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

::She never told you who owned it, I take it,:: I said to Rob.


::No. All she’d tell me was that his house was on River Road. That covers a hell of a lot of territory and for damned sure it never occurred to me it might be someone we knew.::


::It could be an interesting challenge,:: Duff said, since he and Ephram were also listening in.


::Three times, to deliver paintings to him,:: I replied. ::I never got beyond the living room.::


::But knowing you, you at least checked out what he has in the way of basic security on the front door.::


::Of course,:: I agreed. ::I wouldn’t be me if I hadn’t.::


Ephram nodded. ::Can we get through it? Okay, dumb question. You’d think by now I’d remember that’s not a problem.::


::The room in his basement might be however. Let’s take this conversation public. Flo might know more about it than we do,:: I said.


Chapter 57