Hope Is The Thing With Feathers

Since FF.net is still down, I decide to post Hope 8 here:

Hope Is the Thing With Feathers
A Let Love in side story
By Terri Botta

Disclaimer: I don’t own the Southern Vampires. Sole copyright belongs to Charlaine Harris. I’m poor so don’t sue.

Rating: M for later chapters.

Timeframe: Post-From Dead to Worse, Ten years after LLI

Pairing: Eric/Sookie

Summary: Eric gives Sookie a gift.

Chapter Eight

As it turns out, the cost of hiring a Britlingen warrior midwife has gone up considerably, and the price of the down payment alone would make his wife choke. But he pays it to the witch, giving her his specifications for what he wants and needs with the guarantee that the payment will be returned – minus the witch’s finder’s fee – should an acceptable candidate not be found. She takes the information and promises to have an answer for him within three weeks. That is fine with him because he is not in any particular rush to get the alternate dimensional bodyguard because the team he has created to protect his wife is working out very well.

He never did find out what it was that Compton had wanted on the night he wished to meet with Sookie in private. He had been there, of course, on the catwalk above her office, and the tiger had been in the office with them, but the windows had been blacked out, and anything Compton had had to say to Sookie had been done mentally. Bill was one of the two vampires outside of himself who knew Sookie could read vampire minds, with Pam being the other.

Compton had relayed his message to Sookie silently, and Sookie had respected her ex’s desire for secrecy by blocking out his attempts to “listen” in. When he interrogated her later, all she would tell him was that it had been a private conversation between two adults, and that there was nothing for him to be concerned with. He didn’t really believe that, but he tried to show his respect and trust in her by not kidnapping Bill and torturing him until he spilled the beans.

Since their meeting, however, Bill has been in much better control of himself when he is around Sookie, so he cannot be unhappy by whatever it was that they discussed.

In addition to the shifter, the tiger, Pam, Bill and himself, there is a sixth member of the team whose presence was completely unexpected. Two days after his wife called Maria and Izzy to ask them for advice on how best to stay alive during her high-profile pregnancy, Maria’s son, Vincent, knocked on their door.

Seventeen now, and every bit his father’s son, he is already a powerful Level 8 demon, and he volunteered himself when he heard of Sookie’s need. Having been an integral part of his wife’s friendship with the two women over the past decade, Vincent is fond of Sookie and also considers the assignment good training and practice for his own self-defense, and the continued defense of his mother. Even though he is no longer a helpless child, he and Maria are still prime targets for Zolan’s enemies so anything that helps him hone his abilities is considered an advantage.

Eric admits to being skeptical at first, but he soon changed his mind once he tested the boy’s fighting skills. The ability to throw several different types of fireballs of varying destructive force notwithstanding, Vincent’s sword skills are impressive, as is evidenced by how much of a fight he put up when Eric came after him with a broadsword from the den.

Their sparring match encompassed the entire house, the backyard and even the street in front of their Shreveport home. Sparks flew from the clash of blades because Vincent had grabbed a sword from the wall as well; a lighter Japanese katana that he wielded like it was an extension of his own arm. Sookie spent much of the match yelling for them to stop, but both of them were having too much fun to listen to her.

There is a poetry to the dance of swords, to the heft and swing of the deadly blade, and each of them knew the stanzas of the Ode well. They flitted around each other, neither pressing nor giving quarter as they each tried to draw first blood, and he learned that the boy is fast and light on his feet. Vincent has his mother’s wiry build, and lean, flexible body, and he knows how to use it against a much larger opponent. They are gleeful as they fight, each blocking and parrying, spinning and whirling in a flash of metal and skin.

He wins, but it is a close match. Vincent misjudges a jump, and he manages a score a small slice on the boy’s ankle. The cut is superficial, but it counts as first blood so that means he is the victor. He lowers his sword and Vincent yields, huffing, but flush with excitement.

“You’ll do,” he declares, and accepts the boy as the sixth member of the team.

