Cool fingers brushed over my temple and the smoky, dulcet tones of a calm voice called me back to consciousness. "Sookie?"

My eyes fluttered open to meet a very concerned Godric hovering over me. "Where…where am I?" I was on a couch in some sort of library.

"We're in my study. It's next to my office. You fainted."

"You…Oh my god, you're a – !"

"Calm down. You're perfectly safe with me."

"But you…Do you bite people?"

"I require very little blood these days. I am well over two thousand years old."

"Get the fuck out!" My hand flew to my mouth, shocked that I had dropped the F-bomb in front of my boss and someone claiming to be older than Jesus Christ.

"I apologize. I should have gone about that differently. This company – our work here – we are developing blood substitutes so that vampires can finally come out of the shadows. If we are visible to humans and can prove we are not a threat, then we will be held accountable to them and they to us."

"I thought fairies were like little people with pointy ears and wings." Godric smirked. Obviously they were not. "Will they come out too?"

"No, I doubt very much that they will. They are the most secretive of all supernatural creatures and this realm has become too polluted for pure fairy to live here for any substantial length of time. Even a mostly human hybrid such as yourself is unbelievably rare. Your scent took me by surprise."

"So you were sniffing me!"

"I apologize. Vampires use all of our heightened faculties to understand the world around us, including our sense of smell."

"What else is there?"

"Elves and gnomes are cousins to your people, but they too have fled. Trolls were sadly lost to the ages. They were a gentle, misunderstood kind. Some of the old gods still roam this world, but they do not reveal themselves. There are werewolves and other two-natured beings still among us."

It was too much to process. "I can't believe I'm a fairy."

"And a fairy princess to boot. We should celebrate. May I take you to dinner this evening?"

I balked. "You realize I'm not hearing that the same as you, right?"

Godric chuckled and his laughter shined in his eyes. The truth was in his eyes, I realized. They were ancient and knowing and relieved. He was relieved to have met her, pleased to have a change of pace in what was apparently a very long life.

Though he could not read minds himself, it was almost as if he had. "Come, Ms. Stackhouse. Let us toast to what I hope will be a fruitful and very long collaboration. We have a lot of work to do."

He stood and extended his hand. After a split second of deliberation, I took it. He brushed my knuckles with a kiss and his sea green eyes reassured me. I would never regret this promotion.

"Will you tell me more about this great-grandfather fairy of mine?" I asked, excited about the prospect of having more kin.

"Of course. I will tell you all that I know, though it will take many, many years. Would you like that?"

"More than anything," I said, somehow knowing his offer ran deeper than the simple words he used.

"And I should tell you of my son, Eric. He will join us soon and I know he is looking forward to making your acquaintance."

"You have a boy?"

"No. I have a thousand year old Viking progeny," he corrected. "And now I have a fairy princess." I twined my arm in the crook of his proffered elbow and he pressed the elevator button for the basement.

A/N: Thanks for reading. Please leave a comment if you have a moment! I love to hear from you! xx, Melusine