*dont look at me...i kinda forgot...not really edited besides a quick run through grammarly :D*

Chapter 12

My face flushed red when he pulled back from the kiss. The heat spread from my cheeks to my chest, and I knew that if I looked in a mirror, I would be bright red. The heat only increased when I looked up to see this stupid cocky vampire sheriff's mouth turned up in a satisfied smirk.

Godric twists my hair between his fingers as he rests his arm on the back of my chair. His fingers would gently brush the back of my neck. Tingles would rise from where he touched and travel down my spine and spread across my back.

"Are you two done showing off your disgusting displays of public affection?" Eric interrupted us, "I believe we have a meeting to continue."

I rolled my eyes but felt slightly embarrassed at being called out. I playfully pushed Godric away from me, but his hand returned to my hair and continued to play with it.

"As much as I hate to say this, it must be said. We must placate the AVL." Hector continued with the meeting watching us. "They will want the punishment done publicly, too."

"Hector is correct, Carlos." Godric gently tugged on my hair. "I will hate having to punish Isobel for my mistakes, but she will need to take the fall now that Stan has met the true death."

"It's regretful we can't claim we killed that dumb fucker." Eric mocked.

"That's it!" I perked up the giant's snide comment. "Sasquatch, shockingly, has an excellent idea. It's entirely astonishing. Why can't we place the blame on Stan? Godric can tell the AVL he killed him as a punishment for walking into the church? Problem solved. Why make it more complicated than it needs to be?"

"You can't be serious?" Sasquatch interrupted. "How many witnessed his end in the explosion? One of the witnesses could open their mouth and fucked it all up."

"But, aren't they all loyal to Godric?" I questioned. "He can just order them to be silent."

"It doesn't quite work like that, witchling," Godric explained. "I could, but that doesn't mean all underlings will remain silent."

"Godric acts modest but," Hector explained, "those vampires that reside in his nest are loyal to him."

"Except for Stan Baker,"

Sasquatch argued back. "He was 'loyal' and looked what he did."

"We all know he was unsatisfied and had authority issues." I rolled my eyes.

"I will take care of my nest and destroy those not loyal." Godric chuckled.

"So, it solves this problem." Carlos stood. "Hector will contact the AVL about the execution of Stan Baker, and you will take care of your nest?"

"Of course, your majesty." Godric stood with the king. "I'll contact you after I finish meeting with everyone."

"Excellent!"

Carlos clapped his hands. "Our last order of business is to deal with the little halfling."

"Miss Stackhouse?" Godric inquired.

"She is a descendant of the fae," Carlos explained. "I do wonder if those wretched creatures know that they left one of their own when they fled the realm? She will cause problems. More so now that she revealed her abilities for all to see."

"Yes," Hector agreed, "She will be problematic. Her scent invites attention, but the major problem that we must deal with is her minor fae abilities."

"Fae?" I whispered to Godric a little confused. "I thought they all left in the late 1800s?"

"They did," Godric answered. "However, there are some halfling pockets left throughout the world."

"They intermingled with humans over the centuries. When the Fae left, they did not take all of their descendants with them. Now and then, we'll run into one who carries enough fae blood it becomes a problem."

"This fae fancies herself a little southern belle, but she is nothing but a naive country bumpkin," Hector commented. "She is ill-mannered and carries the largest sense of entitlement any person new to the supernatural world could have. She believes herself to be something special."

"You can say it again, Hector." I butted in to give my two cents even

though no one asked for it. "She is a rude bitch who doesn't listen to those who know better."

Godric snickered caressing his fingers along my upper arm as he stood by my chair.

"There's no need for such language, niña." Hector scolded. "But, I do have to agree. She is a rude bitch."

"Enough of her manners, What shall we do with her?" Godric questioned. "Are we able to contact her local Faerie tribe?"

"Yes," Eric answered. "I'll see if I can contact them closer to sunrise. She lives in my territory, and I know someone who will have answers."

"Perfect." The king stood from his chair. "This settles all the business I needed to attend. Hector, please come with me to inform the AVL of Stan's unfortunate execution."

"I'll spread the word amongst my retinue." Godric took my hand and pulled me to my feet.

"It's always a pleasure to see you, Carlos. We must meet more often but under better circumstances."

"Yes, drinks next time?" Carlos reached his hand out to Godric, and they clasped forearms.

"Of course."

"Miss Raine, it has been a real pleasure." King Carlos grabbed my free hand and kissed the top of it before continuing. "Please, you must extend my appreciation to your mother and the council for the assistance. I have a gift for you- to express my gratitude for rescuing our sheriff. We shall be in your debt."

