Detective Ethan Grainger is horrified when a public official is found dead in the park, killed by an animal. He immediately fears it's a shifter kill and heads for The Ark, where he seeks out Nuala Lazare, a Kindred pregnant by Ethan's late partner Shade. He'd come to terms with Chicago's supernatural underground, but because Nuala holds him responsible for Shade's death-and because he is attracted to her-he's avoided her until now. Ethan is the last man Nuala wants to see, and she has enough to deal with being near term and realizing her fatherless child will be a half-breed like her brother Luc, who experienced tremendous prejudice and guilt while growing up. She plans to move from The Ark to live like a human for her daughter. Ethan must keep Shade's child from being corrupted by the criminal element of the Kindred Lazare clan. Which means he must get close to Nuala-not an easy task. As they get to know each other, their attraction becomes unbearable. Will Ethan keep his loyalty to ...