Page 40

“I’ve every faith in you,” she charmed, hearing the quiet bell chime as the mail dropped into her mailbox. Good thing about having a vampire for a mailman: you never had to wait for a parcel.

Removing the envelope, Aerin found an invitation to the Masquerade Maritime Museum Gala, celebrating the opening of the Autumn Festival. With less than a week to get the house in order, the invitation was a wake-up call. She wasn’t going to risk disappointing the sirens.

Flipping over the midnight blue invitation, Aerin noticed a handwritten note on the back. Given her recent service to the captain and his crew of the Athena, she was being honored with an award for service to Indigo Cove.

Aerin groaned. The last thing I want is some reward, to have to stand on stage and give a speech. She eyed the decline box, but guilt crushed her heart as she thought of how desperate Gideon was to find out about his ship, as this gave them the perfect opportunity to get inside after hours.

Mulling over the invite, the bulbs on the chandelier flicked back on. Letting out a sigh of relief, she headed for the kitchen to make that coffee as promised.

Boiling the kettle, she noticed the two empty blood bags in the sink as Gideon walked in and grabbed a third from the fridge.

“Are you okay?” Aerin asked Gideon, leaning against the sink.

“Staying up during the day is taking a toll, especially when you kept me busy all night,” Gideon said. “I’m starting to get used to having it cold.”

“I could’ve warmed it on the gas stove for you.”

“It’s fine, I have to get back up the roof anyway and finish hanging the seaweed from the gutters,” Gideon said between sips.

“What would I do without you?” she cooed, resting her hand on his chest. Still, she was getting far too comfortable returning home from her swims and finding him in the kitchen on her laptop, trying to learn all he had missed over the years, or on the ceiling removing the cobwebs she had never managed to reach.

“Sorry for intruding, but my work here is done.” Mr. Carlson cleared his throat, interrupting them. They broke apart. Mr. Carlson didn’t bat an eye at Gideon drinking a blood bag; a warlock as old as he was didn’t surprise easily.

“No interruption,” Aerin said, finishing off his coffee. “This is Gideon.”

“Mr. Carlson, thank you for helping us out,” Gideon said.

“You’re an us?” The old man raised his eyebrows. “Glad to see someone finally making an honest woman out of you, Aerin,” he joked.

“Very funny, old man.” Aerin handed him the flask she always kept for him over the years. He happily accepted, eyeing Gideon up, and Aerin was surprised how Gideon didn’t react to his silent appraisal while she grabbed some cash from an old marmalade jar from above the fridge

“Right, I’d better be off. I don’t want to overstay my welcome,” he said, saluting them both awkwardly.

“Thank you so much again,” Aerin said, walking him to the door and handing over the cash, even though he never talked of payment.

“It’s nice to see you with some company. Your family wouldn’t want you to be alone,” Mr. Carlson said quietly as she opened the door.

“I’m not alone. I have Royce,” she quipped, eyeing the turtle on the porch. She changed the subject in case Gideon was listening. She didn’t want him hanging around out of pity.

“Goodbye, Aerin.” He sighed, giving up on the conversation.

“Goodbye, Mr. Carlson, and give Mrs. Carlson my best,” she said. The old couple had known her grandparents, though her human ancestors had no idea of their magical nature.

Back in the kitchen, Gideon untangled the strands of seaweed to let them dry before hanging them up. Not even having to ask for his help made her feel warm and fuzzy.

“We have a couple of hours before sunrise. Why don’t you come with me to feed Kennie?” she said, taking out the large bucket from under the sink with the industrial bag of jellies inside, waiting to be prepped.

“Don’t trust me to be alone after yesterday?” Gideon cocked an eyebrow.

Aerin ignored his suspicious tone. “I figured since you missed out on your evening stroll last night that you’d want to get some air, but feel free to stay and decorate the house.”

“No, I’ll come if you want me to.”

“I wouldn’t have asked if I didn’t.”

Gideon nodded slowly. “I’ll go put some shoes on.”

“Meet you on the porch,” she said, grabbing the rest of what she needed for Kennie’s treat.