Noble-born Julian Marino abandons his privileged life to search for a lost friend. Groomed for Elderhood by his father's ambitions, Julian reinvents himself, mastering combat and survival. Despite these skills, his quest for his best friend remains elusive. Returning home in defeat, Julian uncovers new problems within his race and a looming war. Serina Ferrari, a bloodmate destined for vampire mating, faces a life-threatening situation. Her body, designed solely for vampires, requires their nutrition and feedings to survive. Her father, blind to her suffering, captures vampires and Elders in his desperate quest for a cure. Indifferent to the lives he takes, he only seeks to save his daughter and kill vampires, unknowingly capturing Julian. With a Guardian, a legendary protector, following Julian, the brewing war erupts. Now, the battle unfolds, leaving the outcome uncertain-Who will emerge as the victor, and who as the victim?