"I'd be interested to know more," he tells her. "I admit I am relieved that the word Vampire is known to you already. Though, it has been my experience here that it does not always mean the same thing in different worlds. The vampires native to this island, for instance, are nothing like me." He doesn't bother to mask his disgust. They were more insect than people.

What's this? Did the poor girl just blanch? What on earth did River say about him?

"She is lovely, but she can have a tendency to get ahead of herself." A soft chuckle. "Be calm, you have nothing to fear from me. I hold no grudge. I am, if you weren't aware, the town whore. I'm the last person who has any right to feel cheated."