Vincent and Quinn are now the primary daytime guards, and the boy stays in their other guest room while an in-laws’ apartment is being added on to the garage. It’s a bit of a sticky arrangement because technically Vincent isn’t old enough to set foot in Stackhouse’s or Fangtasia, but what’s a little corruption of minors among demons? A fake ID and a winning smile, and no one is the wiser. Vincent looks older than his age, anyway.

There is another benefit to having the half-demon teen in the house. Like his mother, he is a talented musician. He possesses none of Maria’s Healing talent, but he can play multiple instruments with expert skill, and he is very good at using music to soothe and calm Sookie when she is stressed. Plus he has Izzy’s dry sense of humor, and he makes Sookie laugh. It is not as good as having Maria and Izzy there themselves, but the boy tries, and his presence brightens Sookie’s days. Even Quinn likes the boy, and he’s caught them sparring because Vincent is always looking for new ways to improve his fighting skills.

Eric himself is considering giving Vincent weaponry lessons. He considers it practice for when he is teaching his own son how to wield a blade. His wife chides him because they still do not know if she is carrying boys or girls or one of each, but he teases her and says he will make any girls of his into warrior princesses. She responds that if she ever finds a Xena outfit in any of their daughters’ closets, she will personally chakram his ass.

He wakes on the evening of November 4th to a feeling of jubilant anticipation. It is five days until their tenth anniversary, and they are leaving tonight for Isle Elena for their annual vacation. All of the arrangements have been made for them to stay an extended ten days on the island, and everything is in place for the businesses to be looked after in their absence. Vincent is also leaving tonight to go back to Virginia, but he will be back after November 20th, and by then they should have heard back from the witch about the Britlingen midwife.

He always looks forward to their time away, but this year is particularly special because he owes homage to his patron Goddesses, and he plans to spend a great deal of time in the chapel on the island making prayers and offerings. His wife will be beside him. He has taught her the old invocations and rituals. They will perform a ceremony of thanks and homage to Hlin in the shrine – without the animal sacrifice.

He would have liked to have stayed a full two weeks on Isle Elena, but Sookie is scheduled for her next ultrasound on the 16th, and she does not want to miss it. She is almost four weeks along now, and soon he should be able to hear his babies’ heartbeats. He listens for them every night, pressing his ear to her belly while she holds her breath, but so far there is no pulse except his mate’s. Soon though. Soon he will hear the thump-thump-thump of the tiny hearts growing inside his wife’s womb.

A loud knock on the bedroom door disturbs them from their comfortable snuggling in the warm nest of their bed. They are both naked and curled around each other – his favorite way to rise – and parts of him are already awake and demanding satisfaction.

‘Yo! I know you guys are awake. It’s just past sunset and your plane leaves in an hour. You guys need to get up and get to the airport. You can suck face and stuff later when you have more time,’ Vincent’s mindvoice calls. He is a powerful telepath, and his thoughts come through loud and clear.

“He obviously doesn’t know us very well if he thinks we don’t have time to make love before we have to be at the airport,” he comments, nuzzling one perfect breast.

His wife chuckles and threads her fingers into his hair to encourage him. “He’s only been here a week. Give him time. He’ll learn.”

“Hmmph,” he murmurs, drawing the nipple into his mouth.

He hears his wife send a mental reply to the boy, and the boy’s exasperated answer, but Vincent leaves them alone and stalks to the kitchen. He never knew teenagers could eat so much, but that is also good practice for raising hungry human children. He barely remembers his human years, but he knows his appetites were ravenous. Right now, however, he is practicing his pleasuring techniques – skills he never wants to become rusty otherwise it will mean he is not satisfying his mate.

He lets her sighs and little moans guide him as he stokes her fires with his hands and tongue until she spreads her thighs and lets him drink deep. She loves his need when he wakes, the edge of hunger that fuels his passion and his busy mouth. The boy is right in that they do not have a great deal of time, but he refuses to be rushed as he finishes his meal and raises up to claim her, riding her with tempered urgency. Her nails dig into his back (a wonderful feeling) as she curls her body upward to make sure he strikes her sweet spot, and he rewards her by making sure his aim is true.

