Vlad combed his fingers through Lisa's hair, separating the fine golden strands into three sections and cautiously lifting one over the other, just as she'd shown him. "It will not be my fault if your hair ends up in a mess of knots, my dear."

Lisa laughed, her voice clear as bells. "I have faith in the dexterity of your hands, darling, and I assure you it's not nearly as difficult as you're making it out to be. "

Vlad kept his additional comments to himself and focused on her hair; literal centuries of life behind him, and yet somehow this was the first time he'd ever attempted to braid someone's hair.