CHAPTER FOURTY THREE

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          RUSSELL EDGINGTON WAS MORE DANGEROUS THAN THEY HAD THOUGHT. The images of the news anchor being ripped apart on live television were still fresh on her mind as she watched the executer Eric had hired take out a few forms from his briefcase. 

The man began to recite parts of the will. "I give all my residences, subject to any mortgages or encumbrances there on, to -"

"My progeny, Pamela Swynford DeBeaufort."

Pam paced behind her maker, wearing a black pencil skirt and a silk purple blouse. The vampire looked like she always did and Dakota was wearing something similar since she hadn't been home yet, and she had to borrow whatever Pam thought would suit her. 

"Why are you doing this?" accused Pam.

"Because, Pam," he sighed. "Russell Edgington was maybe the oldest and strongest vampire on the planet, before he eviscerated a newsman live on TV. Now, he's also the craziest, and his rage is directed at me. Do the math."

Eric nodded at the executor to continue and he did so, after a moment of hesitation. "Article four. 'I give the rest of my residuary estate to -'"

"My progeny, Pamela Swynford DeBeaufort."

Pam let out an annoyed sigh, shaking her head. "You're not even going to put up a fight?"

"Of course, I am." he retorted. "But until I come up with a brilliant plan to beat him, I am covering my bases and your ass."

"Eric," she stopped beside him and rested her hands on her hips.

"Unless you have a plan for me to defeat Russell Edgington, do not distract me!" Eric was angry as he snapped at her, glaring up at his progeny. He turned back to the man before him. "Go on."

The man placed a pen before the vampire, pushing the sheets of paper toward him and said, "Your signature requires two witnesses. But the witness cannot be the beneficiary of your estate."

"Dakota," Eric turned to her and she pushed herself off the bar to stand beside him. "are you mentally competent and under no duress at this time?"

"Yes, why?" she asked.

"Good. Watch this." Eric grabbed the pen and scribbled his signature on both papers before grabbing a hold of her right hand, wrapping his fingers around her own as he placed the pen between them. He scribbled the signature again as if she would have done it.

The executioner tried a smile, but it was forced as he took back the documents and pen, nodding his head as he looked at Pam. "Well, congratulations. According to the state of Louisiana, should Mr. Northman meet the true death, you will become a very wealthy vampire." He placed the papers in his briefcase and got up. "I will see myself out."

He closed the door behind him, leaving the three in silence for a moment. Dakota met Pam's eyes and saw the rage and worry behind them. The blond vampire shook her head and pressed the bridge of her nose.

"I have no interest in inheriting your farm on Irlande." Pam declared, sounding angry but she was on the verge of tears. "That place is a windy shit hole. If you're not coming up with a plan, fast. I am going to have to move there and I really don't want to."

Dakota and Eric watched her storm off into the hallway, door slamming shut behind her with a loud thud. Eric closed his eyes for a moment and rested his elbows on the table. Dakota felt out of place, not wanting to get between them. 

"Don't go." said Eric, having felt her internal struggle.

Dakota sat down beside him wordlessly, mimicking him and resting her head on the palm of her hand. Eric looked tired, he hadn't gone to ground the day before. "Just out of curiosity, do you have a plan? Or at least some idea on how we're going to kill Russell?"

"We?" he echoed, raising a brow. "I don't want you involved."

"I already am." she stated, and he knew she was right even if he didn't want to admit it. "And if you don't have a plan, I might have a one. It's crazy, though, and very dangerous but it's the only thing i've got. I don't even know if it is going to work, but it might be our best chance if we want to avoid a fight."

"And what could that possibly be?" he questioned, trying to hide a smile as he watched the girl before him.

Dakota hesitated for a moment, knowing how insane she must sound. "Remember how you told me that the blood of a fairy would allow someone like you to walk in the sun, even for just a moment?"

"No." he deadpanned. "Absolutely not, that is out of the question. Never going to happen."

"Eric," she expressed. "just let me finish." 

"There is nothing to finish, Dakota. You are not, under any circumstance going to give Russell Edgington, or anyone else, your blood."

"Will you just listen to me!" Dakota protested, a blush of anger appearing on her cheeks. Eric raised a single brow but kept his mouth shut, waiting for her to continue. "Russell doesn't know what I am, and he certainly doesn't know what my blood does, if it even does what you said it does. This is our advantage. If he goes outside while having drunk my blood, we can lock him out and he'll burn. No fight needed."

"I am not comfortable with this."

"Do you have anything better?" she tried, looking up at him. "You said it yourself, he is three thousand years old. You can't kill him just like that. Even with Godric or Pam, he is still older."

