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“Water? We’re close to the marina,” he said, turning down a narrow street. She wanted to protest, not wanting others to see her so vulnerable, but the pain won out against her ego.

“Fine.”

“Don’t close your eyes. Falling asleep with a head wound can be fatal,” he warned, and the concern in his voice made her heart ache.

“Bossy,” she muttered, though she didn’t have the energy to argue that only applied to humans. Once she got in the water, she would be right back to normal.

At the marina, Gideon walked down the boat ramp and into the sea without hesitation. She expected him to hesitate at the water’s edge, to fear what had been his prison for two hundred years, but his gaze never left hers. She feared how he would react to her true form, but he didn’t even flinch when her clothes were stripped away and replaced with her long tail, and teal scales danced across her chest and shoulders.

“You’re magnificent.” His words were barely audible as she rested her head against his chest. Not the reaction she was expecting, and if her head wasn’t pounding, she would have made a joke about him trying to flirt with her to get more blood, but right now she was too comfortable in his arms, with the weight of the water easing her pain.

“The bleeding is stopping.” He sighed, cradling her to his chest as he stood chest-deep in the water. Good thing he couldn’t feel the cold. Being a vampire came in handy.

“Thank you, Gideon.” She relaxed into his embrace, letting the pain wash away.

“You’re welcome.” His smirk made her regret her words. “I’ve got you.”

Chapter Ten

Gideon

On the walk back to Clifton Manor, Aerin fell asleep in his arms. The bleeding had stopped, and the wound had closed nicely. Once he removed her from the water, her tail and scales disappeared, and her clothes returned as though nothing had happened. He had considered taking her to a doctor once she fell asleep, but he didn’t want to disturb her, and the water did its job.

Upstairs, Gideon put Aerin down carefully on her bed and covered her with a blanket. She might not feel the cold, but after the blow to her head, he wanted her to be comfortable. Not wanting to go far, Gideon washed the sea off in her ensuite, having finally got used to the shower. Putting on a fresh T-shirt and trousers she had kindly given him, he heard cries and rushed into her bedroom; her balcony doors were open, and she’d kicked off the blankets. Moonlight fell over her legs, highlighting the faint scale patterns on her calves and thighs, only a hint of what she was. Having seen her true self in the sea, he found her dark eyes and fanged teeth fiercely enchanting. How could someone so fierce be so delicate at the same time?

“You’re dreaming,” Gideon said gently, not wanting to wake her. He caught her leg before she struck him and put it back under the blanket. He didn’t believe he was the target, but it was as if she were swimming, desperately trying to follow or chase some imaginary ghost.

“Mum,” she cried, clutching his arm. “I’m coming. Don’t let go.” Tears glinted like crystals as they slid down her cheeks. He wasn’t used to comforting others but he had an overwhelming urge to hold her. He clenched his fist, resisting the urge to wipe the tears from her cheeks. Gideon sat on the edge of the bed, brushed her hair from her face, and held her so she couldn’t hurt herself while thrashing. Instead of fighting him or waking, she fisted his T-shirt and pulled him closer.

“I’ve got you,” she said faintly, and the tears subsided. She was chasing someone, or trying to catch up with someone she had mistaken for him, but if he could ease her pain, he would play the part.

“I’m here, you’re safe,” he assured her, pressing his lips to the top of her head. He thought about his own family out there somewhere, and how much they must have grieved for him. Were they still alive? Vampires were immortal, but that didn’t mean they couldn’t die.

“Don’t leave me.” Her grip tightened, pulling him out of his thoughts.

“I won’t, I’m not going anywhere,” he whispered, trying to soothe her anxiety. Her breathing evened out, and her legs stopped kicking. Whoever she thinks I am must have been someone she lost, someone she cared for deeply, to be so distressed, Gideon thought, fighting to stay awake. He considered waking her up to make sure her distress wasn’t caused by an injury-induced hallucination, but he didn’t want to get on the wrong side of her fangs now that she had settled. Carefully, he parted her hair. Only a trace of dry blue blood remained; no wound or scar in sight.

He didn’t know how sirens healed or what the best way was to take care of her, so he kept one hand resting carefully on her wrist to track her pulse. Steady and strong, he kept her close in case it changed. He knew he should get up and feed, but he didn’t want to leave her in case she started panicking again. He pulled the blanket up over them and kept his fingers on her pulse to make sure she remained calm and healthy. He didn’t know how long he’d hold her before her heartbeat lulled him to sleep.

The faint smell of burning tickled his nostrils and woke him. He hadn’t meant to fall asleep. He stretched, careful not to disturb Aerin, who was draped across him. Staring down at her, he smiled when he noticed she was part octopus in her sleep. She was cute when she let her guard down. Seeing her so peaceful troubled him, and he gently checked her pulse; still going strong. He sighed, relieved the sea had done its job healing her. His relief was short-lived when he caught sight of the rising sun through the window, its beams threatening to reach them any second.

The burning smell is me!

“Aerin, I hate to disturb you, but you need to wake up or at least let me go,” Gideon whispered, not wanting to startle her.

“Uh-uh, still early,” Aerin grumbled, resting her head on his chest. “Five more minutes.” She swatted at him, and he noticed the tiny pinprick bruises from where her talons had gripped him while she slept. When she said she wasn’t letting go, she meant it.

“I don’t mean to rush you, but you’d better wake up, or you’re going to be picking ashes out of your bed for the next century,” Gideon warned, trying to pull away, but her claws dug deeper into his skin.

“Aerin! Please wake up, the sun’s coming,” he begged, quickly tucking his legs beneath him so they didn’t get snagged by the sun rays. Jostled from his arms as he suddenly moved to escape the sun, Aerin finally released him.

“Fine, I’m up! No need to shake me,” Aerin cursed, stretching her arms above her head and flexing her toes. She was more cat than siren in that moment. He pressed himself against the headboard to escape the sunlight.

“Gideon? What are you doing in my room?” she asked, pulling the sheets to her chest, despite being fully dressed in yesterday’s clothes. A gentleman would never change a lady’s clothes without permission.

“Can we have this conversation after you close the curtains?” he panted as the scorching rays inching toward him covered the bed. Aerin frowned, looking between him and the open balcony doors. Her sleepy gaze snapped to full attention when she realized what was about to happen. Springing off the bed, she raced to the doors and pulled the curtains shut.

“That was far too close for comfort.” He said, resting his head on the headboard. “I’ll leave you to rest.” Gideon got up, not wanting to be there now that she had come to her senses.