She gasps and jerks with pleasure, her eyes wanting to drift closed but knowing that he would want her looking at him. He sees her lift her gaze upwards, to the mirrored ceiling, so she can watch him fucking her in the reflective glass, and he tightens the muscles of his butt, knowing she will see and be further turned on by the flexing of his glutes.

“Oooohhhhh,” she sighs, lifting her thighs and balancing her feet on the back of his knees. This gives him deeper access to her inner depths and is a sign that she is building towards climax.

Ten years and he still has not tired of her warmth, her scent, or the feel of her body sheathed around his cock. Some said he would get bored with her in months, but how could he ever tire of this bewitching creature who captivates him with her every word and gesture? This is love. This is union. Anyone who would get bored of Sookie Stackhouse obviously was never meant to be with her in the first place.

He surges forward, knowing that they really ought to finish soon, and drives her closer to the edge. She grabs his arms, her small hands gripping his biceps, and urges him to come up against her pelvis. He is big enough, and hard enough, to use this position to rub her clitoris and strike her G-spot at the same time, and he has her shuddering in moments. He feels her tense and her abdominal muscles contract as she comes, her walls clamping down on him and holding him there as he thrusts deep. He lets loose the holds he has on his own orgasm, and climaxes inside her.

He pants, not because he needs the oxygen, but because the act of breathing is comforting to her, and she appreciates it. She looks up at him, her face joyful and loving, and smiles a beautiful smile of complete contentment.

“I love you,” she whispers breathily.

He grins down at her, still half enthralled by her and their bond. “And I love you, my lover, my mate.”

‘Since you two are done now, does Sookie want this leftover gumbo or can I eat it?’ Vincent sends.

His wife blushes, but laughs, and they both chuckle as they get out of bed and begin to put themselves together.

“That kid is a bottomless pit,” he says.

“He’s no different from any other boy his age. They eat their weight in food everyday. Jason was the same way when we were growing up. Gran was convinced he had a hollow leg,” Sookie comments fondly, then sends to the boy, ‘Sure, go ahead.’

‘Thanks! You’ve got forty minutes left!’

His wife rolls her eyes, but throws on a long skirt, a pair of winter weight leggings and one of her Norwegian wool sweaters. They are already packed and their bags are by the back door. Pam will be arriving shortly to take them to the airfield.

Vincent is just finishing up washing his plate when they enter the kitchen, and he’s already brewed a mug of decaf herbal tea for Sookie, since caffeine is a no-no. His poor wife is missing her coffee so much, but Vincent has promised to bring back a non-caffeinated coffee substitute that tastes just like the real thing.

Sookie sits down at the kitchen table and Vincent places the mug of tea and a bowl of warmed soup down in front of her. His wife’s stomach has been a tad on the sensitive side lately.

“Thanks,” she says, sipping the tea.

“That blend will help with your evening sickness,” the boy states. “My mom was sick almost every day she carried me.”

Vincent has the unique talent of remembering everything, even from his time in his mother’s womb. From the moment his brain was formed, he was conscious of his surroundings, and Eric remembers his wife telling him that Vincent saved Maria’s life on the day he was born. The Gypsy woman had apparently begun to hemorrhage while giving birth, and Vincent’s first act of fire had been to burn the bleed closed on his way out.

“Thank you. I’ve been okay today. I was just a little queasy earlier,” Sookie admits when he gives her a raised eyebrow.

Vincent nods and returns to drying the dishes.

The boy is thin, but one cannot mistake his slender build for weakness. Under his black clothing, he is all muscle, and he is nearly as fast as a vampire. He still wears the elbow-length, black fingerless gloves, although he has taken them off to wash the plates. He no longer needs them to remind him that he must control his Gifts, but he likes them so they remain part of his every day wardrobe. His black hair is shoulder-length and curly, but he has one long, narrow braid that reaches almost down to the middle of his chest. He keeps it slung over his shoulder so the little jeweled tassel at the very end is visible against the front of his black T-shirt.

