The estate door clicks shut behind Vaela as she steps inside, heels clicking softly on the marble floor. She barely has time to take a breath when…
"You're alive!"
Lilith launches at her from the shadows of the hallway like a particularly affectionate missile. Vaela squeaks in surprise as arms wrap tightly around her waist.
"I had bets against that," Lilith mutters as she clings to her like a jungle cat. "Let me see your neck."
Before Vaela can object, Lilith is already tilting her head to the side, inspecting her throat with the scrutiny of a jeweler examining a rare diamond.
"No bite marks… so far, so good…" she mumbles.
"Hey!" Vaela chuckles, squirming. "I'm fine. He didn't drink me, seduce me, or brainwash me. I still hate his guts... mostly."
Lilith narrows her eyes and places two fingers on Vaela's temples. "Do you know your name? The date? The square root of seventy-two?"
Vaela rolls her eyes. "Seriously?!"
