Delphine Leighton is a widow with a serious problem: her late husband gambled away their wealth, leaving her with a mountain of debts and a bookie harassing her. When she overhears that a mysterious foreign gentleman needs a governess, she takes a chance on an interview.

But Varrick Allard isn't a gentleman-he's not even human, and he doesn't need a governess. He's a mage who's been forced from his studies to track down a magical creature stalking the streets of Delphine's city. What he needs is a fake mistress who can help him infiltrate the high class gambling dens connected to the series of attacks.

Although it will ruin her reputation, Delphine is desperate enough to sign a contract with him. While they seek signs of their quarry in the glitter of high society, they can't deny the growing attraction between them. Delphine is unsure she's ready to trust a man again, and despite his extensive education, love wasn't part of Varrick's curriculum. As they follow the trail of victims, their precarious affection is threatened by the discovery that Delphine could be the creature's next prey.