There is a tingle of warning, and change in the ambient pressure of the surrounding air, right before a black-clad figure appears in the kitchen. It is Zolan, Vincent’s father, and he has come to collect his son. They knew he was coming, and he has a charm that allows him to Apparate through the protective shields around the house, but his sudden appearance is a little startling just the same.

The very high-ranking Fire Demon is taller than his son, but they have the same basic build and coloring, although his black hair is short and straight. It seems that Vincent inherited his mother’s curls. His dark red eyes are mirrored in Vincent’s, and they have the same thin mouths. Vincent overcomes his stern, severe features by smiling a lot, but Zolan almost never smiles, and he almost never speaks. When he does speak, he uses few words, and they are carefully chosen.

“Hey Dad,” Vincent greets with a wave. He is done with the tidying so he puts his gloves back on.

“Zolan,” Eric says coolly.

The Fire Demon gives him a deep nod. “Northman.”

“You should know that your son performed his duties very well while he was here. He is an excellent swordsman, and a strong fighter. We will be happy to have him back once we have returned from our trip,” he tells the boy’s father, knowing Vincent thinks the world of his dad and wants to please him.

The demon’s expression does not change, but his red eyes do soften with fatherly pride.

“Yeah, Dad. Quinn the weretiger was showing me some wrestling moves, and Mr. Northman challenged me to a sword fight. He said I did really well.”

“Hmm,” Zolan replies, and that is all anyone can expect from him.

Vincent grabs the duffel bag that is sitting on the kitchen floor, and goes to stand next to his father. Zolan puts one hand on his son’s shoulder.

“See you guys in two weeks. Don’t have too much fun on Isle Elena without me,” Vincent pipes cheerfully with a smile and a happy wave.

“Bye Vincent. Be safe,” Sookie says, waving back.

“Be safe,” he echoes, but does not wave. Master vampires do not wave.

Zolan grunts a farewell, and the two blip out of sight.

“I know that he can’t be all bad,” Sookie comments, taking another sip of her tea. “But that guy gives me the creeps. Talk about stoic. It’s hard to believe he ever loosened up enough to father Vincent.”

He shrugs. In truth, he can’t either, but maybe Zolan is different when he is with Maria, and hints have been made that support that belief. It has been said that Maria’s Gift worked especially well on the Fire Demon.

Sookie finishes her tea and soup and washes the dishes quickly because they know Pam will be there soon. She is no sooner finished putting the clean mug and bowl away when he hears Pam’s car in the driveway. His wife cannot hear it, but she knows from the look on his face that it is time to go, and she dries her hands and follows him to the back door where she puts on her parka.

Pam has already put their bags in the trunk of her sedan, and she gives them a deep nod as they come out of the house.

“Eric,” she greets.

“Pam,” he replies.

“Hey, Pam. Thanks for driving us to the airfield.”

His child gives his wife a look. No thanks are required because it is her duty as his underling to serve him, but his mate acknowledges Pam’s service regardless. It is just her way, and it is part of what makes her so endearing to his minions.

“You are welcome, Sookie,” Pam replies as she is expected. “How are you feeling tonight?”

Sookie grins and puts a hand on her lower belly. “We’re all doing fine.”

“I am glad.”

His child has been a dedicated and attentive minder since he gave her the job of watching Sookie, and he is pleased with her performance. On the first night Sookie went to Fangtasia for a brief visit to his office, it was Pam who brought down Clancy after the bar manager had caught a whiff of Sookie’s scent, and he’d been most impressed with the speed and ferocity of her attack. Had she not known Clancy personally, she would have killed him easily, and Eric rewarded her diligence with a new pair of retro Prada shoes. Pam is wearing them
now, and Sookie oohhs and ahhhs over them appreciatively.

