"We are having a feast," I tell Sophie-Anne as I watch her eyes darting to each of my guests. "You and your entourage are welcome to stay so that we can discuss strategies if you wish," I say as she scans the Estate with a nod.
"The homes are light-tight, and the Viking house is locked down during the daylight hours for the protection of any vampires that reside inside," I tell her as I point to the plantation house with the Valknut symbol high above the porch as she nods.
"What of my child and Compton?" she asks as Eric growls. "After everything that Andre does to me in the future, I will not ever trust him, Sophie-Anne," I tell her as she grimly nods and looks at the limousine that her child is currently seated inside.
As everyone goes back to the feast, I motion for Sophie-Anne to follow me inside as we reach the front door, she arches a brow at the threshold. "Anyone is permitted as long as they mean us no harm," I say as her face brightens. "They get painfully ejected from the estate the moment they decide to have ill intent," I say as she strides forward confidently.
As we reach the living room quarters, we both take seats on the new leather couches facing each other. I see Weigbert and Seigbert stand behind her just as Jason and Karin stand behind Eric and myself. I see Merlin take a seat on the matching loveseat to our right. Drinks and blood are conjured for everyone as we sit to discuss negotiations.
"After we explain in detail what happens in the future, the vampire queen has many questions.
Peter Threadgill has already started to pursue her; she tells us. "I also think that getting rid of my best sheriff was part of the plan to take over Louisianna," Sophie-Anne says with malice. "That is no longer an option," I say as she nods. "How did you defeat them?" she asks with doubt as Pam appears with her phone. She had recorded the whole incident with Alexi, Appius, and Freyda.
She watched with her children Siegbert and Weigbert in fascination. "Louisianna is one of the richest states in the United States," I say as she nods for me to continue. "Nevada wants to take over for obvious reasons which would be greed," I say, and I see all vampires nod. "Philipe also wants more," I say as everyone looks at me to continue.
"He wants to rule all vampire," I say as they hiss and drop fang. "A high king, if you will," I continue as they finally understand what I am saying.
"How does he plan to do this without the council intervening?" Sophie-Anne asks. "He plans to work with the F.O.T.S to blow up the pyramid in Rhodes," I say as all eyes widen.
"He was not at Rhodes, and Freyda stayed briefly," I remind them as they all silently agree. "I think that they knew of Threadgill's plot and knew he would fail," I continue. "They were waiting for the right time to move in," I say as the vampire queen cuts her eyes to me.
"What do you recommend that I do?" she asks in a solemn tone. "Well, I despise Andre, but he has your best interest at heart, and he loves you very much," I say as she nods and looks at me with suspicion.
"I think that you should take Andre as your consort and King so that the vultures will stop circling, and you have a loyal right hand to take over as a backup," I say with thought as I see her nod in agreement as she thinks about my suggestion.
"What of Hadley?" she asks in a quiet voice, and I can hear the pain in her voice.
"Hadley lives here protected and cared for with her husband Remie and her son Hunter," I say as her eyes widen. "Hadley has a son?" she gasps. "Yes, and she is also a Brigant princess of the Skye Fae," I say as she grabs the arm of the couch in surprise.
"Our great grandfather will not allow her to be turned or used as a pet," I say as she stares at me with confusion.
"I had no idea that she was a Brigant," she tells me, and I nod. "She did not know either," I say as she nods with comfort that Hadley did not deceive her.
"She remembers only meeting you one time," I say as she arches her brow. "I came back to set right many wrongs," I tell her as she listens. "Hadley should never have been turned vampire," I say as Sophie-Anne nods in agreement. "Hadley never took to our ways as she should have, and it always puzzled me," she confides.
"She is happy and safe inside the walls of our kingdom," I say to reassure her. "You propose we share Louisianna?" she inquires with a raised brow. I laugh at the thought. "No, I rule in Avalon with Eric," I say to her as she waits for me to continue. "This place is a haven for any supe that needs help," Eric tells her as she nods in understanding.
"We both prefer your rule to that of DeCastro and his cronies such as Viktor Madden," Eric tells her as I see her fangs drop as she nods.
"We will be allies, and with hope on my part, we can be friends," I say as surprise shows on her face. "You would wish to befriend me after what you have shown me?" she asks me in an astonished tone.
"Yes," I say.
"Those things have not happened yet, and I am no longer human," I say as she stares at me in shock.
"Can the remaining three members of my party enter the estate?" she asks as Eric growls and drops fang.
I place my hand in his and send comfort and love through the bond as she watches in fascination. "The council will be arriving soon to see the evidence against Long Shadow and Hot Rain," I tell Eric as he relaxes.
