"It's almost showtime" Sam says to Rina with a wink as they watched the staff for the 1st Annual Vampire-Human Interrelations Banquet put together the last minutes touches to the hall. 

The event was meant to be put together by the vampire king of Texas and Godric's nest but the king's people ended up not putting in any effort - much to Rina's annoyance - even though she's sure that they would claim credit.

Now she sees what Joe meant when he said that the king was a 'most gracious' one.

The guards sent by the AVL had arrived hours ago and gone to work almost immediately at surveilling and patrolling the hall that the banquet would be taking place in.

"Would you relax?" Sam says as she nudges Rina playfully.

"Everything has to go off without a hitch, Sam" Rina says, "Godric's reputation and position as sheriff is riding on this" she adds as Sam nods in understanding at this.

"Girl, he has a phoenix and two witches covering his back, trust me when I say that he'll be just fine" Sam says as Rina snorts at this even though she nods in agreement. "Now come on, it's time for us to get ready" she says as she hooked arms with Rina as she led her to the room that she had designated as their changing rooms for this event, much to Rina's amusement.

Mr. Jeffries and his people were more than willing to cater to whatever Sam said, seeing that she obviously knew her stuff.

⚜️Dig Down Deep⚜️

Marina was doing the final touch-up to her makeup as Sam, Jade and Julian waited for her outside the 'changing room' as Rina inspected herself in the mirror.

Sam was the one who picked outfits for all of them and Rina smiles into the mirror as she re-applied her lipstick. Sam told her that her dress would have to channel 'old-school Hollywood starlet' and looking at herself Rina felt spectacular.

Godric's necklace hung around her neck and was a gorgeous contrast to the black of her dress, drawing even more attention to the ruby as Rina touched it with a smile.

She'd felt his arrival but she had yet to see him, something she suspects is because of Sam. She was doing the same thing that she did on Rina's 21st birthday Ball.

Rina also wore the gold bracelet that Godric got her for her birthday and had only just recently given to her, citing that he never got the chance after the crazy events that followed after her birthday.

It had her name written on it in hieroglyphics since she is a fan of anything to do with Egypt. Rina found the gesture so incredibly romantic and found that she loved him even more for it.

"Rina? Are you okay in there? You're taking longer than me and that's concerning" Sam teases from outside.

"I'll be out in a minute!" Rina says with a light laugh as she looked at herself in the mirror one more time.

Damn, I look good she admits internally before gathering her items and heading out the room as the others turned to face her.

"Well?" she asks her friends nervously when their eyes land on her.

"Rawr" Sam says as she even does the claw gesture at this as Rina laughs at this.

"You look...you look amazing, trouble" Julian says to her, calling her by the nickname that he gave her after the incident with the robbers.

"I hate that nickname" Rina says to him. 

"I know" he says with a chuckle, "That's why I use it" he adds. "Now come on, let's get this show started" he says to her.

"Aren't you going to offer her your arm like a gentleman, Jules?" Jade asks him.

"It's fine Jules" Rina assures him with an easy-going smile.

There are vampires from all over the world at this event and she isn't sure Godric's 'human' holding onto another man will be a good sight.

"Okay then" Sam says, "let's bounce!" she says as they headed to the main hall area where the banquet was taking place.

⚜️Dig Down Deep⚜️

Godric turns to face the entrance when he senses his beloved's presence as he stood with Pam, Eric, Isabel, Nora and Joseph.

Nora was just acquainting herself with Joseph as she politely asked him questions about himself, which the young vampire answered.

"Wow" Nora speaks up as they all turn to face the new arrivals. "Is that your human, father?" she asks him, eying the woman who walked at the front of the trio of the three beautiful women that had just walked in.

Joe speaks up before Godric can even answer his childe's question.

"She looks great" Joe says happily, confirming Nora's suspicions as a few heads turned with the trio as Sam tossed some of her hair, knowing that people were looking at them in awe.

