Despite Peter’s concerns, Vail had no trouble passing through the city that night. He caught a hint of silver on the wind only twice, though he didn’t see any Saints either time. The hunters were probably lying in wait at the taverns, completely unaware that their target had no intention of stopping by this time. Instead he was on his way to a safer spot, one far enough within the Crest’s private land that it was unlikely that he would be followed. Even though he was leaving his family’s manor more frequently now, it seemed his deal with Victoria had provided him with a more secure way to feed. As long as no one found his midnight strolls suspicious, there was no reason for anyone from the Order to attack him. It was rather freeing to feel so untouchable.

The walk to the summer house was quick and uneventful. Vail found the wrought iron gate in front of the property unlatched and slipped inside after double checking to make sure no one was tailing him. The streets were quiet, and he didn’t detect anything unusual among the scents in the air, so he decided it was safe to assume he was alone. No longer needing to look over his shoulder as frequently, he traveled at a brisker pace through the trees on the estate, following his memory of where the lodge was located.

After a few minutes, the familiar building came into sight. He could see a light flickering steadily in the window, and he smiled to himself. It seemed he wasn’t the first to arrive. Eager to get on with the meeting, he made his way toward the front door, but then faltered when he saw a figure near the entrance. The stranger was downwind of him, so he wasn’t sure who it was, but he didn’t want to be spotted trespassing in any case.

Smoothly, Vail stepped off the trodden path to hide in the shadow of a nearby tree, waiting to see what the man would do. His hand idly wandered to the pistol at his waist. If it was the same Saint who’d shot him before, he had every intention to return the favor. However, in the next moment, he relaxed as he heard the stranger call out something about tea through the door. It was the same voice he’d heard at Victoria’s party—a family servant, no one to be concerned about. He let his hand fall to his side.

Luckily, it didn’t take long before the butler walked back to the manor. Once he passed out of sight, Vail waited for a minute longer in his hiding place to be sure the man was gone before he continued on his way to the lodge.

Since Victoria was expecting him, he didn’t bother to knock as he pulled open the door and stepped inside. The summer house looked warmer with a lantern burning on the table. The soft colors of the furniture were more visible in the low light, and the smell of tea gave the room a homey atmosphere. It was certainly an unusual space to get on with their dark dealing.

Vail’s gaze drifted to the Lady, whom was dressed rather elaborately for the occasion, he noticed. The red dress she wore hugged the curves of her body in an enticing way, beckoning his eyes to follow the contours of her hips and chest like the work of a skilled artist. He pondered over where he would draw her blood from this time. She nearly seemed to be challenging him by exposing so much of her shoulders and upper back. If he wanted to get to any part of her that wouldn’t be seen by someone else, he would have to peel away quite a bit of fabric from the more tender parts of her figure. He traced his tongue across his teeth at the thought.

“Did you chase off your opponent?” he asked, referencing the chess board in front of her as he shut the door behind him. Having never preyed on someone in an arrangement quite like this, he was still trying to figure out how to navigate the situation. Small talk was a good way to start, right? It was at least better than springing on her like a wild animal.

He crossed the room to sit on the chaise lounge by Victoria’s side, his hazel eyes sweeping over her attractive body in a wolfish fashion. “This is certainly the most [i]intricate[/i] setup I’ve ever hunted in…” he mused absently. “The tea is a nice touch.”