Eric gritted his teeth as he leaned toward her. "Do you expect him to just take the leap of faith and go out into the sun, knowing he could meet the true death if it doesn't work?"

Dakota blinked at him, leaning back into her chair. "You could do it with him. Go out, first. Come back inside before anything happens? Make him believe it? You said Bill did it, so it is possible."

"I will not drink your blood." he declared, face unreadable. "Not like that."

"Eric," she muttered. "it is worth the try. I don't want to see you get hurt."

"And I am supposed to let you get hurt?"

"He won't kill me." she shook her head. "You'll be there. I trust you."

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ERIC NORTHMAN DID NOT LIKE HER PLAN, HE DESPISED IT, BUT AS SHE SAID, IT WAS WORTH THE TRY. Russell was a strong vampire, stronger for him to handle and if he hadn't cared about Dakota it would have been a wonderful plan. He hated himself for it.

He was regretting it even more as he watched Russell circle around the woman, holding a glass urn with Talbot's bloody remains in it. He looked positively dangerous.

"Fairies?" he scoffed eyeing Eric for a moment. "You seriously expect me to believe she's a fairy? A species extinct for millennia? If they ever existed at all. Do you think I wouldn't notice if there were fairies bouncing around in the world?"

"I didn't say she was full fairy." Eric corrected him, arms crossed as he looked at Dakota with distaste, like he had done in Jackson. Pam and Godric had mimicked him, keeping up with the pretend. "She's a human-fairy hybrid, which helps save her from detection She may well be the last of her kind, your only chance to walk in the sun."

"Yeah, yeah." he rolled his eyes, placing Talbot's urn on the table.

"Drink her blood, you'll see." said Eric, challenging the oldest vampire in the room. 

"Now, that's just nuts!" Dakota glared, trembling in her seat as she tried to look as scared as possible. Though, she didn't need to try hard, Russell really did scare her. "Nothing in my blood is a supernatural sunscreen for ya'll. Why would you even think that?"

"Because our darling Bill," grinned Eric, and if only Dakota knew the truth. "Has drained your cousin, and was able to walk in the sun for a full day."

"What?" she gaped, tears forming in her eyes. "You're lying! Sookie's at home, I saw her only a few days ago."

"I can't force you to believe it." continued Eric, ignoring the woman with a wave of his hand as he turned back to face the king of Mississippi. "You'll have to see for yourself."

"Why are you doing this to me?" Dakota cried. "I didn't do anything to you. I trusted you! Even after everything in Jackson. I thought you cared about me."

"You're nothing but a whore I like keep around." Eric snarled. "I don't care about you, you're a filthy human and you will always be." Dakota's eyes widened, tears streaming down her face as she shook in her seat. Russell smiled gleefully as Eric continued, "If he develops a taste for your blood, he might let you live."

"I'm intrigued." A slow smile appeared on Russell's face as he moved his gaze from one to the other.

"I hate you! I hate all of you!"

"One one condition." began Russell. Here it was, they had been anticipating this and had their answers ready, having laid out multiple scenarios an hour prior.

"Whatever you want." agreed Eric.

"You go first."

Eric grinned, nodding his head as to seem excited. "I'd love to."

"Wonderful!" Russell clapped his hands together before glancing at his watch. "We have about three hours till sunrise I assume? Make sure she's ready when I get back, I have one last errand to run. If I find out this was a scam ... you're going to be very, very sorry. Do you hear me?"

"Of course," nodded Eric. "I'll see you before sunrise."

Russell brushed a strand of hair from Dakota's face and she turned her head with a look of disgust before he grabbing Talbot's urn and disappeared from the bar, door slamming shut behind him as he went off in the night sky. 

Dakota let out a big breath and Eric looked at her in concern, but she gave him a reassuring smile as he moved to her side, brushing a tear from her chin. 

"What if it doesn't work?" Pam demanded, worried for her makers life.

"Then we fight." said Godric, arms crossed. "We'll figure something out. He might be old, but there's more of us."

"I still think this is a bad idea." Pam shook her head. "It's not worth to risk your life for, Eric."

"You know I love you, right?" Eric asked, pressing a kiss to her forehead. "I just need you to trust me, okay? It's going to work." 

"I can't do this right now." Pam began, shaking her head. "I need to find a pretty brunette to bury my face in."

Godric raised his brows at her forwardness and they watched her disappear out the back door and into the night. "Son, I never told you how much I enjoy Pamela's vocabulary. It is quite entertaining. I will leave you two alone. We have a long day ahead of us." He gave Dakota a soft smile before he too, disappeared from sight.

"What a mess." she muttered, closing her eyes from the lack of sleep. 

