You thought they were rumors - the monsters under the bed. Something your mother told you to make you behave. But when you moved out of her house and into your own apartment, ready to break into your novelist career, you found that another was listening to your midnight musings. Vethric was far from the monster you thought he was. He was handsome and kind to you. He became your best friend.

One day, your father, a man you hardly knew, came to visit you. Out of his mind drunk, he began screaming profanities at you, blaming you, and cursing you. He looked ready to attack you.

As you ducked for cover, a strong, firm arm pulled you back. Vethric loomed over your father, his face twisted with an anger you had never seen before.

"What are you doing to my human?" He growled, his voice low and deadly.