Paper Back: Jack Coventon, a philandering young man of the 1880s, disgraces his father and is sent to his wealthy uncle. Jack marries into the Vanderbilt family. Tangeline, his bride is killed on their honeymoon, Jack wanders Paris alone. Asteria, a soul from Jack's past overpowers him in grief and turns him into a blood hunter of the primeval variety. Their family starts with Loral, who unknown to them is the fallen angel of mercy sent to live as a human. Loral touches many lives including her first love, Katlin, but his resolves to make her life with Matthew and continue the line. Loral gives birth to Stormy, and Loral is subsequently offered to return the appointment as the angel of mercy, as the world is falling into chaos, and the sanctified relics of power threatened by those fallen angels that would seek to rule the earth. Leaving her new baby Loral abandons her family for crusade of her fellow arch angels. Jack alone, missing his family walks home in the snow, and into the next book.