Stuart is a troubled kid, hated by the inhabitants of his rural community, Shieldaig, on the shores of Loch Torridon in the Scottish Highlands. Maud Nightingale, a psychologist whos been summoned for help by her friend Florence, Stuarts aunt, in her turn seeks help from Harlan. Our dampyr used to be a problem child himself and maybe hell have some idea on how to deal with Stuart Theres also another subtle link between the two: Harlan had a most unusual father, a Master of the Night, while Stuart has disowned his human father, who died on the moors to save him, and believes himself to be the son of a supernatural creature, a Shee. How much truth is there in the local legends? Who had Helen, Stuarts mother, rashly promised herself to, during her lonely wanderings on the wild slopes of the Highlands?