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

It was nice to be a homebody, which I guess was what was happening at the moment. But after six days of it we realized we were both getting restless so we decided to go shopping for clothes for Ephram. All he had was what he’d brought with him in the beginning, plus a couple of nice shirts I’d picked up for him to wear when he was working. Well, weweregoing to do that, until it occurred to both of us that none of the stores would be open.


“I may live in these clothes for the rest of my life,” he grumbled.


Then it hit me. “You have heard of shopping online, I hope.”


“Well, yeah.” That perked him up again.


We spent the next hour going through the websites of men’s clothing stores in the city. By the time we finished, and I’d used the gallery’s credit card to pay for everything, he had enough new clothes to satisfy even the most devout fashion plate. He said I was to take the cost out of his next paycheck, which I promised I would.


Chapter 51