"All in a day's work, your majesty." I smiled. "I am pretty badass when I want to be."

The king laughed and released my hand.

"I will return to escort you to the airport tomorrow night, niña." Hector followed his maker out the door without saying goodbye.

"He's very -concise." I turned to Godric, motioning to the door. "He seems to value your opinion."

"Of course, witch," Eric spat out. "Godric holds the title of an Ancient! He could hold the title of 'king' or any other position if he desired it!"

"Calm your tits, Sasquatch," I huffed back to him crossing my arms over my chest ready to fight. "I'm not speaking to you."

"Listen here-" He started before Godric interrupted him.

"That is enough, Eric." Godric held up his hand and waved the tall giant off. "Go instruct the nest of our plans."

Surprised by the dismissal from Godric, Eric left the room at a human pace. As soon as Eric stormed out, I turned to Godric with a smirk, still amused at the way the Viking had practically fumed like an old-timey train.

"You know, for a thousand-year-old warrior, he pouts like a toddler."

Godric chuckled, his fingers still playing with the strands of my hair. "Eric does not appreciate being dismissed. But he knows his place."

"Yeah, at the top of the easily ruffled list."

Godric merely hummed in amusement, his cool fingers tracing a lazy pattern on my arm. The casual intimacy of it sent pleasant shivers down my spine, and I found myself leaning into him without thinking.

I was getting used to this - his touch, his presence, the way he looked at me like I was something unexpected but entirely fascinating. It was nice. Which was probably insane, considering he was an ancient vampire with the power to snap me like a twig. But that fact didn't scare me.

Apparently, that was something Godric found curious.

His fingers paused in my hair, and his gaze turned thoughtful, studying me like I was some puzzle he was trying to piece together. "You are not afraid of me." It wasn't a question. Just a statement of fact.

"Seriously?" I snorted. "I have worse nightmares about failing organic chemistry."

Godric blinked, looking almost startled by my response. Then he laughed a rich, genuine sound that made something warm unfurl in my chest. That is unexpected.

I grinned. "What? Did you think I'd be cowering in fear, whispering prayers under my breath?"

He tilted his head. "Most do. I have been a predator for longer than your country has existed, Georgiana. Even those who stand beside me, those who claim loyalty, often fear what I am capable of."

I considered that for a moment. "Yeah, well, I've met a lot of monsters in my life. The kind with blood in their veins and beating hearts. Fear doesn't keep them away it just feeds them."

His expression darkened, something ancient and unreadable flickering in his eyes. "You have seen much, little witch."

I shrugged, brushing off the heaviness of the conversation. "Haven't we all?"

Godric didn't answer right away. Instead, he leaned in, his cool breath ghosting over my cheek. "No. Not like you."

Something about the way he said it made my stomach flip, but before I could respond, the moment was interrupted by a sharp knock at the door.

Hector's voice filtered through the wood. "I need a word, Sheriff."

Godric sighed, brushing a lingering touch down my arm before stepping away. "Come in."

The door swung open, and Hector entered, his sharp gaze flickering between us before settling on Godric. "The AVL has accepted our explanation regarding Stan. The official story is that you executed him as punishment for his reckless actions."

"Good." Godric inclined his head.

"However," Hector continued, "they are still demanding a public show of punishment for Isobel."

I frowned. "That's bullshit. She didn't do anything wrong."

Hector's lips twitched in amusement. "Yes, well, politics rarely have anything to do with fairness."

"What do they require?" Godric exhaled through his nose, his expression unreadable.

"Something visible," Hector shrugged. "A display to reassure the masses that justice has been served."

"Vampire PR is exhausting."

"Indeed." Hector chuckled.

Godric was silent for a long moment, then finally nodded. "Very well. I will handle it."

Hector studied him for a beat before nodding. "There is one other matter." His gaze flickered to me. "The fae girl."

"Oh my god, are we still talking about her?" I flopped my body in the chair nearest me. "I'm so ready to forget he existed."

Hector gave me a dry look. "Yes. Because unlike you, the supernatural world cannot afford to ignore what she is."

I crossed my arms. "And what exactly do you want to do? Toss her in a cage?"

"No," Hector said, "but we must consider whether her presence is a liability."

Godric hummed thoughtfully. "Hector, I will have Eric make contact with her local fae tonight. If they wish to claim her, we will negotiate."

"And if they don't?" I asked.

Godric met my gaze. "Then we will decide what must be done."

I sighed, rubbing my temples. "I have a feeling this is going to be a headache."

Hector smirked. "Welcome to vampire politics, Miss Raine."