Damien Valencourt is a rogue vampyre who's been living as an earl in 1820's London . When he's recruited by the Counsel to destroy his brother, a rogue gone bad, his mortal friend Charisse Baxter is unwittingly involved. To ensure that Damien bends to their will, the Counsel holds Charisse captive, mistakenly believing her to be his mistress. She soons becomes his mistress in truth, but her insatiable curiosity about sex and vampyres may destroy them both.