Victoria frowned. “So…he IS a Wynter….I knew it…” He fears had been confirmed. Vail knew exactly who Spencer was. In fact, Vail knew a lot more than she did. He would be a valuable font of information she sorely needed. Thus it would be vitally important to make allies of the Hygraces and perhaps an ally of Vail himself. With the promise of her blood as a reward if she had to. 

He asked her if her father knew about Spencer. She shook her head. “No. Father would never choose a Wynter for me. Truthfully, my father didn’t choose him. My mother did. And if he is a vampire, then he could easily sway a human woman such as her. I suppose that’s how he weaselled his way in. Upon thinking it further...it wouldn’t surprise me if he had something to do with my father’s death.” She gave the most long drawn out sigh as they approached the Crest’s manor gate. She turned to Vail to bid him a farewell and to give her gratitude of walking her back to her home. Perhaps he did have a good heart deep down beneath that cool exterior. But at least now she understood why he had to be so distant to humans. And the fact he had no vampiric partner suggested that perhaps the vampires were a little on the thin side of the population. 

“Well, having this chance to converse more with you has been quite pleasurable, Lord Griffiths.” She gave him a small wink using his fake last name he gave her. Plus, if any Saints were around, they wouldn’t hear the Hygrace name being thrown around so casually. “It must be lonely for you though…living all that time…away from people. “ She felt pity for him in that regard whereas he pitied her situation with the Wynters. Maybe that was why he went to the party. No wonder he was so brilliant at dancing, he had plenty of time to practice.  

“I have no idea what the Wynters are up to. But I [i]will[/i] find out.” She opened the metal gate quietly to not alert her mother indoors to strange activity outside. She turned to go inside her estate when she stopped. “Although…” She turned back to face Vail. “My father did uphold his end of the bargain with your family….I do plan to honour the same truce between our families in his stead.” She revealed her promise would continue between the Crests and Hygraces at least. It was her way of showing gratitude to them for not killing humans. She knew their predator instincts were a natural part of life. At least they showed regard for preserving the human race. 

There was a hint of longing in her eyes as she gazed at him. She looked lost, curious, with a desire to learn everything about this supernatural world and yearned for more in this miserable life that she was subjected to as a future Wynter, through no choice of her own. Although she was Vail’s prey, and he had fed on her sweet nectar, she still regarded him in a positive light. Maybe even an ally with a common enemy. Perhaps it was that lingering feeling that he was so intoxicatingly close to her just minutes earlier. She had never felt such exhilaration from a vampire’s pheromones before. She had no idea when she’d run into Vail again, so she’d make this moment count. 

“Vail…I-…I’m sorry for yesterday in the tavern. I was angry and I let my emotions rule me that night.” Obviously, she meant giving his name away that caused the Saint to attack. “How is your shoulder?” She asked, knowing he was injured there. This was also curiosity asking as she didn’t know how fast vampires healed or anything much about their physiology.