“Alexander’s head pounded, and his stomach reeled at the pain. He stared at the woman and the beast within roared in frustration as he struggled to hold it back. It demanded that he pounce, drive her to the ground, tear into her. It wanted nothing more than to feed on her life’s blood, take her body violently. Alexander’s heart broke as he fought, trying desperately to get back in control. He used a burst of adrenaline to try to claim control of his body, and he dropped to his knees with the effort. He met Madeline’s gaze. ‘Kill me,’ he hissed through clenched teeth” 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. Madeline is at a loss to explain the changes in Alexander. After 20 years together, is it possible that she never really knew him? Is it possible, that he’d been hiding such violent tendencies? And why would he do that? Why would he pretend to be something he’s not for so long? No, she’s convinced that something’s happened to him, that perhaps something’s been done to him. But how can she, a vampire of little more than two decades, hope to stand up to a one with the power of nine centuries? How can she bring him back?