First published 2009
Cole has survived a century as a heme by following strict rules. Sunlight kills. Mistakes mean eternity trapped in a coffin. Stay controlled. Keep moving. After decades on the road, the vampire community trusts him to handle difficult situations. Now they've given him Gordon, a newly turned teenager who won't let go of his human existence. Cole's job is simple: teach the kid to survive as a heme or eliminate him quietly. Gordon must learn to avoid daylight, feed properly, and cut all ties to his former life. If he can't adapt, Cole will put him down like a rabid animal. Cole believes he can manage this assignment like all the others. He makes careful plans. He thinks he controls every variable. But Gordon's stubborn attachment to his old world creates complications Cole didn't anticipate. The rookie's refusal to accept his new nature threatens to expose them both. As Cole tries to complete his mission, he discovers that even the most experienced predator can't predict every outcome. Some situations spiral beyond anyone's control.
Genres: fantasy, horror, thriller, action
Vibes: dark, fast-paced, suspenseful
Tropes: enemies-to-lovers, fish-out-of-water
368 pages · Kindle Edition · HarperTeen
Content warnings: violence