter than my other chapters, but I wasn't sure how to end it. I wanted to do the episode Timebomb as one chapter by itself, instead of just putting it all together. Please let me know what you think of it!