Sam wore a gorgeous olive coloured silk dress with a slit that went up to her knee while Jade wore a beautiful navy blue one-shoulder evening gown with a slit that also went up to her knee, taking a break from the usual leathers that she liked wearing.

[Samaat and Jadenna's dresses]

Rina on the other hand, had gone straight for the - hypothetical - jugular in a blood red off shoulder dress and curled and styled her hair to one side of her neck, exposing her neck and placing emphasis on the ruby necklace that she wore around her neck.

[Marina's dress pictured below]

"I love their outfits" Nora gushes as Rina smiled a small, but sweet smile when she spots the group as she made her way toward them.

"I should have known the sassy one would get it right" Pam says, which is as close to a compliment as she'll ever give to Samaat for her fashion sense.

"Her name is Samaat" Joe says to her. "But yes, she did get it right" he agrees as younger vampires parted the way for Rina, aware of whose scent clung so thickly around her as she closed the gap between herself and her family and friends.

"I love your outfits!" Nora speaks up before Rina can even get a word in, "sorry" she says sheepishly when Sam sassily raises a brow at this as if to say 'who the hell are you?', "hi, I'm Nora" she introduces herself to them.

"Oh yes" Rina says, recognizing the name. "It's so nice to finally put a face to the name" she adds with a kind smile, which Nora returns.

"Madame Marina and friends" Eric says to them, "I'm pleased to see you again" he says as he moves to kiss her hand.

Despite knowing how much she hates being called madame Rina knows that in this instance she can't say anything because they were surrounded by other vampires and the 'laws' must be maintained, especially since she is Godric's official 'human'.

"Sheriff Northman" Rina retorts, "It's good to see you again" she adds as he nods at this, "you too second-in-command" she says to Pam.

"Love. Everything" Pam praises even though her tone is still droll and monotone as Rina, Sam and Jade snort at this.

Now that she knows Pam she knows that the woman means what she says even though she sounds bored saying it as she doesn't know Pam to say anything that she doesn't mean.

Eric coughs at this. "–Madame" Pam adds quickly, understanding what her maker was saying.

"Thank you" Rina says, "Sam worked her magic on all of us" she says as she smiles at her friend at this. "Speaking of which, I see she finally managed to make you look nice for once" she directs to her brother, teasing him as she always does.

"One of these days—" Joe vows, narrowing his eyes playfully as Rina laughs at this. She couldn't ever act formal with her brother because then it just wouldn't be them.

"Bel, you look amazing!" Rina gushes with a beaming smile as she looked at the vampiress that she so greatly admired.

"And you too, madame" Bel says with a tender smile.

"Saved the best for last then have you, madame?" Eric teases Rina as she snorts at this.

"Grá mo shaol" Rina greets her lover as Eric looks at her in surprise at this. Clearly unaware of this development in his maker and Rina's relationship.

"Grá mo chroí" Godric says with a small smile directed at the love of his life. "You look..." he trails off but fails to come up with the right word as Rina smiles at this, understanding exactly what he means, blushing when she sees him raking her over in appreciation, adoration and lust

"You don't look too bad yourself, sheriff" Rina teases him as the others chuckle at this.

⚜️Dig Down Deep⚜️

Rina stood by Godric's side as he introduced her to vampire kings, queens, sheriffs and magisters, including Eric's own Queen Sophie-Anne Leclerq, who seemed petrified of Godric for some reason.

She was also introduced to some human senators and political officials who were obviously using this banquet to further their own political agendas but she didn't care about that just as long as everything continued to go off without a hitch.

Rina was currently speaking with the Editor of Dallas Daily, Angelina Jones, while Godric spoke with some vampires and the rest of her family and friends chatted with other vampires and humans.

"You give me a call as soon as you're finished" Angelina says to Rina, referring to Rina graduating from Dallas University as she handed Rina her private number.

"Of course. Thank you" Rina says as Angelina nodded at this before heading off as Rina placed her number in her clutch purse.

The banquet seemed to be going well and it's aim of allowing for the two races to network with one another was going very well too.

