“I believe it was long overdue, myself,” Sylvia sipped at her tea. “It’s a pity that Peter and Katherine are the parents whose blessing you seek. I would never say so to Vail out of respect for his bond with them, but his parents are horribly difficult people to get along with, especially his father. His mother is a rigid traditionalist just like Peter is, but at least she’s able to admit in private when her husband is wrong. If only she were brave enough to disagree with him to his face, she might help him realize that he’s made tradition into his god.”

She shook her head exasperatedly, “Peter believes he rules with fear, but it is fear that rules him. For all his physical prowess as a Hygrace, he stymies himself through his unwillingness to listen to new ideas to even humor the thought that his methods aren’t the best. My family has had relations with the Hygrace clan for centuries, so I’ve learned how to behave when he’s around… but that’s as a born vampire. I can only imagine how much time and effort it will take to win him over as a woman who was human until last week.” And that was if Peter was willing to accept the Crest heiress at all. Though she kept it to herself, Sylvia was unconvinced that Victoria would ever be looked at kindly by Vail’s father. She knew now that the other woman was the reason why Peter had tried to arrange her marriage with Vail in the first place. The drastic measures the Hygrace leader had taken to keep the couple apart spoke volumes about how little he thought of Lady Crest.

Still, the situation didn’t affect her directly, and she was far from an empath, so she brushed off the thought as they moved on to a more lighthearted subject. “It would, but from what I understand, the impulse is easier for our kind to ignore,” she answered thoughtfully. “We’re aware of it, but it isn’t consuming… If Vail hasn’t told you yet, our drives to reproduce are far lower than the average human’s because we live much longer and have more time on this earth to plan out when we wish to have children. Many of us remain unattached to a partner for centuries before settling down.”

Pausing, she took another pull from her tea and fixed her blue eyes on the firepit with an idle smile on her lips. “When I’ve faced my annual fertility window, there have been very few times in which I’ve needed to remove myself from a handsome man’s presence to keep myself from jumping him like an animal. It usually isn’t difficult to curb the desire, but if you really find sex tempting during those weeks, I’m sure you and Vail can come up with some creative outlets.” Another knowing wink chased the statement. “In any case, it’s nothing for you to worry about. You’re a clever girl, and I’m sure you’ll figure it out when the time comes.”

--

Vail nodded slowly when James answered his question. Because Victoria’s half-brother was a member of a powerful vampire clan, he hadn’t thought much about his human ancestry. He supposed it did make sense that James would be the best equipped to approach the Saints. Although he wasn’t sure how the slayer organization would react to a man who carried the blood of the creatures they had dedicated their lives to killing, they would probably have reservations about attacking him when he was half human too.

“That is a blessing,” he said amusedly. Compared to others of their kind, he’d honed his bloodlust until he was able to keep his composure around injured humans, but only if the injury was minor. As a pureblooded vampire, there was only so much he could do to suppress his own nature after all. “Well, I wish you the best of luck on your trip. If there is anything to be found among the Saints, it seems like you’re our best hope of uncovering it.” Assuming Ray and Gerald were actually alive, that was. He still wasn’t optimistic that the two men would be found unless they were corpses.

At Francois’s comment, Vail shot him a sideways glance and then turned back to James. It was interesting to hear more people volunteer support for him and Victoria, even if it was in a teasing manner. “Perhaps,” he mused. “I wonder whose wedding they’re planning though… I noticed Lady Sylvia took an interest in you.” He appreciated their acceptance of his relationship with Victoria, but he was still reluctant to speak much about his plans with her, so he changed the subject. Until he had more time to speak with his parents and try to warm them up to the idea of his desire to be with the new vampire forever, he preferred to keep his personal life to himself.