In Haven's shadow, some monsters are born . . . others are made. As a Chimera Operative, Claudia Richelieu is used to working in the shadows of Haven, the walled vampire city she calls home. When mysterious disappearances plague a small mountain town, she's sent to investigate what appears to be an anti-vampire cult. What she discovers is far darker. Working alongside her former rival-turned-ally Mark Wayworth and the enigmatic Alaric Fairbourne, Claudia must untangle a web of century-old secrets. But as more young people vanish and fires threaten the community, she realizes the true monster may not be the cult at all. Deep in the Appalachian Mountains, an ancient evil lurks--one born from bitterness and twisted by time. To stop it, Claudia must face not only her growing feelings for both Mark and Alaric but also confront the darkness that transforms even the most noble of vampires into beasts. With her newfound human friends in danger and the community on edge, Claudia races against time to prevent more deaths. But in a town where everyone has secrets, who can she really trust? Will Claudia's Chimera training be enough to stop a creature born of hatred and regret?