A/N: Sorry for the delay in updates. My health hasn't been the best as of late. 

***

You tossed your things in your truck before spinning and shoving Eric away from you. "Your mate, Eric? Really?"

He brushed his chest as if wiping away your touch. Ass. "Yes. I fail to see the problem."

That stopped you. "Wait. You're actually claiming me?"

His brow furrowed. "Of course. You didn't honestly think I would make such a proclamation without meaning it?"

"You literally proclaim things on a daily basis that you don't mean."

His hands settled on your waist and he pulled you toward him. His gaze ran over your face as he studied you. "I wouldn't be flippant about anything so serious, Y/N. You must know that."

You swallowed past the lump in your throat. "Don't you think it was something we maybe should have discussed before you announced it to a bar full of random assholes?"

"Perhaps." He gave a little shrug and kissed your forehead before pushing you toward your truck. "Let's head home. We can discuss it on the way."

You turned out of the parking lot and headed toward Shreveport, quickly getting lost in your own thoughts. Mates were serious business amongst the vampires. There was a time it was strictly an otherworldly belief in soulmates. Fate bringing two people together that were created for one another. It morphed over the centuries into a choice. A declaration that you belonged to one another. It went far deeper than any marriage.

Allowances and lea ways were given for mates that would otherwise never be permitted. In fact, mates were treated as one entity. They received punishment and reward in equal measure regardless of which party was actually responsible. Your dad was going to freak the fuck out. It was that thought that stopped you. The realization that the question if you felt that way for Eric never once crossed your mind. You knew from the moment you met him that he was it for you and always would be.

Your concerns were purely disbelief that Eric could feel that deeply for you and what your father would think. The real question was, did you care?

"You're awfully quiet for someone that had so much to say," Eric said as you neared Fangtasia.

You didn't look at him as you parked near the back door and the two of you sat in silence for a long time. Finally, you spoke, but you still didn't look at him. "You've lived for a thousand years and never once tied yourself to someone. Not like this."

"Mates tend to be a once in a lifetime thing, even for the oldest amongst us." His voice was soft and you knew he was letting you talk your thoughts out. This was important. He wouldn't try to talk you into anything. He was better than that.

You shook your head. "That's not what I meant, Eric. You're not exactly the relationship type. We've had this discussion."

He hummed in agreement. "We have. If I recall correctly, I stated that was me before you."

You turned to face him. "Are you sure about this?"

"I do not question my feelings for you, Y/N, but if this is not what you want—"

You grabbed his hand and used it to pull yourself closer to him. "That's not what this is about. At all. It's just...me? I mean, are you really sure?"

In a flash, he shifted the two of you so you straddled his lap. One hand cradled the back of your neck and the other rested on your lower back. His gaze locked on yours. "There is no one else—there never has been, nor will there ever be—that I would consider making this claim with. I will live and die for you. I swear it."

Moisture flooded your eyes and you kissed him in an effort to keep it from overflowing. His hands shifted so he cradled your head as he deepened the kiss. Finally, you pulled away to breathe and rested your forehead against his. "Can I take this as an agreement to my claim?"

"Yeah, Eric, I'll be your mate."

He kissed you again. This time it was tender and sweet, filled with promises. Gods, you loved this man. When you separated this time, he rested his hand on the side of your face. His eyes searched yours. "You will agree to the bonding ceremony. If you are to be my mate, I want it all."

You hesitated only a moment before nodding and earning yourself another round of kissing. The ceremony involved witches and spells and unbreakable bonds. But like your mate said, if you were going to do this, you might as well go all the way.

A knock sounded on the window and you jerked in surprise.

"I'm busy," Eric growled then resumed kissing you.

"I'm happy for you. Now get unbusy." Of course, it was Pam. No one else would have dared interrupt him.

You giggled and rested your head on his shoulder.

He sighed and unlocked the door. Pam promptly jerked it open. "Y/N, how lovely to see you again," she said with a smile which dropped completely when she turned her full attention to Eric. "We have a problem."

"And what might that be?" His hand ran in a lazy line over your spine forcing you to bite back a purr of contentment.

Her gaze darted to you.

"Y/N is my mate."

As usual her arched brow was the only outward sign of her surprise. "The accountant called. There's a discrepancy."

Eric's hand stilled. "How big?"

"Does it matter?" Pam answered.

She had a point. It didn't matter if it was $5 or $5,000, they would have to deal with it. Vampires weren't exactly the let it slide type. Not handling the matter would only show weakness. And if there was one thing vampires had perfected, it was taking advantage of another's weakness.

***

As it turned out the discrepancy was $60,000 big. Eric was determined to blame the accountant that brought it to their attention which you didn't understand at all. After all, how stupid would you have to be to not only steal the money but then point it out?

But everyone else that had access to the money was a vampire and vampires never betrayed each other. Yeah, right. You snorted a laugh at the thought as you swung open the door to Merlotte's. You were still pissed at Sam, but needed to talk to Sookie without Bill around and this was the best place to do it.