"Look at me, Dakota." He grabbed her chin and met her dark eyes, and brushed his thumb over her cheek. Eric saw the hesitation behind her eyes and leaned down, crouching before her. "You don't have to do this. We can figure something else out."

"No, it's not that." she admitted, leaning into his hand. "I've been bitten by a vampire twice in my life. It hurt. A lot. I am not backing out. I'm just scared, about the pain."

Eric furrowed his brows before he pressed his lips to hers for a short moment. "I'm not going to hurt you. You won't feel a thing."

"I know, I trust you." she admitted. 

"Good," he muttered, lips brushing hers again.

Dakota leaned forwards, wrapping her arms around his neck as Eric stood to his full height, taking her with him and he smashed their lips together in a fervour kiss. It was harsh, teeth and all and she tugged at the blond hair at the nape of his neck. Eric let out a sound and she hadn't even noticed they were no longer in the bar when her back pressed against his office door.

His mouth trailed down to her jaw, nipping at her skin playfully. He took in all her little sounds, eating them up as her legs wrapped themselves around his waist, pulling him closer. His hands moved to her backside, squeezing it through his progeny's skirt. Dakota whimpered, throwing her head back to give him more access.

"Fuck, Eric."

He was so cold compared to herself and she welcomed it with open arms as her skin burned from pleasure. Dakota couldn't make a coherent thought as his lips moved against her jaw. God he felt good. His lips were like snowflakes on her skin. His right hand reached up to grab the back of her head, brushing his fingers through her hair.

Dakota was suddenly resting against a soft surface and she found herself on the black leather sofa. He hovered over her, his lips not leaving her skin once and she felt as if the wind had been knocked out of her, in a good way. 

"Please," she muttered, as he ground his hips onto hers.

Eric trailed his lips down to her throat before slowly pulling on the zipper of the skirt and sliding it down her legs. He tore open the buttons of her blouse and Pam was going to kill him for that, but he didn't care.

The woman watched, almost entranced, as his fingers moved along her inner thigh with feather light touches. It was difficult not to clench her legs together and he noticed, smug grin on his face as he nipped at her neck.

"Eric?"

"Mm?"

"Please touch me?" she breathed, hair sprawled around her head like a halo. Eric let out a chuckle and captured her lips in another kiss. His tongue traced her lower lip and she opened her mouth for him.

"I already am." he mused and Dakota pinched the skin on her arm to which he landed a slap on her thigh.

His lips began to trail down her jaw once more and toward her neck as he licked a stripe up her pulse point. Dakota gasped when his fingers hovered over the hem of her underwear and he slid his fingers beneath the cotton fabric, parting her folds and sliding a finger through her heat. Dakota squeezed his arm desperately as her mouth fell open in a low moan.

Eric's fangs slid from his gums as her hips bucked into his hand. 

"More," she demanded, eyes closed in bliss.

"My, my," he chortled, sliding his fangs over her skin carefully. "aren't we impatient? Do you know how intoxicating your scent is? I can't get enough of it." He took in a deep breath before pressing his thumb against her clit to which she whimpered. 

He was at her pulse point again, and she knew what he wanted. Eric would never break skin without her permission and he wasn't going to start now but he could smell her blood all he wanted.

"It's okay." she nodded, brushing her fingers through his hair. "I trust you."

"You keep saying that." he muttered.

"I know you want to, Eric. It's okay."  

The viking pushed himself up for a moment, hand resting beside her head while the other stilled his movements. He looked at her earnestly to see if there were any lies in her words, there weren't any. Dakota completely let herself be at his mercy and it made him feel good.

"No," he shook his head and Dakota let out a pathetic moan at his next words. "I want to be inside you when I do it."

Dakota's eyes rolled back as he slid a finger inside and kissed down her stomach, unhooking her bra with his free hand and helping her out of the piece of clothing. He moved back up for a moment to close his lips around her nipple. He released her breast and moved to the other one before leaving a trail of wet kisses down her stomach just above where she wanted him most.

Eric hooked his fingers through the waistband of her underwear and slid the soaking material down her legs. He grabbed the flesh of both her thighs, kneading the skin as he held eye contact before he pulled them apart.

"Gorgeous." he muttered to himself as his eyes moved to her bare lower half. "Look how pretty you are, all spread out like this."

"Jesus," Dakota felt her cheeks heat and tried to close her legs, but his grip on her was too strong and she couldn't even if she tried. "Please, Eric."

"So wet. Only for me, huh?" Dakota couldn't form words, knowing she'd sound like a pathetic little girl if she did so. Eric took notice and gave her a sly grin, leaning down as he licked a stripe up her heat without giving her a warning. "Just as sweet as I remembered."

