"What? What's wrong?" Rina questions her lover in concern when he tenses a bit. 

"Eric and Nora are approaching" he adds, sensing his progeny's concern and urgency, "something is wrong" he adds as he flashes off the bed as Rina climbed off and headed downstairs with him just as Eric and Nora burst into the nest.

"Maker" Eric says in distress before he and Nora fall onto their knees before him and Rina. "We bring news of great distress and saw fit to come and share it with you immediately" he says to Godric.

"What is it?" Godric asks them seriously.

"Roman and Salome have expressed their desire for me to stay a few days with you, maker" Nora explains, "they wish to know more of madame Marina" she says from her kneeling position beside Eric.

Pam and Jade burst into the nest a few seconds later, with the vampire trying to gather herself after having sped there with Jade as she kneeled before her grandsire.

"What?!" Godric growls out angrily. He starts cursing in Ancient Gaulish at this as Eric, Nora and Pam flinch fearfully at this, sensing their maker's and grandsire's fury.

"What's going on, love? Who are those people?" Rina asks Godric in concern when she feels his fury through their bond.

"The Guardians and Chancellors of the Vampire Authority" Godric explains to her as he takes her hand into his own and tries to soothe her fears when he senses them.

Isabel flashes downstairs with Sam and Joe, having heard the news.

"What's going on?" Sam asks them, knowing that something was up.

"Explain everything that Roman said" Godric says to Nora, "and do not leave anything out" he adds firmly as Nora nods nervously at this as she started to explain to them how Salome and Roman told her that they desired for her to stay in Dallas for a few days and 'reacquaint' herself with Godric.

"This is clearly a ploy to test out your loyalty to Godric" Jade speaks up after her explanation.

"Indeed" Godric agrees with the witch. "They are clearly aware that there is more to Marina than meets the eye" he says from his spot beside his lover. "Joseph, inform all our vampires that the nest is closed for tonight" he says to his now third-in-command.

"Won't closing the nest appear more suspicious, sheriff?" Sam asks him respectfully.

"Sam's right" Rina says, "it's clear that this Roman guy has been keeping a far closer eye on us than we expected" she adds.

"And so what would you have us do?" Pam asks them.

"We should continue as if we don't know anything" she adds, "as if we suspect nothing" she adds. "Roman clearly has spies in the vampires of this nest" she adds as Isabel nods in agreement at this.

"His call to you is a test of your allegiance to them or to Godric" Jade says to Nora, "if you lie then he knows that you are not trustworthy and yet if you tell the truth you risk losing your grandsire's trust for betraying him" she adds.

"I am loyal to you before any of them, father" Nora says to Godric. "Tell me what you wish of me to do and I will surely do it" she adds with a respectful bow of her head toward her maker.

"Perhaps this Roman doesn't know what I am?" Rina offers up in suggestion, "Just that I am not all human" she adds.

"So you want us to lie to him about your true nature?" Eric asks her.

"Sorry for the interjection" Nora says, "but what true nature are you talking about? What is madame Marina?" she asks all of them in confusion as Rina turns to face Godric at this, silently asking him if he trusts Nora enough for her to reveal her secret to the other woman.

"If she's going to be protecting her the least she can do is know the truth" Eric speaks up for his sister as Pam rolls her eyes at this, knowing of Eric's attachment to the other woman.

Nora had no true love or respect for Pam and neither did she.

Perhaps it was because they both feared losing Eric to one another.

"A phoenix" Marina replies after seeing the confirmation to share her secret with Nora in Godric's eyes. "I'm a phoenix" she adds as Nora gasps in shock at this.

"Like the mythological bird in Greek mythology?" Nora asks in surprise.

"Technically" Rina admits, "though I have yet to turn into a bird" she adds with a playful smile.

"How astonishing" Nora says in awe. "I-I never thought phoenixes even existed" she adds.

"They don't" Godric interjects as he gives his progeny a stern look at this.

Nora nods at this, understanding her sire's unspoken warning and command.

She is NEVER to speak about what Rina truly is.

EVER.

"Now that we've gotten that out of the way" Sam quips dryly, "what the heck are we going to do about this Roman and Salome?" she questions in concern for Rina's life and safety.

