“Yes, but that’s my fault as well,” Vail asserted when Victoria protested that she was causing trouble for his family. The scent of her blood was driving his cousins mad, but he was the one who had decided to bring her into his home, regardless of the consequences. Perhaps it was selfish—he knew firsthand how intoxicating the aroma could be—but he didn’t care. If it meant she would be safe, his relatives would just have to put up with her presence in their manor until he could figure out what to do with her from here.

As she went on to speak about his family and the fact that she would only live for a fraction of his lifespan, he said nothing. It was true that his father would never accept her, nor would he approve if Vail wanted to marry her. The Hygraces didn’t view humans in the same oppressive light as the Wynters did, but they didn’t see them as equals either. It would have been disgraceful if word got out that the heir to the estate had developed feelings for his prey.

Additionally, if he managed to survive whatever dangers arose by staying with her, it was also true that they would only be together for a few decades at the most while his relationship with his family would be marred for far longer if not permanently severed. It was quite a risk to take, and just the thought of being estranged from all the people he was closest to made his heartbeat quicken with apprehension. Losing the support of his relatives would be both emotionally straining and potentially damning, since he would no longer have the protection that came with being part of the Hygrace clan. However, losing Victoria would be worse. He cared about his family, but she made him feel more alive than anything or anyone else in his two centuries on this earth. That was something worth fighting for.

“Just rest,” he murmured, pointedly avoiding the subject since he couldn’t refute any of the claims that made her feel so stressed. Now wasn’t the time to argue about it anyway. At the moment, his main concern was ensuring that she would be able to recover from the damage done by Spencer and the cold.

Almost as soon as the words left his lips, Vail looked up at the sound of his doorknob rattling. Peter had returned, looking slightly more disheveled after fending off his frenzied cousins. The clan leader paused by the door and narrowed his eyes at the sight of his son so close to the human in his bed. Now that he knew the nature of their relationship, he didn’t want the two anywhere near each other.

“I told you to leave her treatment to me, Vail,” he reiterated curtly, striding across the room to continue tending to his mortal patient.

The younger Hygrace wavered for a moment before he reluctantly disentangled his fingers from Victoria’s and removed himself from the bed. He disliked how easily his father could get between them, but as long as she was in need of medical attention, he had to comply.

Peter resumed his work right away. Carefully, he slipped one arm behind the Crest heiress’s shoulders to raise her upright on the mattress. With the other, he piled a few pillows behind her back to give her support, so she could sit high enough to drink the tea he’d asked Vail to bring for her without spilling it on herself. Picking the cup up from the table, he held it in front of her with a clinical frown, “This will regulate your internal temperature. Can you hold it by yourself, or do you need me to help you?”