All of them had wounds that needed to be attended to, but the three men opted to have a few celebratory mugs of ale first. Victoria wanted nothing but to find a bed and sleep. So tired. She was so tired. And tomorrow, they would start again and go after Sebastian. And come face-to-face with Lilith. Her mind whirled and churned as she used a basin of hot water to wash away much of the gritty blood and grime. Then, her back still aching from the deep slash of claws, she tottered to the narrow pallet and was asleep before she knew it. Max was with the others. Safe, only one floor below her. She could sleep. Sometime near dawn, she woke to a presence in the room. At first, she tensed, reaching for a weapon, waiting to see if her neck felt chill to determine if it was stake or blade that she needed…but then she realized who it was and relaxed. She felt the narrow bed shift with his weight and the comfort of his warm body ease into the narrow space on the bed behind her. His hand slimmed down over the curve of her side as though to ensure himself she was truly there, and then, tucking her head under his chin and his arm around her belly, he settled, warm and solid, against her.
