His iron hand once kept the warring vampire clans of decadent 1920s New York from one another's throats. But now, outcast from his own kind, Dorian Black haunts the back alleys of the city alone.? Until the night he meets reporter Gwen Murphy and feels something stir within him for the first time in centuries.<P>Gwen has stumbled upon the story of a lifetime?a mysterious cult of blood drinkers?and she'll do anything to uncover the truth and make her mark?despite the danger. Unaware of Dorian's involvement and sensing his loneliness, she offers him kindness and friendship?and eventually, her heart.<P>But in order to protect Gwen, Dorian will soon be forced to do the unthinkable.?