Albert Manlii has walked this earth for more than two thousand years, but survival on his own was never easy. Now he leads a faction of highly organized vampires who carefully guard the secret of their existence. Unlike the old days, potential recruits are carefully selected and presented with an offer.<br><br>Phillip Brewer has weeks to live -- if he lets his disease run its course. He doesn’t want to die, but given a choice, will his desire to live outweigh his concerns about the vampires’ ethics?<br><br>When the new recruit’s missteps are cause for concern, can Albert control the fallout, or will Phillip’s life once again be torn apart?

The Recruit

Albert held the small bowl under his chin, thank goodness, or all Mona’s efforts would have been ravaged. How the hellwas it possible to do this without slobbering half of it? Albert had downplayed the beginner’s-messiness aspect. That or Neil was a barbarian.


When the bag was empty, Albert tipped up Neil’s chin to pour the not-insignificant amount of blood from the bowl into his mouth. Marshall disappeared into the kitchen with the empty bowl, and Albert leveled a penetrating stare directly into Neil’s eyes.


Neil stopped breathing as he returned the stare. Heat rushed through his veins as Albert’s fangs snapped out before he licked Neil’s chin. Licked and nipped, then dragged his tongue to Neil’s mouth for a kiss.


The kiss was brief but powerful, with Albert’s tongue sweeping in between their sharp fangs. Then Albert resumed licking his face like a mama cat cleaning her kittens. Caring, and in such stark contrast to the sensual kiss they’d just shared.


Chapter 15