"There is also the matter of Bill and his database that you should address," I say as she agrees. "His maker Lorena is a vicious bitch, and we all know the power of a makers command," I say as she nods in understanding. "Have him work on the database in your palace and keep it under guard and magical protection," I say as her eyes light with knowledge.
"This is an excellent plan," she tells me as she admires my pitch.
"We will step outside with you so that you can issue a makers command to Andre for his safety," I tell her as she nods. "He is very tactical, and I do not want to ruin our newly forged alliance, but Eric will not hesitate to end him if he attempts to harm me or any member of this kingdom," I say as she agrees. I hear the giant vampires behind her grunt in agreement as well.
"If Bill or Quinn look at my wife in any way I deem inappropriate, I will end them," Eric growls as Sophie-Anne smirks. "I never thought that I would witness the day that the great Eric Northman blood bonded, nor did I expect for you to ever be so jealous over a woman," she giggles in a girlish way as we walk to the door.
We walk to the barrier, and Sophie-Anne steps forward with her giant bodyguards as the limousine doors open, and I see Andre stand and look around in suspicion. I see Bill step out and stoically look at me. He has a stick up his ass as my brother would say. Then I see Quinn step out and leer at me, raking his gaze over my body from head to toe as Eric drops fang and snarls at him.
I see Sophie-Anne in front of him before I can blink and has him in the air by the throat. Impressive considering Quinn is as big as Eric in the height and bulk department, but not so much in the gracious aplenty department; I think to myself as I feel Eric's pleasure through our bond.
"You will respect her majesty Queen PenDragon she hisses as Bill and Andre stand there looking like Sophie-Anne slapped them with a dead fish.
"We are allies in what is to come, and you have much to answer for my little pussy cat," she tells Quinn as her grip tightens on his throat. His eyes go large, and he begins to struggle as I clear my throat for Sophie-Anne to step aside.
"You are here under false pretenses to spy on my friend Sophie-Anne for the King of Nevada Philipe DeCastro," I say as his eyes widen, and he tries to run. I hold my hand up, and he stops in mid-air, and I twirl my hand, and he has turned around facing us all.
"They have your mother and sister as leverage," I continue as Bill and Andre stare in shock. "You will provide my new friend Sophie-Anne with any details that you know about, and I will personally retrieve your family," I say as he eyes me with disbelief.
"But if you ever so much as disrespectfully look my way again, my bonded husband will rip your tiger hide from your body and use it for a rug in our throne room," I say as his eyes bulge. Eric steps forward and wraps me in an embrace as he growls at Quinn, Andre, and Bill with blood lust.
"The Viking has bonded?" Andre asks in disbelief. "He has, to our excellent fortune, my child," Sophie-Anne says to Andre. "How so?" he asks her in suspicion. "Her majesty has saved all of our lives," she says as all eyes go wide. "Threadgill," Andre asks with a hiss. "Among many other things," she tells him as we walk to the barrier.
"There is a condition before you can pass through the magical barrier," she says to the men. "Conditions that we come in peace," she explains to the three men. "If your intent changes after entering the barrier, you will be painfully removed from the property resulting in your true death," she explains, and I see all eyes widen in surprise.
I watch as they all pass through the gates and continue to the party that seems to be in full swing at the back of the new castle. I mingle for a few moments before the council is at the gates.
After they come inside, I learn that Merlin has conjured an outdoor arena for these situations.
The arena rests on the back of the Estate where a wooded area used to be.
There is a raised dais with two giant thrones with connecting walkways that lead to the main house and other homes. The arena itself has marble pillars around it and a domed rooftop that resembles the mosques from the pictures I have seen of buildings in Jerusalem. There are rows and rows of comfy chairs. The PenDragon banners hang around the arena.
He must have done this during my meeting with Sophie-Anne. Her limousine parked in the garage, and her driver is set up nicely in the gatehouse.
The council members are lead to a long table with high back chairs so that they may be seated.
They all bow as Eric and I walk inside, and he tenses in surprise. The Grand Pythoness steps forward with unseeing eyes. "The prophecy has come to pass," she croaks out. "You are THE PenDragon," she says and bows lower than the other council members, and they drop to their knees.
"Yes," I say as they stand, and I take Eric's hand in mine. "This is my bonded husband and also King of Avalon," I say as they nod to Eric. "Eric the Northman," I announce as they all accept my meaning. Don't fuck with what is mine.
I see all my guests find seating. Some are drunk. Some are eating popcorn, waiting for me to lose my temper. Most are hoping we may be attacked at any moment. They want an excuse to fight. As Eric and I take our seats, I conjure a table opposite the council for the New Orleans vampire Queen and her entourage to sit and watch.
I see Pam and Jason escorting Long Shadow and Hot Rain to the arena as Merlin announces us to the audience. This must be what mid-evil court was like; I think to myself as I feel Eric's amusement at my ramblings to myself.
