Taking a chance, she wrapped her arms around Victorija and just held her tightly. It was probably the first time someone had hugged her in decades, if not centuries. Daisy knew she was taking a huge risk, cuddling one the most vicious vampires close to her neck, but she had to trust that this tormented soul was ready to receive help.

They lay like that for a good ten or fifteen minutes before Victorija rolled to the side, groaning in pain.

“What do you need, tell me?”

“Blood, one of the blood packs, and Anka’s potion.”

Daisy hurried over to the bag Victorija had packed and fell to her knees. Victorija’s bite was calling on her to provide the blood Victorija clearly needed. She took some big breaths and pushed back to her feet.

When she turned and saw how much pain Victorija was in, she said, “I can’t do this.” She kneeled at the side of the bed and said softly, “Torija, Torija?”

Victorija didn’t even protest the name this time. She lifted her head, and this time her eyes were red from the tears she had shed. Daisy brushed the messy dark blond hair from her eyes.

“Torija, I want you to feed on me. This can’t go on.”

“No,” Victorija spluttered. “I don’t trust myself. If I get one taste, or slightly better, I might harm you, and I’ll have broken the only vow I’ve ever wanted to keep. Give me the blood bag.”

Daisy handed it over, and Victorija drank from it, but only managed half.

“Now the potion.”

“What is this stuff?” Daisy asked.

“Something Anka made for me. It makes the symptoms more bearable.”

“Is there anything else I can get you?” Daisy glanced down at Victorija’s arm and saw the green in her veins was now halfway up her forearm. “What is that?”

Victorija flexed her arm. “I don’t know. It just started to appear. I assumed it was a symptom of the blood sickness, but I don’t remember my father having this.”

“It’s spreading, isn’t it.”

“Yes, but let’s not dwell on that. Come and talk to me, tell me about your life, about Monster Hunters, about what ordinary life is like.”

“If you like.” Daisy got up and went back to her position on the bed. Victorija turned around and faced her. “You should take my blood, Torija. You’re no good to me so ill that we can’t travel.”

Victorija reached out with a finger and pulled Daisy’s necklace from between her breasts. Daisy’s nipples hardened at Victorija’s touch. This was a great time for her body to be turned on.