Vampire Philip Archer and his team of successful art thieves -- black panther shifter Duff, ghost Rob, and Duff's human girlfriend Liddy -- are asked by the handsome Ian Croft, a potential client, to break with tradition and rescue a kidnapped child. When the caper turns out rather differently than expected, Philip is bitterly reminded why he has remained single for so long. Yet, surrounded as he is by loving friends, he is not desperate. This is why, when he meets the newly-made vampire Ephram, he suppresses his attraction and focuses on being a mentor to the Fledgling.<br><br>Ephram was turned by Virgil Ionescu, an ancient vampire known for casting off his Children before they are ready. Living off the streets, Ephram's future is precarious until he meets Philip. Ephram is immediately attracted to Philip and only too happy to be taken under his wing and taught the skills of surviving in modern New Orleans.<br><br>But Philip keeps secrets. Ephram can sense it, but he can't penetrate the thousand-year-old Philip's reserve. What will Ephram do when he discovers the big secret his new group of friends are keeping from him? Will his love for Philip trump all, or will he betray them? And, to complicate matters, Ionescu arrives unexpectedly in town, coming to check on his Child.

Art Theft 101

“Let me know when you want to take a break,” Ian said to me.


“I will. Right now I’m still wide awake.” Which I was, of course, being a night owl, so to speak.


By the time we were driving through some small town between Beaumont and Waco, I’d been driving for close to six hours. I decided I was ready to be just a passenger for a while so Ian and I switched places. As he drove, his gaze locked firmly on the highway, I studied him.


I wondered if he really meant it when he asked if we could go to dinner sometime. Or was it just some spur-of-the-moment idea that he’ll regret once we’re back in NOLA? I still couldn’t figure out why I was attracted to him. Maybe, as I said to him, because he knows how I make my living and he doesn’t seem to care, so I trust him. It’s a long way from trusting him with thatsecret though, and opening up to him about the real me. Somehow I had the distinct feeling he’d either think I was stone cold crazy, or run like hell and never look back.


Chapter 16