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“Aerin, how good of you to join us.” Gideon recognized the woman’s voice as soon as they entered the Maritime Museum. She had been the one to come to the house to take measurements for the Haunted Manor decorations.

“Calipsa, thank you for the invitation,” Aerin said, as Calipsa kissed each of Aerin’s cheeks with a forced smile.

“And who is your date?” the man by Calipsa’s side interrupted, studying him. He guessed the man was Calipsa’s husband.

“Gideon Blackwater,” he said, offering his hand. Aerin stilled for a moment as he used his full name, but he placed a hand on her lower back, signaling that it wasn’t a slip of the tongue, and her shoulders relaxed.

“This is Gideon’s first time in Indigo Cove, so I wanted to show him the museum so he could have the full experience,” Aerin said as the curator, Evander Porthallow, approached Calipsa from behind.

“Then we won’t keep you any longer,” Evander said. “Please enjoy the evening, and join us in the Pirate wing on the fourth floor for dinner. We’ll present the awards after dessert.” He winked.

They walked through the first floor, an exhibit dedicated to Kennie.

The five impressive floors were dedicated to Indigo Cove’s history, and the main exhibit was the Tempest, the largest shipwreck ever recorded at the cove. They took a moment to blend in with the other guests, admiring the murals and pausing to read about the various wrecks Kennie had caused.

“How long do we have to wait?” he asked, wrapping his arm around her waist.

“We need to make our way through the exhibits like everyone else. Dinner is on the fourth floor; we work our way up, then down to the basement while everyone settles. It wouldn’t look good if we disappeared as soon as we arrived.”

Gideon followed her lead to the third floor. He hoped the shipwreck wing would jog his memory, but nothing did.

“No one can take their eyes off you,” Gideon said, noticing the other guests’ eyes following Aerin, and placed a possessive hand on her lower back. “There’s no way you’re going to slip away without anyone noticing.” Even with the masks hiding their faces, the guests stared at Aerin as if she were a fish out of water.

“I may have underestimated the intrigue I’d garner for turning up after so many years. Everyone wants to gawk at the siren in the haunted house on the cliff.” Aerin sipped the champagne, and he understood if she felt like she was part of the exhibit.

“Or, they recognize how beautiful you look tonight,” he said, his lips brushing her ear as he spoke. He wondered whether their eyes were drawn by curiosity as she spoke, or whether they followed her because of her siren pull. When they reached the fourth floor, she took his hand as they were about to head back down, when he saw Wayne waving at her from his table.

“If it isn’t your boyfriend,” Gideon said.

“Stop that,” Aerin whispered, turning her back to earn them some time before he approached. “You’re going to have to go by yourself. I’m not going to be able to get away, stupid award.”

“I’ve no idea where I’m going,” Gideon countered.

“That plays in our favor. If you get caught, tell them that you’re new to town and lost your way. The records are in the basement. Take the elevator down⁠—”

“Elevator?” He frowned.

“Oh for Poseidon’s sake,” she huffed. “Take the stairs down to the lowest level, and the records room should be the last door at the end of the corridor. With any luck, it shouldn’t be locked.”

“Aerin, I didn’t expect to see you tonight, it’s not like you to attend these events.”

“Evening, Wayne. I didn’t plan on it, but since the Town Council decided to honor me with an award, I didn’t have much of a choice,” Aerin said.

“Always so modest. You’ve saved more than one ship in the past few decades. If you’ll excuse me, I’m going to get us a drink at the bar.”

“Could you grab my shawl from the coat room downstairs? I’m feeling a bit chilly,” Aerin said, giving him the perfect excuse.

“Of course. I won’t be long.” Gideon kissed her cheek.

“Take your time,” Aerin said sweetly.

Gideon glanced over his shoulder, reluctant to leave her with a man clearly infatuated with her, and noticed Wayne glare at him as he went. Gideon headed down the stairs, while everyone headed up for dinner. He passed the first floor, making sure the way was clear before taking the final staircase down to the basement.

At the end of the dimly lit corridor, the records sat just where Aerin said they would be. He opened the door and cheered silently to find it unlocked. The smell of musty books overwhelmed him. A sharp pain pierced between his brows, and suddenly he found himself seated at a large desk, surrounded by leather-bound books. A man in navy robes stood over him, whacking Gideon’s knuckles with a silver ruler for failing to recall the vampires’ creed. He clenched his fist as the ruler bit into his skin, only to have it ripped away as the tutor pulled it back. Gideon hissed in agony, biting back a cry. Seeing his reflection in the ruler, Gideon realized he couldn’t be older than ten.

I’m in a memory, he thought, squeezing his eyes shut. How is it that the sight of the wrecks did nothing, but the smell of old books triggered my memory? When he opened his eyes again, he was standing in the middle of the records room. Luckily, the ship logs were organized by year. Unfortunately, there weren’t as many as he hoped.

Gideon went row by row, took the files from 1870-1875, and stuffed the documents into his jacket. He opened the door, coming face to face with Aerin.