The Empire is crippled. A new era has begun. The secret is out, and school is in session. Guarded night and day by the newly orphaned Empire, Hunter faces the overwhelming reality of his new life as La Guardaspaeldas - The Host of the Source, the creature whose very blood feeds the perpetual youth of all Immortals. After living in the isolation of the Rocky Mountains, Hunter must now travel south to a remote island off the western coast of the United States. There he will train with The Chosen, the best, brightest, and newest members of the Vampyre World. But time becomes an enemy as Hunter races to catch the thief who stole his mother's only key to survival and expose Victor's conspiracy to create a secret Vampyre Army. The curtains have been thrown wide open, but everyone has secrets. All that Hunter needs to do now is keep his eyes wide open and take the next step that will ultimately shape the fate of the Empire and the rest of the world.