They are running out of time so Sookie gets into the rear seat while he takes the shotgun position, and they are off. The conversation in the car is pleasant and covers particulars for the running of Fangtasia and Stackhouse’s in their absence, and any last minute details that need to be handled. Since the switchover to satellite-based phone service, there is cell phone reception on the island, so Pam can call him if need be if there are any unforeseen problems.

The Isle Elena jet is waiting for them when they arrive at the airfield, and their usual pilot is standing by the open door. Sookie gives Perin a huge smile when she sees him, and the demon’s human illusion smiles back. The Hieraaetus demon is one of the last of his kind, a dogged survivor of a near extinct species of hawk-demons whose wingspans could reach in excess of sixteen feet. Sookie has seen the massive bird of prey in its true form, but she has no appreciation for how powerful and deadly Perin can be when he is angry. His kind have downed planes and decimated squadrons of fighter jets, and their operations in the Bermuda Triangle are legendary in the demon circles.

He says goodbye to Pam and moves to greet Perin with his usual nod. The pilot nods back and sees to the luggage while he and his wife climb the steps into the cabin. After ten years of making this journey, they are old hands at it, so they get comfortable, and within minutes they are taxiing down the grass runway.

He always gets nostalgic and sappy once they are in the air. This was the trip that started it all, the vacation he managed to convince Sookie to take with him that resulted in their re-bonding, and he cannot help but feel happy and proud and grateful. He shows his wife how much he appreciates her willingness to give him a chance by making love to her on the convertible loveseat bed. They are Platinum members of the Mile High Club by now, and he loves to ride her during turbulence just for the added vibration. Sometimes he thinks Perin flies through rough air on purpose because he knows what they are up to back in the cabin.

The flight is uneventful and pleasurable, and they land on Isle Elena some three hours after takeoff. It is when they exit the plane that they arrive to a surprise. He had intended to grab Sookie and whisk her immediately to the lodge so that she will not catch a chill, but instead they are greeted by a waiting car – already running and warm.

“Welcome, Mr. Northman, Mrs. Northman,” the driver says as they come down the steps of the plane. “My mistress sent me to fetch you so Mrs. Northman will not have to brave our cold winds in her delicate condition.”

‘News travels fast,’ his wife comments.

He nods. Some demons are just horrible gossips, and the news of his wife’s pregnancy is a hot topic on the vampire blogs in Shreveport. None know, however, that he is proud father, and the mysterious identity of the “sperm donor” is a popular source of speculation.

“Thank you,” Sookie says as she hurries to get into the heated car.

“Yes, send your mistress our thanks and tell her we will see her shortly to thank her in person,” he adds, getting into the back with her.

The driver nods. “I will, Sir. I know she is waiting for you, but she bids me tell you there is no rush. Do you wish to go to the lodge or to your cabin?”

“Take us to the cabin. My wife would like to freshen up before supper,” he replies, which is simply a nice way of saying that she wants to wash the sweat and fluids of their sex off of her body before she has to sit in a dining room full of demons with acute senses of smell.

The guests and staff on Isle Elena always rejoice when they visit because their amorous activities (or as he likes to put it, their frequent fucking) results in pleasures for everyone. As such, their annual trip is always accompanied by a significant increase in the number of Isle guests all wanting to capitalize on their sexual energy. These days, the moment they make their reservations for Cabin 16, the rest of the resort is filled almost to capacity within a week.

His wife does not relish her reputation as a catalyst for wild, unrestrained, resort-wide sex, but she bears it with good humor, and it makes Eros and his mother happy. Eros has even rewarded them with more magic mint leaves over the years, and he still has three left. Elena’s ring stopped working four years ago, but he hopes the Goddess will see fit to recharge it in light of his wife’s circumstances. There is no guarantee that the babies will be born after dark.

Cabin 16 awaits them when they arrive. It is warm, and there is a fire already in the hearth. The swing and rocking chairs have been put on the porch, and the kitchen is stocked with a few of his wife’s favorite coffees (none of which she ought to have, so he’ll remove them later so she won’t be tempted). The décor has been updated and refurbished since 2006, but the feel and look of the place is virtually the same.

