When Victoria confirmed with a nod that she wanted to try standing, Vail leaned away from her to give her some space. Though she had been dead for the last week, he was optimistic that she would make a swift recovery from all she had endured. His kind was known for their resilience to physical trauma. They could bounce back even after being shot or stabbed after they had some rest. Now that she was a vampire too, he was optimistic that she would recuperate without any trouble. Once she was well enough to feed on human blood, she would hopefully reach her full strength within a day or two as well.

Allowing her the room to get out of bed, he rose from his chair but remained close enough that she could use him for support as she touched her feet to the floor. He monitored her carefully with his hazel eyes, taking note of the shakiness in her movements. That was to be expected with the muscle atrophy that had taken place after he’d drained all her blood, but he remained attentive in case her legs weren’t stable enough to hold her weight yet. They didn’t need her ending up on the ground because she wasn’t ready to stand up right away.

Apparently his decision was a good one, because as soon as the Crest heiress attempted to take a step, he found her in his arms. Steadily, he braced himself and pulled her in to keep her from stumbling any further. She was weaker than he’d thought, but at least she had managed to hold herself upright for a few seconds. Seeing her struggle to walk was far better than keeping watch over her lifeless body, unsure if she would ever return to him.

“That’s it, my love,” he encouraged her gently, planting a kiss on her cheek while he held her up. Even if she could only handle taking a few steps at first, progress was progress. Her disused limbs would need practice to regain their former strength. “Try taking two steps if you can. I’ll be right here if you need help. I won’t let you fall.”