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“Aerin! What trinket have you brought me today? If I have to polish another porcelain doll, I might go mad,” Miranda said, placing the doll back on the display with its creepy companions.

“You look like you need saving. I don’t know how you have them staring at you all day.” Aerin shivered. Gideon’s plaque and ring felt like they were burning a hole in her pocket.

“A fierce siren who’s besties with a Kraken can’t handle a few vintage dolls?” Miranda teased, putting away her polishing cloth and balm.

“I’ll take the Kraken any day.”

“Don’t worry, I’ll protect you if they come to life.” Miranda winked, locking the case, sealing the dolls inside, though she couldn’t understand anyone trying to steal them.

“Don’t even joke, I’ll have nightmares about their tiny hands trying to grab at me,” Aerin said, far more frightened of them than the vampire she’d left cleaning her attic. Given that he recalled having servants, she didn’t expect him to be so domestic, but he needed something to do before he went stir crazy.

“I promise not to let them hurt you. They’re safely locked away.” Miranda smirked, putting the key on the hook behind the counter. “If you aren’t here to buy a doll, then what treasure have you brought me? It’s been a while since I’ve appraised something for you?”

“No appraisal today, but I do need your help finding the origins of an item,” Aerin said, joining her at the counter. “And I need it to stay between us.”

“My lips are sealed, and you know how much I love a good puzzle; hand it over,” Miranda said, putting on some gloves and grabbing a magnifying glass to examine the crest on the plaque. “Obviously, family crest or coat of arms? The intaglio carving style was usually reserved for rings or amulets; this is the first time I’ve seen it used on a plaque. The markings on the back suggest it was adhered to something? You found this on its own?” Miranda asked, brushing her blonde hair behind her ears.

“I pulled it from the sand after the last storm. It probably came off whatever it was attached to.” Aerin left out that it had been removed from a coffin, as she doubted Gideon would like her examining his resting place. He deserved some privacy.

“I’m guessing it’s between 150 and 250 years old; it’s hard to be exact with this piece alone without testing the metals.”

Since Gideon had been in the sea for the past 200 years, Aerin guessed it was more the latter.

“A dragon with ruby eyes coiled around a sword? Vampiric, maybe one of the older clans? I’ll need to check with some other collectors to confirm and to identify the exact bloodline.” Miranda placed the crest in a velvet pouch to prevent any further tarnishing.

“Where’d you find it? In the cove or further out?” Miranda questioned.

“Further out,” Aerin lied. “I was kicking up sand and came across it by chance.”

Miranda turned over the crest and ran her fingers over the deep, rough etchings. “The marks on the back suggest it might have been soldered onto something larger. Could’ve been a ship, or luggage or if it’s vampiric, maybe a coffin.”

“I also found this in the same area. I think the two items are related, maybe from a shipwreck transporting vampires?” Aerin put the signet ring on the counter.

“St. Draqial, definitely vampiric. At least I have a name to work from. I can’t say if this is the crest of the St. Draqial clan, but I’ll dig up what I can,” Miranda said, putting the ring in a small pouch with the plaque.

Aerin wanted to tell her just how right she was about the coffin and the vampire in her home. But she wanted Miranda to find out what she could on her own, without speaking to Gideon and making assumptions. His memories might not be accurate and could send them down the wrong path.

“Leave this with me, and I’ll see what my contacts can find. Do you want a rush on this for the next auction?” Miranda asked, assuming she wanted to sell it like all the others.

“No, this is for my own collection. I might sell it in the future, but for now it’s to satisfy my own curiosity,” Aerin said, not wanting to be suspicious.

“It could cost you if I have to reach out for further assessments,” Miranda said, wincing.

“I’ll cover the cost; just find out what you can.”

“Alrighty, I’ll add it to your tab,” Miranda said, “and you can pay it off when you find some other treasures.”

“Thank you, I really appreciate it,” Aerin said, grateful she wasn’t looking for an upfront payment. Aerin left her to get to work as Miranda’s curiosity got the better of her, and she practically forgot Aerin was still in the shop before she started digging through books and her browser to find out what she could.

Crossing the town square, Aerin fretted about leaving Gideon’s things behind. Usually she trusted Miranda implicitly, but this was the first time she was responsible to the owner for what happened to the item. Usually, she sold the item at auction and didn’t care about what happened to it, but this time, it mattered. It was the only thing Gideon had tying him to his past, and losing or damaging it would be heartbreaking for him, and she didn’t take his trust lightly. It had been a long time since she’d been responsible for another person, and she forgot the weight of it.

Aerin’s concern was short-lived when she saw Gideon inside the blood bank, talking to Marietta at the counter. From the way Marietta smiled and leaned over the counter, he was charming her to get what he wanted. Blood.

Damnit, Gideon. What the hell is he doing out of the house when he knew I was coming back? Aerin took a deep breath to steady herself. Making a scene in the middle of the street wouldn’t end well for either of them. She waited outside the blood bank until Marietta went through the back.

“Why are you here? Have you lost your senses? You can’t use your compulsion powers on people in town,” Aerin whispered, and grabbed his hand to drag him to the door before Marietta returned.

“Why are you so upset?” He resisted. “I was getting some blood. I don’t need you to keep feeding me, and this way you don’t have to pay.” His gaze was confused. “I thought we were on the same team now.”