Vivian woke in the dark surprised to find herself free of pain and able to think clearly. She pushed herself up in the bed and looked around slowly, noting River's sleeping form in a nearby chair. She had no memory of returning to Havenhold. Alert, she padded quietly out of the room.<br/><br/>---<br/><br/>Mab sat surrounded by her court. She was in a foul mood and the tardiness of the audience she was expecting was only making it worse. She tapped her neatly trimmed nails on her knee and pressed her lips together in a thin firm line.  When Astaroth and his mate finally arrived she didn't bother to stand. While she loved Lillianna like a daughter, she had little patience for the demon boy.<br/>"You are welcomed under my roof Lillianna." She deliberately left Astaroth out of her greeting. "Please, state  your business here."<br/><br/>---<br/><br/>Jade reached across the bed for Damon only to find that she was alone in the bed. Sitting up, she immediately found Damon's gaze on her. "So about that talk we were supposed to have..." She laughed when he crawled on top of her and kissed her fiercely. "Damon, please, I'm serious now."