He grins like an idiot as they get out of the car, and sweeps up his wife to carry her over the threshold. Each time they come here, it is like coming home, and he still feels the same giddy happiness that he felt ten years ago. He sets her down on her feet and goes to get the bags. By the time he is back, she is already upstairs in the loft and preparing to shower. He hurries to join her, and join with her, in the roomy, two-person shower stall. Homecoming indeed.

Two hours later, they are clean and dry and dressed for the weather, and Sookie gets on his back without hesitation so he can carry her to the lodge. He flies her there as fast as he can because the wind is biting, and he knows she hates the cold, and they arrive in less than three minutes. Once inside, he gives her enough time to fix her hair and take off her coat before he escorts her to the dining room where Noria is waiting. Sookie greets her like an old friend, which in many ways she is, and she is delighted to see the familiar silver dreadlocks of her favorite waiter, Toth, as they are led to their table.

For him, coming to Isle Elena is a chance to return and celebrate their beginning. For his wife, it is a chance to see friends she only sees once a year because neither Noria nor Toth ever leave the island for their own personal reasons. There is much chatting, and much promising to catch up, before they order their respective suppers. The kitchen manager always stocks his favorite flavors of Bloodvine, so there is ample quantity of AB- and O+ for him, plus one fey pod that he will mix drop-by-precious-drop into the less potent plant-based blood.

Dinner is pleasant as always, and they complete their meal with a toast. Sookie is still avoiding alcohol so she asks for a ginger ale, and they toast to each other, their bond, and their hopes for the future. When they are finished, he offers her his hand, and they make their way down to the chapel to offer their prayers and thanks.

The moment they enter the sacred space, all giddiness and frivolity ends, and he approaches the carved statue of Hlin with quiet reverence. As he kneels before the edifice, he hears and smells his wife light an incense from the stash of offerings kept near the chapel door, then she brings the incense and an offering bowl to him and kneels at his side. He nods his head in thanks and begins his prayer.

He invokes the Goddess, speaking of Her in the old Sagas, praising Her name and Her deeds, and he sings a hymn, deep and guttural, that tells the tale of Hlin’s grief and fidelity. Then he begins the personal portion of the ritual, the part where he gives his own private prayers to the Goddess for Her favors.

“Hlin, Goddess of Consolation. Goddess who watches over the warriors, I am your humble servant. Thank you for the gifts you have bestowed upon my wife and me. We are forever grateful for Your generosity and favor. We speak Your name with reverence and awe. We believe in Your grace and goodness.”

He holds out his hand and Sookie places the small knife she had put in her pocket before they left the cabin into his palm. He takes it from her with a nod and uses it to slice his wrist. The blood wells out and drips into the offering bowl as he holds the wound over the metal basin.

“I give you my blood as an offering. The blood of your servant these last thousand years. I spill it freely; not as that of an unwilling sacrifice, but as a devoted worshipper who as seen Your power. Please accept my gift, it is the greatest offering I can give to you to show you my gratitude and humility in Your Presence.”

His Hammer flares, casting off its glamour, just as it did on the night he gave thanks to his patrons for prayers answered, and he pulls the glowing silver pendant from inside his shirt. He raises it to his lips and kisses the bullet embedded in the crosspiece.

“Thank you, my Goddess.”

The air in the room changes, and he knows Elena has come to the shrine, but he does not rise from his knees just yet. He hears his wife gasp, and she puts a hand on his shoulder.

‘Eric…’

The tone of her mindvoice sets off warning lights, and he tenses his shoulders, ready to spring and pounce if it turns out to be a threat, but he wonders who would be stupid enough to attack them on Isle Elena. He shifts and turns his head to look behind them, towards the door, and sees what his wife sees. He cannot believe his eyes.

Elena is there in all of Her glory, Her body glowing with the soft aura of the Divine, but it is not Her that draws his gaze or makes his eyes widen in amazement. It is the other woman standing beside Elena that captivates him.

