I am a Scarlet. They call me Rose. Rose belongs to the "Reds." That's what the vampires call the humans who are born slaves in the Blood Empires, the vampires' shadow society among humans. Since Rose was made a Scarlet at the tender age of ten, she has known only one goal: to become the Blood Consort of vampire elder Augustus Aurelius, at whose court she is being trained. For not only does this position offer power, influence and the chance to become a vampire herself, but also the opportunity to see her mother again and meet her father. But then the infamous Crimson Armand returns to his father's court, who, as a half-vampire, is not only one of the rarest of creatures, but proves to be Rose's greatest challenge. For Rose is hell-bent on achieving her goal. Cost what it may and if it must be, even her heart.