The black wolf reached East 137th Street in a few minutes. He heard growling from several directions, and oriented himself to the voices.

None were the monster he had heard earlier in the evening, the demon of threes. These were the fearful growls of dogs defending their turf, rakshas with their young, and large grey invading wolves, fifteen invaders. The wolves stepped forward, threateningly –

And the black wolf, entering from a side alley, tore the lead wolf’s throat out and cast him aside.

“There will be no colony here.”

Vampires and dogs alike froze at the vampire lord’s voice.

Drinan spoke again, from his core. “I am the Vampire of Manhattan, and I say there will be no colony here. Take that message to your Council.”

“There is no –” It was a stupid thing to say, there is no Vampire of Manhattan, with all the desolation around them. The vampire wisely shut up.

“Be gone from this island,” said Drinan firmly.

“Master Vampire –”

“Now!”

The vampire fighters won their last battle, but at a cost. Aden Drinan has left the island to recover from his wounds, both physical and mental. Jenna McArdle has finally returned from Vermont to take up her same old job in Manhattan, but she is still recovering from betrayal by a friend. Her brother, Jimmy, was injured far more seriously, and is trying to pick up the pieces of his shattered teenaged life. Demoralized by professional and personal challenges, Bill Sniffen is struggling. Frere Tetras is secluded in his Canadian abbey. Dr. Benjamin Smith has disgraced himself by violating his own professional ethics.

Then The Vampire of Manhattan returns from his self-imposed exile. Drinan has had time to think. There is one thing he has decided he wants: Jenna.

Whether Jenna says yes or no, it will be a rough ride. And there are other vampires on the fringes of Drinan’s island, waiting for their chances to invade his domain. After all, Drinan is a loner. But he’s not alone anymore.