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

I felt a flash of unwarranted jealousy that they had what I so desperately longed for. Rob gripped my shoulder, murmuring in my mind, ::Someday you’ll find the right person. It just takes time.::


::Time?:: I snorted derisively, ::A thousand years isn’t time enough?::


::A million isn’t if you weren’t looking. I think you only began to realize what you were missing when the three of us teamed up. Maybe not even then. Maybe it only happened when Duff met Liddy and you saw that it was possible for her to accept what he is, what all of us are, with no reservations.::


::He’s right,:: Duff said, joining our link. ::On all counts. Now that you’ve opened yourself to the possibility, the time will come when you find the right man.::


::I thought…No, I will not go there.:: I looked at both of them and smiled. ::I won’t close the door on the possibility despite what happened.::


Duff chuckled. ::Hadn’t better, because Liddy’s already keeping her eye open for the man of your dreams.::


Chapter 21