Emily Cross reads the memories of the deceased. Working at a funeral home might not be a logical choice, but for Emily, it's a natural one. When she's attacked, the creatures she thought were folklore become too real. As she's being drained of life, the cadaver on the next table rises and fights them off. Feeling a connection to her hero, she vows to find him. Marcus Dane doesn't know how he ended up in a mortuary. As an Enforcer for the Mistress of the City, he's been following leads regarding a powerful witch who aims to exterminate his blood-clan. Emily is entangled romantically with a vampire, his angry Mistress who doesn't like sharing her servants, and an incredibly powerful witch who realizes killing Emily is the gateway to what she wants. By the end, Emily must figure out who she can trust and who has the darkest nature of all.