Seraphine Vale does not hunt in the way lesser vampires do. She waits. She observes. She allows curiosity to grow until it becomes longing. Centuries of existence have taught her that the most powerful desires are the ones nurtured slowly. She moves through the modern world with aristocratic ease, untouched by urgency, unbothered by morality that shifts with generations. Humans fascinate her — their fragility, their intensity, the way they burn through life without realizing how brief it truly is. Seraphine is not cruel by nature, but she is not merciful either. Compassion, to her, is selective. Love is dangerous. Attachment is a weakness she pretends she has already outgrown. Yet sometimes, a human lingers in her thoughts longer than expected. And when that happens, Seraphine must decide whether to protect what she desires — or consume it.