"Nora will spend the 'appropriate' amount of time with us" Rina says, "where she will learn exactly what I am" she adds.

"Which is?" Jade asks in a slightly hesitant tone.

"Why a fearie, of course" Rina says as Sam groans at this.

"Of all the creatures" she says with a scowl as she throws her hands up in exasperation.

"Oh that's a splendid idea actually!" Nora agrees with Rina, "I think I've seen some texts in the Authority's Grand Library that actually spoke of the fae but they were in Ancient Yiddish, which I unfortunately don't know but which Salome is quite proficient in" she adds.

"Ever better" Sam says, "you'll have to lure her to the library at the exact same time that you're reading up on faeries and make her 'catch' you" she adds, using air quotations for catch.

"I'm going to need someone to catch me up because I am so confused" Joe speaks up in a tone of true confusion. "Faeries actually exist?" he asks them.

"Try to catch up, young Joseph" Eric says to the young vampire with a teasing wink as Joe scoffs at this.

"It's a long, long story" Rina says to her twin brother.

"So it's settled then?" Godric asks all of them, "Rina is for all intents and purposes a faerie?" he asks as they nod at this, although begrudgingly for Sam.

"There is still one issue though, sheriff" Jade speaks up, "faeries are said to smell extremely delicious and Rina smells normal, bland even" she adds.

"Thanks" Rina says to her friend in a deadpan, sarcastic tone as Jade holds her hands up in surrender.

"Given how much of maker's scent is coming off of her it's easy to say that his scent has now overpowered her own 'faerie' scent" Eric replies.

"Wait, what?" Rina says.

"You smell strongly of maker" Eric says as if she's slow and can't catch on quickly.

"Just how strong is Godric's scent on me?" Rina asks all of them. She couldn't really smell herself since it's coming from her.

"Strong enough that if someone were tracking him by scent alone you could be mistaken for him" Nora speaks up as Rina turns to face her lover at this.

Clearly her maker and Rina had exchanged A LOT of blood and spent many hours tangled up in one another.

Godric could feel Rina's shock at this revelation through their bond and he rubs her hand soothingly, basically telling her that they would discuss the matter further in private.

Isabel's phone rings, cutting off any further discussion as she picked it up.

"Ms. Beaumont" one of the guards says over the phone in greeting, "the first of the nest's attendees are arriving" he says.

"Let them in, Mr. Jordans" Isabel replies after receiving confirmation from Godric with the simple nod of the head.

⚜️Dig Down Deep⚜️

Rina didn't keep to Godric's side despite the new knowledge that they now possessed, knowing that suddenly doing so would seem suspicious if Roman's spy noticed.

She's assuming that whoever it was, was someone whose been a part of the nest for quite some time as a new vampire would be far too obvious.

Godric told her that he wanted her in his line of sight at all times so she had to do that. Rina spoke with Louisa as the other woman told her more about what she knew of Napoleon Bonaparte.

Rina didn't trust anyone anymore but she wasn't about to let her fear define her. Louisa left Rina to go talk with some other guy as Nora made her way toward the other woman.

"Madame" she says with an inclination of the head.

"Hey Nora" Rina replies as the other woman stood next to her.

They had discussed Rina being seen talking with Nora so that Roman and Salome's spy could report back to their superiors that Nora was seen interacting with Rina and trying to get to know her better.

The two women made small talk, well aware that someone in the nest would be reporting back to Roman and Salome on their topics of discussion.

⚜️Dig Down Deep⚜️

Sam grabs a soda from the fridge and closes it as she turned to head off again only to yelp when she sees Eric standing on the other side of the door. How she didn't notice him given how gigantic he is must be one of life's mysteries.

"What the hell is wrong with you?! You almost gave me a heart attack, Eric" she says to him as she placed a hand to her chest in hopes of calming her rapidly racing heart.

"Well at least it's not just vampire now" he remarks amusedly as he shoots her a smug smirk as she rolls her eyes at him. "I see you're walking just fine, Ms. Kingsley" he says with a grin, "I must be losing my touch" he says.

