Inside the White Hart, Vail picked out his target right away, a blonde woman this time who was sitting at the counter. He didn’t even bother searching the tavern for a more appetizing scent. At this point, he just wanted to feed and go home, so he could get some proper rest without feeling the constant drive to hunt. He rolled his shoulders, wincing faintly as his wound smarted at the motion. Though the pain had dulled considerably over the course of the day, it still irritated him, so he wanted to recover as quickly as he could. Having his fill of this Lady’s blood would certainly help speed up the process.

Eyeing her discreetly, he edged toward the bar, intending to strike up a conversation with her until she grew too dazed from his pheromones to resist being lured away. However, before he had a chance to say a word, he halted in his tracks as a new smell practically assaulted his senses, one that was both intoxicating and bewildering in its familiarity. The Crest heiress was somewhere nearby, and it wasn’t just her perfume he could perceive. It was that rich blood that seemed to always tempt him recently.

Already, he could feel his mouth beginning to water as he looked around the tavern for the Lady. It didn’t look like she was in the room though. [i]Outside... She must be outside.[/i] His gaze wandered to the door. In the back of his head, an alarm went off, warning him that he shouldn’t chase after her again after she’d led him to that hunter yesterday. However, the overpowering aroma was more convincing. He couldn’t stand it. As dangerous as it was, he had to feed on that enticing blood.

The last of his willpower fled as he made his way back to the front of the building and out onto the street, where it was easier to track Victoria now that he was away from the tangle of other smells in the White Hart. Right away, he traced her to a nearby alley, but as he followed her trail, he picked up another scent that made him bristle. It seemed a vampire of the Godding family had found her first. Somehow, knowing that someone else was after the same prey that he was just enraged him even more. He wasn’t going to stand by and let another vampire feast on her blood before he did. He’d waited too long to lose his chance.

Rounding the corner into the alley, Vail saw that the Godding had already trapped Victoria and was about to make her into his meal. With no time to think, he rushed at the other vampire, landing a blow to his jaw that knocked him away from his prey. The Godding reeled back, turning on him with a glare and then faltering as he seemed to realize who he was up against. It was well known amongst their kind that the Hygraces were the ruling clan for a reason.

Vail matched him with a glower of his own. Though he had no intention of fighting the other vampire to the death—he was a protector of his own, not a murderer—he would certainly hold his ground if the Godding continued to pursue Victoria.

Fortunately, the rival seemed to have enough sense to back down. His eyes flicked to the Lady on the ground once more before he let out a frustrated scoff and fled.

Vail watched him go, waiting until he disappeared from sight before he turned back to Victoria. With his competition out of the way, there was nothing to stop him from preying on her now. The thought excited him, and he moved quickly as he got down to restrain her before she could get back up to her feet. Pinning her wrists to the ground, he leaned over her and rested his mouth against her neck. Her skin was warm with the alluring blood that was just beneath the surface. He couldn’t wait to have it.

“I think you still owe me a [i]taste[/i],” he whispered by her ear, his upper lip pulling back as he bared his fangs just before he moved to sink them into her neck.