Victoria couldn’t see Vail’s reaction in the dark, but she could sense the tension as soon as she asked the question. There was a pause before he answered. This meant it wasn’t a positive answer. She somewhat regretted asking the vampire now, but her curiosity couldn’t help but wonder. She was a seeker of knowledge. Knowledge was power. She held the bed covers over her shoulders as she snuggled down into it for more warmth. 

As expected, the Wynters had attacked the Hygrace clan before. She suspected as much. It was an obvious sore spot for him and his father. It was true she hated being the subject of the father and son’s arguments today, it was clear Vail was uncomfortable being at odds with his father. She was the same when she was at odds with her father when he was alive. 

Learning of what the Wynters had done to the Hygrace clan, left a sour taste in her mouth. She knew they were capable of despicable things. She positively cringed as he said that another way to kill vampire was by decapitation. They thought themselves higher and mightier than all other clans and when a clan didn’t quite match up to their standards, it was ‘off with their heads!’ just as the Queen of Hearts would yell in her favourite book as a child, Alice in Wonderland. 

The incident was only 130 years ago, to a vampire that was only the equivalent to a decade to a human. It would still be fresh in their minds. She felt bad for the family. She knew what they were going through, as her family were now the victims of their wrath. Her father was most likely caught up in it all and when he found out, he refused to let The Order team up with them. He paid the price for not matching up to their standards. She knew all too well the Wynters would put their thirst for power above everything else. She detested them also.

She looked over at Vail solemnly. “Thank you for telling me…I know it wasn’t easy to dredge up painful memories.” She nodded as he assumed the Wynters would try again. “They are almost certainly trying again. They are building their power on MY blood.” She hissed at the thought that her blood was making them stronger. “According to The Order, they are coming to London within the month. I need to get better…and stronger by then.” She had no idea how she could get stronger in a short period but she would try. She wasn’t going to just sit there and let the Wynters take her estate. She owed it to her father. 

“As for your father…I doubt he’ll come around any time soon. If I can make it worth his while though, I might be able to get him to at least tolerate me. Which is better than pure contempt for me…” She sighed as she felt her eyes drawing heavier. It was evident Peter tried his hardest to keep Vail away from her by arranging the marriage to another lady vampire. To get on Peter’s good side, she could find out more from The Order when she leaves for home and tell him everything she knows to at least pre-warn them into any impending attack from the Wynters. She knew Vail was already on her side but getting his entire family on board was no easy feat, but she was wiling to at least put in the effort. All for Vail Hygrace, the man who had stolen her heart.