You grasped Sookie's arm as you stepped past her and pulled her along. "Sam, Sookie and I are going to have a conversation in your office. Deal with it."

You ignored his words of protest as you closed the door behind you and flipped the lock.

"What is goin' on with you?" Sookie asked. "Are you okay?"

"I'm fine. I need a favor."

Sookie looked more intrigued than ever and leaned against Sam's desk, watching you with wide eyes. You weren't the kind to ask others for anything. "I'm all ears."

"Someone stole a lot of money from Fangtasia. We need help figuring out who."

She grimaced. "That sounds like Eric needs a favor, not you."

The corner of your mouth twitched. "Same thing these days. Eric's glamoured everyone and has gotten nowhere. I'm afraid if this keeps up he'll just kill all the humans and start from scratch."

"And you're okay with that?"

"No, I'm not. That's why I'm here." You ran a hand down your face. "Look, if you don't want to do this, it's fine. I get it. I just had to give it a shot."

The silence stretched for a beat as she looked you over. "Bill says I should stay away from Eric. At all costs."

"Eric is a vampire through and through. And he's not pretending to be anything else. Bill doesn't like being reminded that he's vampire. If you're worried about him knowing what you can do, he already does. I didn't tell him, but someone did. I heard him talking to Pam about it. I can pay you if that helps."

"If I help them find whoever did this, what happens to them?"

You sighed and crossed your arms over your chest. "Honestly? They'll probably find out what happened to their money then kill them."

Sookie stood straight as she stared at you with wide eyes. "Then why would I agree to help you?"

"Because you keep them from killing a bunch of people that didn't do it. I'll make you a deal. You help us out and if you find out a human took the money, we'll turn them over to the police. But, Sookie, I've got to be honest, I don't think it's a human."

"So, I'm just supposed to let them kill some vampire on my say so and be okay with that?"

"Vampires have their own laws. Let the vampires deal with the vampires. You just help me save the humans."

"I do owe you."

You shook your head. "No, you don't. But do this and I'll owe you."

"The great and mighty Y/N will owe me? How could I resist?" she teased and you rolled your eyes. "Bill won't like it."

You bit your lip to keep from telling her where Bill could shove his opinion. "Probably not. Bring him with you."

"Will Eric be okay with that?"

"Who gives a shit? But yeah, he'll be fine with it. In fact, he'll be happier if Bill is there to witness everything."

Sookie pursed her lips then nodded once. "Okay, then. But I'm doing this for you, not Eric."

"Duly noted. See you tonight."

***

Eric was not amused that you had decided to involve a human in your business. Though he admitted he probably would have already gotten Sookie involved had she not been your friend. And knowing him, he would have ordered Bill to bring her by or something and that would have just pissed everyone off.

After greeting your friend and Bill, you took a seat next to Sookie, but let Eric handle things. You were strictly there for moral support. Eric started with the accountant whom he was positive was somehow involved in the theft. You leaned back in your seat with your arms crossed over your chest and just observed.

"He's telling the truth," Sookie announced and released her grip on Bruce.

"You trust the skinny human to clear the fat one?" Longshadow said from his spot behind the bar.

You clenched your teeth and looked at Eric. You hated the bartender, as your mate was well aware.

Eric moved his gaze from you to the other vampire as he said, "Bring the next one in." It was as much of a dismissal as he could give Longshadow without saying something directly.

And so the cycle continued from human to human until finally Pam brought out Ginger. "She's the last human."

You rolled your eyes. The girl's brain was swiss cheese. You were more than a little surprised when Sookie announced that Ginger knew who took the money.

"There's a blank space. I can't see it," Sookie said, looking confused.

Your eyes found Eric's as Pam said, "She's been glamoured."

"It was vampire." Sookie stood from her chair in surprise.

Before you could thank her for stating the obvious, Longshadow leapt over the bar and wrapped his hands around your friend's neck. You were on your feet in a second. An upward blow to just the right place on his sternum and he released Sookie reflexively. You grabbed her and shoved her behind you, ignoring her shout of pain as she bounced off some piece of furniture or another. At least she was alive.

Longshadow moved forward again. Surprisingly he ignored you and launched himself toward Sookie as if he killed her, the rest of you would just forget he was the thief. Idiot. You shifted sideways to put yourself in front of your friend. Another blow to the chest, harder this time, had him reeling backward but not giving up. Fucker.

You picked up a chair and threw it at the vampire which didn't hurt him in the least, but the chair broke which was your intention all along. Sweeping up a piece of the wood, you braced yourself as he charged again. This time it was your makeshift weapon that hit his chest and pierced his heart.

Ginger screamed as Longshadow dissolved into goo. When she vomited, Eric made a sound of disgust. "Humans. I don't understand what you see in them, Bill."

You glanced at him with an arched brow. "Really, Eric?"

He grinned. "You are far from human, sweetheart."