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For someone who prefers solitude, it sure seemed the opposite. Gideon kept the thought to himself.

“I swear I’m not swimming tonight. I was hunting for fireflies, and I was on my way home when I saw you pass the alley,” Clover said, side-eying Gideon suspiciously. “Is that blood?” Clover took a step back.

“No, no, it’s wine. We were drinking some wine down by the pier, and he dropped it all over himself,” Aerin lied, blocking him with her body so the fae child wouldn’t see his torn, bloody shirt.

Gideon stared down at her. She’s protecting me. She could have turned me over to the law for attempting to break into the blood bank and get me out of her hair, but she didn’t. Her motives are fascinating.

“And you are?” Clover blushed.

It didn’t matter how much society might have evolved; the mere sight of vampires still enamoured people. It didn’t matter that he was covered in blood, his stained shirt stuck to every muscle. Staring down at himself, some more blood would fill him out nicely.

“Gideon, a pleasure to make your acquaintance. I’m sorry that I startled you with my appearance.” He bowed.

Aerin grabbed his hand and nudged him to stand upright.

What can be so wrong about polite manners? He glared at her, unsure what he had done wrong.

“It’s nice to meet you, Gideon. I’m sorry for interrupting your date.” Clover leaned in close to Aerin. “You should keep this one, he’s handsome.”

Gideon tried not to listen in, but he didn’t have much control over his hearing thanks to his thirst. Clover directed her attention back to him.

“Mum was beginning to think she was going to become a nun, since she’s turned down everyone in town. You must be a good one if she’s giving you a chance; she’s awfully picky.” Clover chuckled, nudging Gideon.

Gideon noticed Aerin’s eyes narrow, and the smile slipped from the girl who couldn’t be more than twelve. Before he could say anything, Aerin grabbed his hand, and a snake of electricity traveled up his arm. Gideon couldn’t believe she was holding a strange man’s hand in public. She wasn’t joking when she said times had changed, but this spark was beyond time’s influence.

What the hell is this woman? Maybe it’s not just her song that can influence me, but her soul.

“We’d better be off, so he doesn’t frighten anyone else,” Aerin said, pulling him along, and he followed without resistance. “Shouldn’t you be getting home? You’ve school tomorrow?”

“You’re right, I shouldn’t dawdle, or my parents will begin to worry.” Clover started to retreat toward the alley. “I’ve show and tell tomorrow, so I thought some bright bugs would win me some points.”

“Were you really considering taking your vows?” Gideon asked as they left town, and he noticed she hadn’t let go of his hand. Is she afraid of me wandering off again, or does she not want to let me go? He hadn’t been touched in so long that he didn’t care.

“My vows?” Aerin asked, and an adorable rumble of laughter escaped those lips he couldn’t stop staring at. He found himself wanting to see her fangs again. Get a grip on yourself.

“No, never. Besides, the church wouldn’t have me. Clover was poking fun because her mum is always trying to set me up when I stop by the pet shop.”

“Why haven’t you married? You’re beautiful, powerful, and though your home needs some repair, you’ve an estate of your own. I’m sure anyone would seek to court you. You’d be a prize for any man, though your temperament might need some work.” Gideon followed her lead up the hill as it started to drizzle, and the feel of cool droplets on his skin felt like heaven.

“Because every young woman must be in want of a husband? I’ve no interest in marrying for its own sake, and my situation is complicated. I’m not appealing to sirens, and I would outlive most others. Besides, I prefer my own company, despite my temperament needing work,” she said, “and complimenting me won’t make me give you any more blood bags.”

A siren? He resisted the urge to chuckle. A siren and a sailor, what could go wrong?

“What’s with the smirk?” she asked. “Have something against unmarried women or sirens?”

“Neither. I didn’t mean to offend you. I’ve never had the pleasure of making the acquaintance of a siren. Unless you lured me off my ship and have kept me prisoner all these years,” he joked, only for the laughter to die out when he realized it might be a possibility. It was in her nature to lure sailors.

“You found me out.” She sighed, and he stopped still.

“I’m joking. You come from before my time. Long before I was a siren. Besides, why would I want to keep a vampire prisoner? What good are you to me in a coma?” She shrugged, tugging him along.

“You’d make an excellent partner.” Gideon realized she had skipped over his compliments, and he didn’t mind her temperament. She kept him on his toes, and vampires knew what it was like to fear outliving those you loved. He didn’t know how long her kind lived or why she would outlive her own kind.

“You don’t know me, so don’t make assumptions,” Aerin said curtly.

She’s right, I don’t know her, but I want to. He glanced at her hand in his and wondered if it was her touch making him feel so at peace. Maybe her touch held the same consuming power as her song. He dropped her hand, as if brushing droplets from his hair, and waited for his curiosity about her to dissipate. Aerin continued ahead up the cliff walk without looking back; he groaned quietly to himself when his desire to follow remained.

“By the way, you don’t have to bow when you meet someone. You’re going to give away that you’re not from this time?” Aerin said, stopping at the top of the cliffs by the large rock engraved with the faded words Clifton Manor, covered in moss.