She is blond, her hair a thick cascade of gold that falls over her shoulders and down her back, and a circlet of gold holds it away from her face. Her eyes are grey-blue like storm clouds over the sea, and her face has the strong features of the northern women. She is tall and thin, but possessing an ample bosom that is shown off by her low cut, blue, shift dress that reaches nearly to the floor. The dress is sleeveless, but there is a fur cape across her shoulders, and a heavy gold belt is slung around her narrow waist. Her bare feet peek out from under the folds of blue fabric.

‘She looks like a Viking Queen,’ Sookie tells him.

‘No. A Viking Goddess,’ he corrects gently, hardly believing that She is there.

He has seen Hlin once before, but his mate does not know that. The Goddess came to him one dark Jol night when he was out of his mind and about to kill his wife in a fae-blood frenzy. It was Hlin who stopped him, who brought him back to himself before he did the unthinkable, and then she appeared to him later, after he was certain that Sookie would be all right. His mate has long since forgiven him for his transgressions that night, but she has no idea how close she came to death. She owes her continued status as an oxygen breathing human to the Norse Goddess standing before them.

He rises to his feet and approaches cautiously, never taking his eyes off the women. He flicks a glance to Elena, and She gives him a wry, secret smile. When he feels he is close enough, he bows deeply to the Greek Goddess, then kneels on one knee at Hlin’s feet.

“My Lady, I am overcome,” he says, his eyes down in supplication.

“Be at peace, my favored son,” he hears the Norse Goddess speak in the old language.

“I have no words to express my surprise and joy to be in your presence,” he admits.

“I am honored to have been invited to this sanctuary by my most gracious host,” Hlin answers.

He looks up at Elena briefly before lowering his eyes again.

“I am humbled and awed by Her generosity.”

His wife comes to stand beside him, but she does not kneel. His Sookie kneels for no one, proud Queen of his own. She will bow when needed, when it is expected of her, but she does not do so without reservation. He feels her hand, warm on his shoulder, and he dares to rise to his feet so that they may face the two Goddesses together.

“I am honored to meet you,” his mate says to Hlin. “Eric and I… we owe so much to you. Your Hammer has saved us many times, and protected my husband from harm.”

Hlin smiles and reaches up to touch his Hammer with her delicate fingers. “It is one of my finest creations.” She moves forward and boldly places one hand on Sookie’s abdomen. “As these will be your finest creations.”

Sookie gasps and steps back, covering her belly protectively. “Oh.”

He steps in to intercede immediately. “We are grateful for your blessing. Thank you.”

“You are one of my few believers. It is through you, and others like you, that I exist in this form at all. Your prayers and offerings give me strength.”

“Oh! Um…” Sookie blurts. ‘What do I call her? Your Grace? Your Goddess-ness?’

He smiles to himself. ‘Call her My Lady.’

“My Lady, do you want the offering Eric just left? He offered some of his blood…”

“Bring it to me,” the Norse Goddess replies.

Sookie hurries to collect the offering bowl, and while she is doing that, he looks to Elena.

“Thank you,” he whispers in his most heartfelt tone.

The Greek Goddess nods to him, and the two women share a secret glance, then Sookie brings the metal basin and offers it to Hlin.

“Here, my Lady.”

The Goddess reaches up Her hands and takes the bowl gently, Her eyes hooded and thoughtful. “Blood sacrifices were never made to me. Those were reserved for my Lord and Lady, but blood spilled willingly is a powerful offering.”

“It is my most valued possession, My Lady. Drink it of you wish. I would be honored,” he tells her with humility, but he is also wondering what it would be like to have his blood coursing in the veins of a Goddess.

Hlin smiles, but Her expression is one of amusement. “I am honored, but I am beyond your ken, my faithful one. As powerful as your blood may be, you cannot even begin to rival that which flows through my veins, but I am pleased by your gift.”

He sees Her look down at the slowly coagulating blood, and he can feel Her doing something, the energy pulsing through Her hands as She concentrates. She works Her magic for a few moments, then offers the bowl to his wife.