"Has anyone told you that you have a massive ego?" she asks him with an eye roll as she opened her soda and took a sip of it as his smirk grew exponentially at her words.

"As you're now aware that isn't the only thing about me that's big" he says as Sam chokes on her soda at this.

"Cool it, vampire" Sam says as she recovered from her coughing fit. "Yes, last night was fun but I'm not about to make it a habit" she says.

"Pity" Eric says as he leaned against the countertop with grace that Sam only wishes she had. "As I could...how do you humans say it again? Rock your little world" he adds, "again" he adds smugly as he fangs drop with a loud click.

Sam makes a face at this as she rolled her eyes at him.

"Bye Eric" she says as she walked off as he watched her leave amusedly.

The witch may pretend to be annoyed with him all she wants but last night proved to him that she didn't hate him as much as she pretended to.

"Taken to bothering Marina's friends now then, brother?" Nora asks him amusedly as she made her way toward him.

"It is a fun past time" Eric replies.

"Hvað segirðu að við höfum gaman af eins og við höfum alltaf gert? (What do you say we have fun as we always have)?" she asks him in a suggestive tone as she smiles at him.

⚜️Dig Down Deep⚜️

"Did you intentionally smother me in your scent?" Rina asks Godric when they made their way into her bedroom when it came time for the doors of the nest to close to everyone else.

"Yes" he admits.

"How territorial of you, sheriff" Rina remarks amusedly, "what? You figured using your club to knock out anyone who dared look at me too old-fashioned for your tastes?" she teases him amusedly.

Godric's lips tilt into a faint smirk at this.

"Is that a joke in reference to my age, Ms. Sinclair?" he asks her.

"Sheriff, I am appalled that you think so" she says with a fake gasp, "I would never disrespect the elderly" she adds as Godric speeds them to her bed as she burst into laughter at this. "Godric!" she says.

"Elderly, you say, Marina?" he says as he smirked down at her. The expression making him looking mischievous and yet adorable enough to make her heart flutter.

"Okay, okay. I get it. No more jokes about your age" she adds from underneath him. Godric smirks down at her, looking at her in adoration.

"I love you" Rina says to him as his grey eyes light up at hearing the words.

He never tires of hearing those words coming from her mouth.

"And I love you too, grá mo chroí" he adds, knowing that she loves it when he calls her that. Rina smiles at this before her smile falls a bit as she thought about the warning that Eric and Nora shared with them. "What's wrong?" he asks, seeing her smile drop and sensing the concern through their bond.

"I'm worried about the AVL" she admits to him, "if they find out the truth–" she trails off with a shudder at the thought of it. "Godric, I don't want you or your line getting into trouble because of me" she says as she cups his face tenderly. "I could never forgive myself if anything happened to any of you because of me" she adds.

"My line protects you as I do because you are mine, Marina" he says to her, climbing off of her as she sits up at this, lowering her hands from cupping his face. "Because you are the madame of my nest and mo grá" he adds. "I would do anything to protect you. Anything" he emphasizes as he cups her face this time around.

"You shouldn't have to risk–"

"We will have to be more careful from here onwards" he adds, "but if Roman and Salome try anything then they will be starting a war" he adds.

"I don't want it to come to that" Rina says nervously. "They have more manpower" she adds, "I wouldn't like the idea of you going up against the AVL just because of me" she adds.

"If Roman and Salome know what is good for them then they will steer clear of you" Godric says to her as he pulls her into his lap as she straddled him between the thighs as she wraps her arms around his neck, resting her forehead against his as she did.

⚜️Dig Down Deep⚜️

(Unknown location)

A hooded woman makes her way down the long halls of a dimly lit castle as the woman rounded corners before reaching the large doors that led into the throne-room of her leader.

She pushes them open and gulps as she glanced around the dimly lit room.

"What is it?" the loud, booming voice of her leader demands furiously as she bowed in the direction of where she could feel him sitting as he stared down at her from atop his throne.

"My lord" she comments as she fell onto her knees, "I have brought the information that you requested of me, sire" she adds.

"Well?" the man's deep and booming voice comments expectantly as the woman fumbled a bit as she opened the file in her hands and held up a picture of a smiling Marina.