His head was buried between her thighs, his mouth moving against her with a need for intimacy. Breathy moans fell from between her lips and it was music to his ears. Her hands moved to the back of his head and she couldn't help but tug at his hair as he slid a finger inside of her.

"Fuck, fuck." she whimpered, back arched as his tongue moved against her.

Eric slid in another finger and she could die right then and there, she wouldn't even mind. Hell, she wouldn't even notice. Opening her eyes and glancing down, she met his blue gaze and he grinned against her while moving his fingers with quick thrusts. Her orgasm was building fast, the ache between her thighs almost uncomfortable.

The vampire was uncomfortably hard against his jeans and he needed more.

"Come for me, pretty girl."

Her head was empty as she did, crying out his name as her orgasm washed over her like a heatwave. Eric didn't stop his assault, feeling her writhe underneath him as he helped her come down from her high. He chuckled lowly as her legs shook, and after a moment he removed his fingers, earning a whine from Dakota.

The woman was breathing loudly, chest rising and falling in quick breaths. He crawled back up her body, pulling his shirt over his head and throwing it with the rest of her clothes somewhere on the floor. Her gaze was hazy as she smiled up at him, hands moving toward his belt with shaky hands.

"I need to be inside of you." murmured Eric, caressing her cheek with his nose as she pushed his jeans down as best as she could. The vampire leaned back for a moment to kick them and his boxers off and she quickly wrapped her legs around his waist, pulling him to her.

"Always so impatient." he mused.

"Please, fuck me."

The ache between her thighs was building back up and she moved her hips to meet his. Eric didn't need to be told twice and he slid into her in one quick thrust. His lips captured her lips with his own to drown out her cries. Gods, he had missed the feeling of her walls clenching around him. Her nails dug into his arms almost painfully.

Eric grabbed her chin, moving her head to force her to make eye contact as he began to thrust slowly. He pulled out entirely, before slamming his hips back into hers. More pathetic whines fell from her mouth and he took it all.

"Gods, you feel so good." he sighed against her lips.

"Please, don't stop." Dakota whined, not being able to make a single coherent thought.

At that, Eric began to quicken his thrust, hitting her deeper than he had ever before. Dakota let herself succumb to the pleasure, feeling as if she was floating entirely. Eric didn't hide his own pleasure, his grunts sending shivers down her spine. The familiar feeling of her orgasm building was welcomed and she decided.

"Do it," she breathed. "it's okay."

Eric knew exactly what she meant and moved his lips back toward the side of her neck, finding her pulse point easily. Dakota closed her eyes tightly, holding onto him for support as he continued to meet her hips. Dakota's pulse was racing and he smiled against her skin, hands moving to cradle her head in comfort.

Dakota felt the edge of his teeth before a sharp pinch registered in her mind. It hurt, but the pain was quickly replaced by pleasure. God, this was pleasure she had never experienced before. It was too much, it was everywhere and she felt the blood within her buzz with a feeling she couldn't quite place. Her toes curled and each breath she released was a long moan of pleasure. Eric's name fell from her lips desperately.

Eric had never in his entire vampire existence tasted blood as good as hers. He could come just from the taste of her. Blood trickled from his mouth and down her neck, staining her skin and the sofa but they didn't care. Eric quickened his thrusts, and her orgasms hits her hard, blinding her for a moment. 

"Fuck, fuck, fuck." she muttered, eyes shut tightly as he slowed his movements.

He pressed his bleeding wrist to her lips and she opened her mouth lazily, feeling the metallic taste of his blood on her tongue. Dakota honestly didn't care, she barely even registered as she tried to recover. Eric watched the broken skin of her neck stitch itself closed and he licked another stripe up her skin, not wanting to waste any of her blood.

"God, you're beautiful." he completely stilled his movements, but didn't slip put just yet.

"Eric," Her eyes were still closed as she whispered.

"Did I hurt you?" he asked, concern taking over.

"No," she shook her head, meeting his gaze. "not at all. I have never felt anything like it. It was good, so good, Eric."

Eric smiled softly, wiping a lone tear from her cheek and she leaned into his touch. Her breathing had calmed down slightly and she felt content, blissful. The vampire moved his hand up and down her waist, leaving goosebumps in their wake while pressing soft kisses to her forehead.

Dakota wished they could stay like this forever, but they couldn't. It was almost morning, and they had to get ready to execute their plan.

this is literally the worst smut I have ever written, I wish I was good at it but alas. hope you enjoyed the chapter. ALSO I want to thank you all for 2.5 K votes and all the comments!!!! It means the world to me <3