"How's it hanging?" Sam asks from behind Rina as she turned to face her only to find her friend holding a chute of champagne.

"Great" Rina admits, "nothing seems off to you so far?" she asks in concern.

"No and Jade said the same so you can relax" Sam teases her friend.

"Everything looks amazing, Sam, I really don't know how to thank you and Jade enough for all of this" Rina says to her.

"We're happy to help the sheriff in whatever way we can" Sam says, "and speaking of which, he's looking at you like he wants to...hmm" she trails off with a little hum, a smirk and a suggestive glimmer in her eyes as Rina flushes at this as she hits her friend's arm as Sam laugh at this before Rina turns to look at Godric over her shoulder only to see him looking at her.

"The night is still young" Rina says as she turned away from her lover with a little smirk.

She turned to face a highly amused Sam as Rina grabs a champagne chute from a passing waiter.

"You tell me how well that works out for you" Sam teases her as their eyes land on the stage when they see Nan Flanagan make her way to the stage.

Rina and Sam share an annoyed look at this as Nan welcomed them all to the banquet and went on to give her speech about how tonight was one of the first of many events that would heal the strain between the vampire and human races.

Rina kind of zoned out as she chose to instead watch people's reactions to Nan's speech, some of them seemed to be genuinely interested and believe her but some didn't – especially the vampires – she noted who looked and listened with bored facial expressions.

Rina can't help wondering if this is because they know that the American Vampire League was really just a front as Godric had once explained to her.

The vampires were trying to change perceptions that people had formed about them from tales and legends by trying to present themselves as 'human' and normal like humans but they weren't.

Not really.

Vampire laws and politics still differed greatly from those of humans and they were still quite savage, brutal and archaic.

Rina had witnessed the laws being put into effect when some vampires did something that didn't align with the laws and though Godric's punishments seemed tame in comparison to others that Rina has heard of, as sheriff he still had to maintain the law.

Rina doesn't hold it against him because he is a political and judicial figure and his role is to ensure that the vampire laws are maintained in Dallas.

After Nan's speech ended it was the vampire King of Texas who went on next and he spoke on behalf of the state of Texas, thanking his teams for putting the event together – once again much to Rina's annoyance since his people didn't do as Jade would put it 'jack squat'.

Godric had declined the idea of giving a speech so Isabel had to do it on the nest's behalf. She thanked everyone for coming and thanked Sam, Jade and Rina for all their hard work, though she didn't name them by name or risk painting a target on their backs and finally she implored everyone to have a good evening and a good time.

Rina and Sam clapped for her as Isabel made her way down the stage as Rina felt a tingle shoot up and down her spine.

"Her speech was good, wasn't it, my love?" she speaks up as Sam turns to face her in surprise only to realize that Godric stood right behind Rina.

"She was far better than I could have been" Godric agrees as Rina turns to face him as the band started up once more and the networking continued.

"I don't think that you give yourself proper credit" she says as she takes a sip of her champagne, meeting his eyes over the rim of her glass.

Sam silently slips away from the lovers – bumping into Eric who leads her to the dance floor, taking the witch aback at this – while Godric gently grabs ahold of Rina's wrist and lifts it as his lips tilt into the faintest smirk at seeing her wearing the gift that he got her for her 21st birthday.

A simple golden bracelet with diamonds on it and the words: until the end of time written inside in Celtic.

When Rina asked him the meaning he confessed that he meant that he would always be what she wanted from him until the end of time. Whether lover, friend, brother or confidante.

Rina was touched that he made such a vow before they were even a couple and it only made her love him even stronger.

"You wore it" he remarks, sounding pleased by this.

"Birthday presents in the form of jewelry are meant to be worn, aren't they?" she replies with a smirk. "How has the night been treating you?"

"As you would say: I can't complain" he says as he lowers her wrist, "though I do find all of this tedious and wish that I could just take you home" he flirts as Rina blushes at his unspoken meaning.

"Patience is a virtue, my love" Rina flirts back.

