Victoria felt silly for stumbling on her first step. She was a fully grown adult learning how to walk again. Walking was as natural as breathing. [i]'Come on you can do this..'[/i] She told herself. She smiled up at Vail as he held her up in his arms. She still couldn't believe this man was her lover. Ever since he became obsessed with her blood and she had seduced him in the tavern. She never imagined him caring about her in the way that he did now. She thought he had only wanted her for her blood but that had clearly changed over time. She wasn't sure when their predator, victim relationship changed from purely physical to something deeper, felt by the heart, but she was glad it did.

The Hygrace heir now called her his 'love'. That made her heart swell with affection for Vail. She could really see him as her husband, the way he cared for her now. The way they had worked together as a team against the Wynters. They would be a strong couple with a strong bond. Maybe even stronger than Peter and Katherine. Now Victoria could live as long as Vail, they could potentially become the next clan power couple, maybe even over the entire country. The Hygraces had lost some credibility to losing against the Wynters recently. They needed to regain its influence over the other clans. But they were not alone, they now had the Moncourier clan as allies thanks to Victoria's blood relation to them with her half-brother. Without their aid, they might have all died in London that fateful night. 

She took another step, feeling stronger with resolve now that she had Vail's support and she knew he'd never let her fall, not now and not ever again. Then another step. She was determined to walk on her own by the end of the day. She needed to get the muscles moving and her new blood pumping around her body to make it function. She was now doing it, her body started to react, refueling itself as fast as she used energy. She felt as though she had taken several cups of coffee at the same time. It was a strange feeling of adrenaline. She felt like she could even be running by tomorrow.

Victoria grasped Vail's hand and squeezed it, which was a lot harder than her human strength. She did not know her own strength right now and would have to adjust. She did not yet feel that bloodthirst hunger, which was a good thing for her blood phobia. She then took another step and another after quick succession. "I'm doing it, Vail!" She seemed excited to make progress, then took three more steps before collapsing into his arms again. But she laughed about it. Vail was her rock, he was still alive, she was still alive miraculously after the transformation. She had a lot to be thankful for and positive about even in their time of hiding.