after the De La Cruz brothers show up she goes to search the outskirts of the ranch and finds him murdered. Colby is horrified and confused as to who and why someone would do such a thing. But Rafael and Nicholas, both powerful Carpathians, immediately realize that a vampire, the most vilest of all creatures, is to blame. This triggers Rafael defensive instincts and his intense need to protect Colby at all costs, even against her will. Their relationship is fragile and tenuous. Colby believes he's out to get her brother and sister, and Rafael, an ancient Carpathian hunter, is completely clueless with dealing with a modern, fiercely independent woman. It is revealed that Colby has strong psychic talents and for a while she believes that Rafael might just be special as she is. Then she is forced to confront the knowledge that he's from a different species entirely. And to make matters worse the vampire begins to attack her family and she is forced to accept the knowledge that vampires of myth really do exist. When Colby's younger brother Paul is attacked by the vampire, Rafael recognizes him as an old boyhood friend, Kirja Malinov. Only when Rafael faces off and nearly dies defending her and her family from Kirja does Colby let herself realize her feelings for Rafael. Awards and nominations Made The Following Bestseller Lists: New York Times Amazon Publishers Weekly USA Today Barnes & Noble Mass Market Barnes & Noble Romance Barnes & Noble Online B Daltons Borders Bookscan Waldenbooks Mass Market Waldenbooks Walmart External links Read Prologue Read Chapter 1 2005 American novels Novels by Christine Feehan American vampire novels