Victoria’s bright smile coaxed a similar expression out of Vail as he sat down beside her, though his was characteristically more subdued. Although his bloodlust remained at the forefront of his mind, it was good to see her enchanting face again. His eyes swept over her features, from her blue irises to her high cheekbones to the shape of her soft, upturned lips. It had not been objectively long since the last time they had seen each other, but to be with her in person rather than in his occasional idle thoughts was something he had missed. He was also pleased to know that she was in good enough condition to sport a cheerful mood.

As she presented the injuries on her fair limbs, he nodded slowly. While he was supportive of her intent to better defend herself against the Wynters, part of him was mildly concerned that she would become too cocky and bite off more than she could chew when the rival vampires attacked. After they had first met, she had confronted him more than once with nothing more than a silver weapon that she didn’t know how to use. Her bravery was both inspiring and worrisome, since he knew it could also get her into trouble if she wasn’t careful.

“Yes, I saw her at the door when I was leaving,” he replied to her question, leaning forward to rest his forearms on his knees with his hands clasped loosely in front of him. As he spoke, his gaze tracked the motion of her glistening legs and the loll of her exposed neck in a wolfish fashion. The Crest heiress may not have had the ability to captivate him with pheromones, but her seductive body still hypnotized him like a snake to a charmer. Behind closed lips, he traced his tongue hungrily over the edge of his teeth.

“Hell will freeze over before my father changes his mind,” he confirmed her suspicion, reaching out to caress her tantalizing neckline with the backs of his fingers. The longer he stayed by her side, the harder it became to ignore his urge to make her his prey. He couldn’t help grooming her for the bite as his willpower began to slip.

At her following question, a wicked smile crossed his lips. “Of course I did, my lady,” he purred, sliding down from the edge of the chair to kneel beside the tub. With one hand, he brushed her hair aside so he could press a kiss to her cheek before he murmured in her ear, “Did [i]you[/i] miss me?”