"This is the woman that I have believe is the Phoenix Queen" she adds as the man who had been seated in the shadows rose with all the grace and elegance in the world as he made his way toward her as she averted her head as he snatches the picture from her.

She dares not look of him for fear of the magnitude of his power.

"A child" he spits out acidly as he took in the image of the woman in the picture. He turns to head back to his throne when his subject speaks up.

"The daughter of Atala, my lord. Her name is Marina Sinclair" she reveals as the man freezes in his steps at this as his eyes glow orange at hearing that name again after so long.

"Atala" he growls out angrily, thinking of the woman as his hooded subject shrunk a little when she felt some of his power fill the room. "Is she well-protected?" he questions.

"She has two Guardians with her at all times, milord. As well as two other guards in the form of a shifter and a werewolf" the woman replied as he went back to his seat in the shadows.

"Who could they have possibly sent to protect the Phoenix Queen in this lifetime?" he questions amusedly.

"The daughters of Liyana" the woman retorts as the man hums thoughtfully at the revelation.

"Ah, so they send infants to protect a god" the man says with a chuckle that makes shivers run up and down the kneeling woman's spine.

"There is...There is more, milord" the woman reveals sheepishly as she hears a loud crack at this, which signals that he is not happy with this as he sat atop his throne.

She gulps nervously at this.

"What?!" he snaps angrily.

"S-She is the bonded mate of a vampire and I have reason to believe that he may have...may have tasted her blood" the woman stutters with a flinch at this, expecting a lethal blow.

"What?!" the man roars angrily as his eyes glowed orange again as he pinned her to the wall less than a second later as the woman grasped at her throat, in hopes of getting him to release her. "You mean to tell me that a vampire is bonded to the Chosen One?!" he asks furiously as the woman struggled to breathe.

"S-Sire, I-I can't–" the woman choked out as she struggled to breathe. He releases her from his tight grip as she falls onto her knees, coughing and gasping for air as she touched her neck, grateful for the sweetness that is oxygen.

"This will not do" the man says furiously. "A god cannot mate with an ant" he adds as the woman on the ground continued to cough out as she tried to inhale as much oxygen as she could.

"W-Which...Which course of action would you have me make, sire?" she questions as she finally started to get ahold of herself.

"You will do nothing aside from what I tell you, girl" the man says, "which vampire dares entertain the idea of being bonded to a god?" he growls out angrily.

"He is one of the Ancients residing in the Americas, sire" the woman reveals, "a vampire by the name of Godric" she adds as she read the name from her file.

"An Ancient, you say?" he says in intrigue.

"He is 2,000 years old" the woman replies.

"Ah, a youngling" the man remarks. "What else can you inform me of him?" he asks her.

"There is not much else, sire" the woman admits, "but I do have it on good authority that he has a brother named Remus the Impaler–"

The man starts to chuckle at this as the woman glanced about nervously at this, knowing that his chuckle cannot mean anything good.

"The Impaler" he says, sounding VERY interested and intrigued by the revelation, "Send word to the Impaler that he and I have much in common" he says to her.

"Y-Yes s-sire" she adds fearfully. "A-And the Phoenix Queen, milord?" she questions.

"I will handle the Phoenix Queen" he says sternly, "so do not dare to ask me of my plans again, girl" he adds, "are we understood?" he says harshly as the woman nodded fearfully at this, well-aware of what happens to those who dare overstep when it comes to her leader.

"Y-Yes, sire" she stammers fearfully.

"You are dismissed" the man replies as she hurriedly rose from the ground and made her way out of the dark room, fumbling as she did and being careful not to stumble over her own feet as she closed the doors behind her as the man stared down at the image of the smiling girl.

"Marina Sinclair" he says in his deep and booming voice before squashing the image in his hands as he started to laugh maniacally at this. 

A/N: As I have pointed out in the beginning of this book this story is set in an alternative universe (AU) to the original True Blood timeline so while some events may be the same, most are completely different.

With that being said Nora is NOT a Sanguinista as she is loyal to Godric and Godric only – and by extension Rina since she is Godric's mate.

All of that aside, I trust that you guys enjoyed this chapter.