"A virtue that I do not possess" he says as Rina chuckles.

"Now there's a lie if I've ever heard one" she says, "you were quite patient in pursuing me, no?" she reminds him.

"Oh if only you truly knew, Ms. Sinclair" he says as Rina finished her chute and handed the empty glass to a passing waiter with a 'thank you'.

Rina spots Isabel and a gorgeous dark haired and pale skinned vampire making their way toward them. The vampire was astonishingly breathtaking in a black tuxedo and bowtie.

"Marina may I introduce you to King Ricardo The Third of España" Godric says to his lover as he gestured to the man Isabel was walking with as Isabel beamed happily next to the man. "Isabel's maker" Godric explains to his lover.

"Your Majesty" Rina says with a curtsy when the man's brown eyes land on her form.

"Marina Sinclair" the man says, emphasizing and rolling the r's in her name and surname. "Los cuentos de su gran belleza definitivamente no fueron exagerados, viejo amigo (The tales of her great beauty were most definitely not exaggerated, old friend)" he says to Godric, looking at him now.

"Me alegra que pienses así, Ricardo (I am pleased that you think so, Ricardo)" Godric fires back in just as rapid and fluent Spanish.

Rina could understand them, even though she wasn't nearly as proficient in Spanish as she would have liked to be.

"I have heard many amazing tales of you" King Ricardo says to Marina in his accented English as he looked from Godric to her.

"All good, I hope, Your Majesty?"

"Nothing but the very best" he replies as he kissed her hand before releasing it when Rina blushes. Isabel's maker is VERY good looking and his accent alone could make any woman swoon. "You are the sister of my grand-progeny, correct?"

Rina's sure that he already knows this but it's nice of him to ask.

"Yes" Rina nods, "Joseph is my twin brother" she explains.

"I was most eager to finally meet the addition to my line as my childe had never considered turning anyone before him" Ricardo says to her, "and now I can say with absolute sincerity that I am most pleased with Isabel's choice in progeny" he adds.

"I am pleased that you approve of my brother, Your Majesty" Rina says humbly, "It would have certainly been quite awkward had you not" she says as Ricardo chuckles at this.

"Yes, I suppose it would have" Ricardo agrees, "to be quite honest with you I was expecting a sniveling little thing" he adds, "far too afraid to wander away from his maker for too long" he adds. "Instead, I meet a young vampire with independence like one five times his age" he adds, praising Joseph.

"My brother has always been that way, Your Majesty" Rina informs him, "I imagine his turning merely amplified that independence" she adds in her brother's praise, holding her own in conversation with the foreign monarch as Godric and Isabel watch their interaction in amusement.

Ricardo smiles an identical smile to one Rina's seen on Isabel's face and that's when she realizes that there was a lot of Ricardo in Isabel.

"Ricardo, I imagine your journey was a comfortable one?" Godric asks the old vampire.

"Indeed, old friend" Ricardo replies, "you have my sincerest gratitude in aiding my grand-progeny in his transition" he adds.

"As you have mine in offering your progeny as my aid and second-in-command" Godric replies.

"Isabel always held a fondness for you" Ricardo says with a charming smile that would have made Rina blush if she weren't so in love with Godric, "would you mind if I took your woman for a dance?" he asks.

"The choice would have to be hers as Marina is her own person" Godric replies as they both turn to face her.

"I would be honoured, Your Majesty" Rina says to him as Ricardo grins at this as he offers her a hand which she readily accepts as he led her to the dancefloor as Godric and Isabel watched them leave.

"He is testing her" Godric remarks to his second.

"So far he is impressed by her" Isabel agrees with his words, "you know of his fondness for you" she adds as Godric nods at this. "He just wishes to ensure that Marina is...perfect for you in every way" she adds as Godric nodded at this.

A/N: I'm sorry about the long wait for an update you guys but I've been hit with some writer's block for this book so I'm rewatching a bit of True Blood so that I can get my creative juices flowing once again. As always I hope that you enjoyed the chapter✌️