A/N: Sorry for the delay. Had a flare-up and just started writing again after a few weeks. 

***

Your visit to Sophie-Anne two days later was unannounced. Your father led the small group consisting of yourself, Eric and the Magister through the grounds, dismissing Sophie's guards as he went. His own men trailed behind you silently taking their places to secure the property.

As usual, Sophie was found lounging in what she called her day room. Your father glanced around and arched a brow. Obviously he found it a bit much. You agreed completely.

"A bit ostentatious for one so deeply in debt. Wouldn't you agree, Magister?" Roman asked, sounding bored.

"Absolutely, sir."

Sophie, who up until this point, was ignoring all of you, was on her feet in a flash. Her gaze darted to you and Eric briefly before focusing on the other two men again. "Hailey, leave us," she said to the blonde that had been lounging beside her. Hailey was Sookie's cousin and didn't know when to keep her mouth shut. It was how your friend had ended up on Sophie-Anne's radar to begin with.

Once her lover had left, the queen put her attention back on your group. "Magister, I wasn't expecting you. To what do I owe the pleasure?" Try as she might, the queen couldn't keep that tremor of worry from her tone. That alone conveyed her youth. Frankly, you weren't certain how she'd come to the position in the first place. Politics.

Alonso scoffed as he smirked. "I believe we can all agree it is rarely a pleasure when I become involved, your majesty."

Her smile dropped before instantly finding its way back to her face. "And who is this with you?"

Now your father smirked as well. "Just call me an interested party."

You rolled your eyes and elbowed Eric in the ribs when he huffed a surprised laugh at your father's words. The noise caught Sophie-Anne's attention and she glared at your mate. You fought the immediate urge to smack her. As if sensing your irritation, Eric grabbed your hand in his. If nothing else, his touch grounded you.

Her eyes flicked down to your joined hands and you would have sworn she turned just a bit paler. Sophie-Anne knew who you were and knew you used to work for the Authority. Now, here you were holding hands with the person that had knowledge that could bury her. She wasn't a stupid woman, she knew where this was heading. That didn't stop her from trying to talk her way out of trouble.

"I'm not quite sure what is going on here, Magister, but I assure you if any of my subjects have stepped out of line and fabricated some treasonous lie in an attempt to cast doubt on my loyalties, I am more than capable of punishing them without the Authority's interference."

"Not your subject and not a lie," you piped up.

Alonso stepped forward, one hand in the pocket of his immaculate suit. "You have been accused of conspiring to sell the sacred blood for your personal gain. How do you plea?"

As Alonso took another step, Sophie stepped backward. "Not guilty of course. I would never do anything so heinous."

Roman scowled. "Ordering your subjects to do it on your behalf doesn't absolve you of your culpability."

"What-what did she tell you?" Sophie stuttered as she took another step back. "It's not true. Any of it."

"How would you know if you aren't aware of what has been said?" the Magister asked, a smirk curling his lips.

She held out a hand as if that would protect her from the judgement coming her way. "Now, just a minute." Her eyes found you. "What is this? I trusted you. Why are you doing this? You don't even work for them anymore."

"Because it's shit, Sophie. You're trying to set him up to take the fall when this inevitably goes horribly wrong. If you were the leader you were supposed to be, you would have at least cut out the middle man. Taken some responsibility for your own actions. But that's never been your strong suit, has it?" As much as you liked Sophie-Anne, she had some serious faults as a queen.

The Authority had been aware of her failings, but until this point, they'd been able to look the other way to keep from stirring things up where they didn't have to. Despite all appearances to the contrary, the Authority was very into maintaining the status quo when possible.

Not getting the response she wanted from you, she looked at Eric. "And you? This is treason."

"Speaking of concerns with my mate is not treasonous. It was she who reported you to the Authority. My apologies, my queen." He sounded so sincere but he wore that familiar smirk as he lifted your hand to kiss the back of it. You resisted the urge to roll your eyes. Barely.

"Enough," your father interrupted the conversation, clearly bored with the theatrics. "Magister?"

"Sophie-Anne Leclerq, you have been found guilty of the charge against you. The penalty is the true death." He flicked his fingers and Eric stepped forward to carry out the sentence.

"Wait!" Sophie yelled.

Alonso held up his hand to bring your mate to a halt. "What is it?"

"I demand a rehearing. I want a hearing in front of the Authority."

You arched a brow. You weren't certain anyone had ever tried that before. But she was a queen, so if anyone was going to try it, it was fitting that it was her.

"You are aware that I am the voice of the Authority in matters such as this?" the Magister asked with a quick glance to your father. "However, given your status, the request is not unreasonable."

Elation flickered across Sophie-Anne's face. It lasted about two minutes before your father spoke.

"The Authority has heard your case and affirms the Magister's decision. Sorry, Ms. Leclerq, but there are sins that even the worst of us can't overlook." He straightened the cuffs of his suit as he stared at the queen as if she was a bug beneath his shoe.

"Who are you?" Sophie asked.

"I am the Guardian," he answered with an arched brow. He glanced at Eric and gestured to the queen. "Mr. Northman, if you would."

Sophie-Anne shook her head and backed away but Eric was on her in a flash. She attempted to fight but he took her down easily, forcing her onto her stomach. He placed a foot on her back to hold her down while he grasped her head in his hands and yanked upward. A second later and Eric was dropping the late queen's decapitated head on ground as she dissolved beneath him.

You'd stayed behind your father and Alonso so they were between you and the mess but you still stepped backward. Vampire deaths were so disgusting. "Well done, Mr. Northman. You'll forgive me if I don't offer you a ride back to your home," your father said and you frowned. Yes, Eric could get himself home, but it still annoyed you. Of course, he hadn't bothered to mention his plan for your mate to play executioner until you were almost there so you hadn't brought anything for Eric to change into even if he cleaned himself up.

"Understandable, sir. I'll meet you there." He may have been talking to your father but he was looking at you. He was letting you know it wasn't worth the fight. You ran your eyes over his blood-soaked form and gave him a nod. He'd make it home before the three of you anyway.

Roman took your arm in his hand and steered you to the exit. His steps were long and quick until he was practically dragging you behind him. You scowled and pulled against him but he didn't slow down. Finally, you planted your feet and jerked your arm. He stumbled to a stop and turned to frown at you.

"Why the hell are you in such a hurry? Is there something I should know?" Your gaze shifted between him and Alonso. The latter looked amused as his lips twitched. Your father closed his eyes and sighed.

"I'm sorry. There's just a phone call that I need to make as soon as possible. Why don't you and Alonso take the car back? I'll ride with some of the men." He didn't wait for a response before disappearing into the dark.

You licked your lips and shook your head before glaring at your friend. "And just what do you think is so funny?"

He chuckled and held up his hands in surrender. "I was wondering how long you were going to let him drag you along until you said something."

"You have any idea what that call's about?" you asked. Roman was up to something.

"Not a clue, sweetheart."