When Madeline Connors stepped off the plane in London, she stepped into a whole new world--a dark and dangerous world that had only ever existed for her in books and movies. They met by accident-a moment's direction and she collided with Alexander Lockwood. One look into his crystal blue eyes and she was lost, in love before she even knew his name.

Reunions are hell. When Madeline and Alexander Lockwood attend her high school reunion, she doesn't worry that people will think that she's gotten fat or that she's a failure-she worries about discovery, that it will be revealed that she and Alexander are vampires.

Alexander is behaving strangely. He's being hostile to Madeline, refusing her advances, and leering at other women. He also realizes he's been losing time, falling asleep at the office for no reason, and forgetting things. Then, one night, he loses control. He does something for which Madeline may never forgive him, and then he leaves the mansion, disappearing into the night.