“Drink. I have infused this offering with nurturing power. It will help your unborn children grow strong inside you.”

“Oh,” Sookie replies and accepts the bowl. “Thank you, My Lady.”

He knows Sookie does not care for the taste of vampire blood if it is not taken during shared pleasures, but he also knows that she isn’t stupid enough to reject a gift given to her by a Norse Goddess Herself. He can feel her steeling her resolve as she raises the bowl to her lips and takes a small sip. After her initial tentative taste, she lifts the bowl higher and drinks down the rest of his blood as quickly as she can.

He waits until he hears her suck the last of it into her mouth before taking her wrist and pulling her hand away so he can kiss her full on the lips. She gives him a little gasp of surprise, then yields to his kiss.

‘I can taste my blood on you,’ he sends, letting the lust coil in his lower belly.

Her response is a small moan and a set of nails digging into his skin as she grabs his arm.

“Ahem,” comes a slightly amused voice, and they abruptly remember that they are not alone.

“Forgive me,” he apologizes, pulling away, but keeping his arm wrapped around Sookie’s shoulder. “I smelled my blood on my mate and got carried away.

Hlin smiles, Her eyes laughing. “No apology is necessary. The love you have for each other is a blessing and a joy.”

He nods his head and tightens his grip on his mate. “I owe much of our success to the magic of this sanctuary and the generosity of our host.”

“No. Perhaps it would have taken you longer to come to your understanding, but you would have found each other in the end,” Elena corrects. “A bonding as strong as the one you have with your wife is rare and wondrous. Nothing could have kept you apart. All the same, I am glad that my island played some small part in your coming together and your continued happiness.”

“You gave us the safe place we needed in order for us to work out our differences and see through to our future together,” he says humbly. “For that we are eternally grateful.”

His wife snorts. “He just brought me here because he knew I couldn’t swim that far,” she complains with mock-irritation.

“Well, yes, location was a major factor. You did have an irritating habit of running away from me,” he points out reasonably.

“So you brought me here to Frozen North so I’d be too cold to move,” she counters.

He looks to Hlin and they share a smile.

“She has no idea the true depths of cold, does she?” the Goddess comments.

He shakes his head. “None, My Lady, and I hope that she never learns,” he replies, smoldering down at his mate as if he could keep her warm with his eyes alone.

She shivers under his gaze but not with chill. His blood is merging with hers in her veins, and he can feel its effects surging into their Bond. The scent of her excitement is curling up into his sinuses, and the lust he feels goes straight to his groin.

Hlin nods and turns Her head to Elena. “Shall we go, my hostess? I think these two wish to return to their cabin for privacy.”

“Indeed, my honored guest, we shall,” the Greek Goddess answers, then looks to him. “We will see you again soon.”

She offers Her hand to Hlin, who slides Her paler fingers into Elena’s darker-skinned ones, and then the two are gone. Sookie shakes her head and smiles at him, snickering.

“What?” he asks.

“I just think it’s funny. They’re Goddesses, but they scheme just the same as the rest of us. I was listening to them. They want us to go off and have sex.”

He pulls her close, pressing her body against his, letting her feel his physical arousal as he lets his emotional arousal flood into their bond. “I think that’s a good idea, don’t you?”

“You always think sex is a good idea,” she says, sliding one hand up to lay flat on his chest.

“Yes, but at least you’ll never be able to say that’s the reason for your current condition.”

Her face softens and she looks at him with pure love. “No,” she murmurs, standing on her tiptoes to reach up for a kiss. “That is the result of my wonderfully devious and devoted husband bending the very rules of nature to give me the family he knew I wanted.”

He grins, letting all his love for her flow into the bond as he presses his lips to hers. ‘Anything for you, my lover. Shall I bend a few more rules to prove how much I love you?’

‘I’d rather you bend me.’

He chuckles into her mouth and pulls her even closer. ‘That can be arranged,’ he agrees with enthusiasm and lifts her into his arms so he can carry her from the chapel, out of the lodge and fly her to their waiting cabin.

TBC...

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