Eric relies on Sookie’s affection for Bill when Bill goes missing along with a valuable project he was working on for their queen, and he sends werewolf Alcide Herveaux to escort her to Jackson in search of her missing lover. Once again, he shows up on the scene loosely disguised as Leif, coming to Sookie’s aid when she is staked at Club Dead. They are taken to the King of Mississippi’s mansion so she can be healed, and after she confirms that Bill is there, Eric finds her transportation so that she can rescue Bill during the day and escape. In the meantime, Eric spends his time with an adorable vampire named Bernard who has taken a shine to the big Viking. Eric plays along to help facilitate their plan. While Eric drives Sookie back to Bon Temps, the two are attacked first at a gas station by thugs (hired by a biker gang involved with Bill’s captivity) and then by the gang members themselves at Sookie’s home. As payment for Sookie’s services, Eric has her entire driveway repaved.

A witch coven composed mainly of shifters who drink vampire blood comes to Shreveport to try to take over Eric’s business network. He refuses the coven leader’s offer of a better deal if he pleases her sexually and is cursed with amnesia when Chow attacks the witch who delivers the offer. Frightened, confused, and alone, he finds himself running down the road toward Sookie’s house early New Year’s morning and is taken in by a sympathetic Sookie. Jason makes a deal with Pam and Chow for Eric to remain at Sookie’s house as a paying guest while the witches are dealt with, and Eric and Sookie begin a brief, passionate affair. The witches are defeated in a joint effort by the local vampires and local Weres, and Eric and Sookie return to her house because his memory hasn’t yet returned. Upon entering the back door, they are surprised to find Debbie Pelt waiting for them with a gun. Eric steps in front of Sookie to take the bullet, giving Sookie time to grab a shotgun and blow most of Debbie’s head off. Eric disposes of the body and Debbie’s car while Sookie cleans up the mess. He returns in time to kiss her good night and climb into the hidey-hole in her guest room closet. By the time he awakens the next night, his memory is restored, but he has no recollection of what happened while he had amnesia, although he suspects it was more than a simple stay-over at Sookie’s.