The Bellamys help Mia prepare for the club, their movements becoming fluid and inhuman. Gianna discusses her transition from “George” to her true self. Margo styles Mia’s hair, and Mia feels intense attraction to her. Toby selects a revealing mesh dress for Mia; despite initial reluctance, she is stunned by how attractive she looks.

Margo appears wearing the same dress in maroon, and their mutual attraction is obvious. Oscar emerges from the bushes and says he will meet them at the club, then runs into the forest. Oscar claims that after a swimming accident left him on life support, Eli turned him at the hospital; Margo notes he lies about his turning story.

At Neon Viper, Kris uses a Veil to bypass the line. Inside the rave, Mia dances until Margo embraces her from behind. Mia notices blood on Margo’s lips and is led to Kris, who has two women who have taken the drug MDMA (also known as “Molly”) under a Veil. Margo encourages Mia to drink from Carly. The Molly-laced blood is intoxicatingly sweet, and Mia loses control until Margo bites her hand to stop her. Carly licks the new-vampire blood from Mia’s wound, instantly healing it. Margo and Mia taste each other’s blood, discovering distinct flavors.

Feeling euphoric, Mia spots Elenora following a tall man, Carly, and another woman. She trails them to a filthy basement, where she witnesses Elenora order the man to let the women drink his blood, then swiftly slit the women’s throats. Mia hides as Elenora tells the man to hide the bodies and asks if he has heard from the Darwrites, one of America’s oldest and richest families. After they leave, Mia tells Margo and Kris what she saw. They are skeptical and find the basement cleaned, though Kris discovers Carly’s gold necklace with a heart charm in a drain. They realize Elenora may be the rogue creating and killing vampires. Kris suggests they tell Eli tomorrow and continue partying.

Mia enjoys the rest of the night, feeling more connected to people than ever before. At three o’clock in the morning, the club closes. In the car, Toby reveals Gianna has a human soul mate in Cedar Hollow who knows nothing about her vampire nature. After showering, Mia is in bed when Margo enters through the connecting door, asking for a sleepover. They begin kissing passionately, and Mia feels an overwhelming desire to “consume” Margo entirely.

Margo pulls away, explaining that Mia reminds her of someone, and she has not felt this way in centuries. Before going further, she shares her story. As the daughter of a human king, Margo was betrothed to an older man but secretly loved Emma, a kitchen hand. When Margo refused to run away, Emma revealed their relationship to Margo’s father, who executed Emma immediately. Devastated, Margo told Eli, a stable hand and their ally, she could not live without Emma. Eli gave her a mixture to drink. She then jumped, believing Eli understood she wanted to die, unknowingly beginning her transformation into a vampire.

Margo tells Mia that kissing her feels identical to kissing Emma and that Mia has the same eyes. Mia comforts her, and they talk through the night until falling asleep.

Mia wakes refreshed but finds Margo gone. Downstairs, Eli and Gianna are preparing for a barbecue. Mia spots the necklace with the heart charm from the club on the counter; Eli quickly snatches it up. He tells Mia she will leave for the Sutton Family after lunch.

Outside, Talli sits reading. She reveals she heard Mia and Margo last night through the thin walls. In confidence, Talli tells Mia she believes they knew each other in a past life through reincarnation but warns their relationship cannot work because Mia is destined for something “bigger  than love” (206).

During the barbecue, Alexander arrives with Thea, frail and in a wheelchair. Thea greets Mia warmly, explaining she began aging like a human after her powers started to dwindle in 2001. When she asks if Mia’s ghost-seeing Gift has returned, Mia says no. Thea examines Mia’s father’s wedding band and identifies a black line inside as obsidian crystal, historically used to dampen psychic powers. She deduces Mia’s Gift runs through her father’s line and tells her to store the ring safely so her abilities can return. Mia goes inside and places the ring in a jewelry box.

Margo and Kris return from their errand. Margo gives Mia a gold necklace engraved with the word “Yours,” revealing she has a matching one. The errand was arranging the custom jewelry. Deeply moved, Mia and Margo kiss. Margo confesses she has not “felt so alive in centuries” (211).

Mia says goodbye to the Bellamys and gets into a Cadillac with Thea and Alexander. When Alexander steps out to retrieve his forgotten phone, Thea takes the opportunity to speak privately with Mia. She explains they are rushing the Family selection because of the danger posed by the rogue vampire killing newborns.

Thea reveals that her powers began fading on Mia’s birthday, signaling the birth of a new matriarch. Talli used her Gift to identify Mia as the one destined to lead both Families. Stunned, Mia feels unqualified. Thea insists the power transfer ceremony must occur the next day: Mia will wear Thea’s pendant, receive all her knowledge and abilities, and Thea will die. Mia asks if they caused her crash. Thea denies it, explaining Talli foresaw the natural end of Mia’s human life. She reveals the syringe contained blood from every member of both Families.

Thea tasks Mia with stopping the rogue vampire, fearing the culprit is within one of the Families. When Mia asks if it could be Elenora, Thea vehemently refuses. She recounts that Eli and Elenora split after Elenora had an affair. Later, Eli fell for a pregnant widow in Ireland. A jealous Elenora murdered the woman so brutally that Eli could not turn her. Though Elenora has spent years repenting, Eli never truly forgave her. They each founded their own Family afterward.

They arrive at the massive Bruce Hotel. Cordelia and a young vampire named Luca greet Mia enthusiastically. Thea gives Cordelia a briefcase and departs. Cordelia eagerly takes Mia’s hand to show her around.