Page 24

“Did you stay with me all night?” Aerin asked, sitting on the end of the bed.

“Forgive me for entering your bedchamber, but you were upset, dreaming about someone. I tried to rouse you, but you asked me not to go,” Gideon explained, noting the small furrow between her brows. He stared straight through those hard scales to her soft heart. He doubted she let many see her this way. “I didn’t want to upset you further by refusing your request. I also wanted to make sure you didn’t take a turn in the night; that was a terrible bash to the head, even though the sea set it to rights. I wanted to err on the side of caution,” he rambled on, not wanting her to think he was trying to find an excuse to share her bed. He expected some sassy, sarcastic remark, but she simply nodded and grabbed her dressing gown.

“Thank you.” Her words were so quiet, he wouldn’t have heard her without his vampiric hearing. “For staying with me, the blow to my head woke up some memories that are best left alone.”

“You’ve helped me on more than one occasion. I have to save your life a few more times before my debt is paid,” he said, not wanting her to feel embarrassed. It’s not easy to let someone see you at your weakest, especially knowing so little about each other; he kept the thought to himself.

“I haven’t been keeping score, but maybe going forward, check the roads before crossing,” she said, slipping her fingers into her hair where the salt water had stitched her back together.

“I’ll be more careful. So much has changed since I last roamed the streets. Life moves faster than I recall.”

“I know what you mean. When I stopped ageing, it felt like the world was changing around me while I stayed frozen, but no matter the changes, people stay the same.” The sadness in her voice told him there was more to her story. “We all want to find our place in the world, be surrounded by those we love, those who love us, if we’re lucky.” She stared off, lost in thought, and he wondered if her night was haunting her morning.

“Do you want to talk about it? We haven’t been acquainted for long, but given our close proximity and our tendency to save each other’s lives, we can help each other,” Gideon asked. “Seems we both have some memories haunting us.”

“Except we’re trying to unearth yours, and I’d prefer to keep mine buried.”

“You asked for your mother, a sister? I couldn’t be sure, but it appeared that you were trying to get to them?” Gideon dared to ask.

“Sorry if I kept you up with my sleep talking; that’s so embarrassing. It was probably nonsense caused by the blow to the head.” She deflected, sipping the water he had left by the bed for her. For someone so determined to crawl through his life, she certainly didn’t like talking about herself.

“Given how tight you were holding me last night, it didn’t feel like senseless rambling, maybe a terrible nightmare, or a memory,” he pressed.

“I didn’t hold you that tight,” she muttered, hiding behind her cup. “If I disturbed your rest, you could’ve overpowered me and gone back to the basement.”

“My bruises beg to differ, and you sat with me while I was poisoned, so I owed you a sleepless night,” Gideon said, loving how it had felt to be needed.

“How selfless of you,” Aerin said, heading for the door.

“A real saint.” Gideon stopped his prying, not wanting to push her too far. She wasn’t used to having people in her home, and barely a fortnight had passed. If they were back in his time, he would be asking her father for her hand in marriage.

“As your reward, how about a steaming cup of blood?” Aerin asked, glancing over her shoulder. He never thought any woman could say something so seductive. Prompting him to move rapidly across the room.

“I would never decline a lady’s offer.” He bowed, opening the bedroom door for her. His talents were starting to awaken.

“You’re getting your strength back.” Aerin beamed, though the shock in her eyes as he moved so quickly told him she hadn’t been expecting such a quick recovery.

“My speed certainly, but the rest will follow,” he said, relieved to be making any progress at all. Slow as it may be.

In the kitchen, Gideon stirred the cup of warmed blood she had placed in front of him. The idea of marrying her amused him. Watching the liquid spiral, he wondered: what if I’m already married? What if I have children? The questions didn’t stir any longing, so he doubted it, but even if they weren’t on the ship with him, what if he had a wife waiting for him at home?

“Not warm enough?” she asked, interrupting his thoughts as she watched him from the other side of the kitchen table he’d done his best to fix.

“It’s perfect, thank you.” He smiled, taking a sip. He watched her add another spoonful of salt to her tea; he wondered if she’d been amused or horrified by his thoughts. Would I feel this pull to her if I really had another waiting for me?

“They drowned.” Aerin’s sudden confession caught him off guard, and all thoughts of love and marriage disappeared. “My family. You said I was calling for my sister, my mum. I was meant to be sailing with them that day, but I got to the dock late after school. They went out without me.”

“I’m sorry.” Gideon gripped the edge of the table, stopping himself from tossing what separated them and wrapping his arms around her. The urge terrified him; only his bloodlust made him lose control, but this was another feeling altogether.

“You’ve nothing to be sorry for. I didn’t want to lie after you spent the night taking care of me. I’m not sure what I said in my sleep, and I don’t want any misunderstandings between us.” Aerin forced a smile, which cut him deeply. Her pain echoed through his heightened senses. He wondered if it was because he had consumed her blood. That often happened with humans when he fed, but this was far more intimate.

“You don’t have to tell me. You don’t owe me any explanation, but I’m willing to listen,” Gideon said, not wanting her to feel she had to mask her pain with him.

“Whenever there’s a full moon, my connection to the sea is strongest, and memories flow more freely, especially those tied to the water.” Aerin stared into her tea rather than looking at him. “It’s been a long time since I last recalled that day. I’m sorry if I frightened you.”

“You didn’t.”

“At least I didn’t bite you,” Aerin chuckled, breaking the tension.