“I see,” Vail mused contemplatively when Victoria finally confessed what she and Sylvia had been talking about. It was a valid thing to be concerned about, and even he had no idea what a breeding cycle would be like for a human-turned-vampire. He knew enough about females of his own born kind to consider himself at least decently educated, but he didn’t want to assume that his lover would operate the same way when he had no evidence to back it up. The tome he’d left in London would be a valuable asset to them if James was able to find it and bring it north. With any luck, it would contain some of the answers they were looking for within its many pages.

At the mention of marriage, he planted a kiss on her cheek. “That shouldn’t be a hang up for much longer,” he murmured in her ear. Despite his parents’ lack of approval, he knew what he wanted, and he wasn’t going to allow them to be the reason he didn’t propose to the Crest heiress.  He was still planning to speak with them in one last effort to change their minds, since he did desire their support, but ultimately, it was his decision to choose who he would marry. Plus, he already had her family’s consent. Her mother had made it clear that she just wanted her daughter to be happy, and even her estranged relatives were obviously in favor of their union. They weren’t on an island of their own without anyone on their side, so he felt confident in his intention to ask her to be his wife as soon as the timing felt right.

Addicted to the way she responded to his machinations, a smile formed on Vail’s lips when Victoria leaned into his chest. “It’s a relief,” he answered her question honestly, idly exploring her bare body by touch while he spoke. “I enjoyed drinking your blood, but I enjoy you more for your company. Now that I’m not distracted by the urge to bite you, I can focus on all the aspects I like the most…” With the sultry remark, he swept an arm behind her knees to pick her up and carry her over to the bed. There was a part of him that knew he was going to miss the effects of her blood when he came down from the high of draining her completely one week ago, but until the withdrawal hit, he was glad that he could be with her without the nagging desire to sink his fangs into her neck. For now, he only cared about celebrating the fact that she’d come back to him from death.

Laying her down, he hovered over her and pressed his lips to hers, eager to take advantage of the fact that they were finally alone. He’d been waiting for most of the evening to have her to himself, and he wasted no time unfastening the rest of the buttons on his shirt and tossing the garment onto the floor.