Victoria nearly jumped as Vail jogged to her side and said he would walk her home. This was most unexpected of him. He didn’t seem to care at all earlier, yet he did now. Perhaps a part of her words got through to him in the end. She kept quiet for a few moments but then glanced at him. “Thank you..” She reluctantly replied sheepishly. She didn’t feel like he deserved it having just fed on her and nearly leaving her to the wolves, but he seemed to dislike ungratefulness as much as she did. They had something in common there. So, she would at least make him feel that his gesture was in fact appreciated by the stubborn Lady. But there was no way she was apologising for her attitude, the only thing she felt bad for was outing him in public that maybe attracted that Saint to the vampire in the first place. But she had corrected that problem by stopping the Saint from killing him. And she would do so again and again. For her father’s bargain with the Hygraces. She was nothing by honourable and loyal to her father’s cause. Even if she had to go it alone.

It wasn’t a long walk back to her manor yet in complete awkward silences, it would feel like hours. She decided to strike up some light-hearted conversation to lessen the tension between them. “So…how old [i]are[/i] you? If you don’t mind my asking. But I have never met a talkative vampire before...” This was evident that she didn’t really know if Spencer was a vampire or not. Talkative was an overstatement on Vail’s part, as she noticed he was a man of very few words. Therefore, she knew he would only say things if they were worth saying. That way, she knew he was a genuine person beneath that colder exterior. One who wasn’t two faced or fake much like the other nobles. And also by talkative she meant a vampire that wasn’t trying to rip her throat out in a frenzy. 

She wondered what the rest of the Hygraces were like too. He mentioned his father, he must be quite a powerful vampire as head of a clan. He didn’t say his father’s name at the ball, yet she presumed it must have been Peter since he mentioned their fathers met once or twice. Alex had mentioned Peter a few times, having discussed their truce. She wondered if Vail’s life was lonely since he wasn’t seen with anyone at her party and was out two nights in a row by himself, signified he didn’t have a long lie mate. Or whatever the vampire couples referred to themselves as. Did they even hunt together like a pack of wolves or were they solitary hunters like a cat?

“I noticed you don’t bring anyone out with you…is it just you - no wife or children?” She realised it was an incredibly personal question to ask and immediately apologised. “My apologies that was too forward of me. I’m…just eager to learn everything about the world my father lived in.” She sighed, knowing that as much as she read everything it wasn’t the same as hearing someone’s experiences or actually living in that world for herself. This may give Vail a clue to why she was out here each night by herself. She was [i]trying[/I] to learn to be like her father. However futile, she didn’t give up even knowing how unskilled and unready she was. Even knowing her blood was a prime target, she showed courage. If only she had that courage to get rid of Spencer without it backlashing against her mother. He pretty much had her to ransom. How he said she might not have a lot of time left with her mother, the way he said it, chilled her to the core. She was trapped. And only the Hygrace family may be able to help stop the encroaching Wynters upon the Crests. Alex was gone and it fell to Victoria to defend the family alone. 

Although she knew he may not take her up on the offer being she was a Crest, however she offered information anyway. “Feel free to ask me anything you want.” She had nothing to really hide from Vail. He knew as much as everyone else in town did and more. Engaged to a wealthy weapons dealer who happened to be a Wynter. The match was a little too convenient after Alex’s death. Victoria had an inkling Spencer may have had something to do with it in order to get to her family’s wealth. Then again as Vail kept telling himself, it was ‘none of his concern’….