"Long Shadow, you are charged with theft from your area sheriff," Karin says as everyone looks on in fascination. I hear the vampires hiss at such blatant disregard for the rules. He cuts his eyes to me, seated by Eric, and I hold my hand up as he lunges for me.
"Do you think that I am your sheriff's fang banger or blood bag?" I demand as he struggles against my magic. "I am Queen Aslynn PenDragon of Avalon, and your sheriff Eric the Northman is my bonded husband as well as my King," I say in anger as I step toward him. "Bring the other party to the theft," I demand as Jason pushes Hot Rain forward.
I see Pam handing the council members as well as Sophie-Anne paperwork and photos from the surveillance cameras at Fangtasia.
"You had your child Long Shadow steal from my husband's business, therefore the state of Louissiana," I say as Sophie-Anne hisses and drops her fangs. Hot Rain looks nervous as his child is frozen in a mid lunge. "Why would you do this to your sheriff?" I ask as Eric sits forward. "You reside in the desert," I say to Hot Rain as he nods. I nod my head in thought as I pace the platform. "In Nevada and not Mexico, I would guess," I say as his eyes widen, and he growls.
Sophie-Anne has Hot Rain pinned to the ground as he struggles to get free. "You think to weaken my territory and my sheriff's by stealing revenue from me and also by making my people look weak," she hisses as he continues to struggle. "DeCastro will not have Louisiana," she hisses as Hot Rains eyes go wide.
"How did you know," he gasps as the council murmurs in outrage. "There is a coupe planned to take Louisiana from Sophie-Anne Lequrque," I say as the council members mutter in anger. "He plans to eventually take all states and become the High King of all vampires," I say in explanation as every vampire and shifter present seems to understand my meaning.
"He has dreams of dominating all vampire territories and ruling overall," I say as my premise sinks in. "Sophie-Anne is the vampire Queen of Louisianna, and I am the Queen of Avalon who grew up in Louisianna, and I love my home," I say to everyone in the arena.
"This Estate is and will be a haven for supernatural beings who want to live in peace," I say to all assembled. "If a takeover ever occurs, we are fully prepared for any assault as well as fully stocked with food," I continue.
"We have room for everyone as well as an escape portal to Avalon that only I may open," I say as everyone listens intently. "There is also an escape portal to the Fae for all of my family who resides here," I continue. I notice that everyone is impressed with my planning.
I walk over and reach for Sophie-Annes's hand, and she takes it with a questioning arch of her brow as she stands. I call Eric to me through the bond as he takes my other hand. "We will not go down without a fight," I tell everyone gathered.
"Merlin, I would like invitations sent to every monarch to join us for a summit here at our home," I say as he nods and closes his eyes. "I ask that the council be present during this summit to witness judgment," I announce as a vampire sputters in outrage, "By whose judgment?" he demands.
I walk toward him and cock my head to the side. "Our judgment," my voice booms with power as I levitate from the ground with wings extended and light radiating from within. "I AM PenDragon," my voice radiates power as he shrinks back.
"What about these two?" Jason asks, and I look at Sophie-Anne. You are the Queen they have plotted against," I say with nonchalance. "We have a jail for vampires," I say as she smiles with malice. "I think that Andre would love to find out how far the plot for your death goes," I say as Andre smiles brightly with glee.
I see Sophie nod her head as Pam and Karin grab Hot Rain and Long Shadow to drag them to the vampire torture area, and I see Sophie-Anne and her entourage follow.
"Prepare the Viking home for each council member," I say to Merlin as he nods his head, and the rooms are ready.
"Do the same for the Queen and her entourage," I say as he nods.
As soon as the prisoners are locked away, everyone heads back to the festivities. I pop Eric back into his regular clothes as I pop myself into my white chiffon fitted baby doll dress that hits an inch or two above my knee with my white ballet flats.
I remove the clip from my hair as my curls cascade down around my shoulders.
I pop our crowns and jewels back to the vault.
I see a massive fire burning in the fire pit I installed. There are shifters, Fae, vampires, and deities that humans worshipped as gods all conversing and getting along, and I feel hope as Eric takes my hand in his. We send each other contentment.
I hear a song come on, and Eric leads me to the smooth rock dance floor as everyone watches as we dance melded together to "I prayed for you by Matt Snell."
We danced gracefully together, holding onto one another throughout the song and continued dancing when the next song came on. I look up to see the massive dance area full, and I smile and lay my head on Eric's chest as "Nobody but you, by Blake Shelton and Gwen Stefani," started playing.
"You know I love you if I listen to your hillbilly music," he chuckles as I punch him playfully in the stomach and laugh, and I wrap my arms around him and continue dancing with my Viking.