States of Grace Chelsea Quinn Yarbro
Writer Erneste van Amsteljaxter, whose goodness inspires Santo-Germano, is threatened with the Inquisition. Pier-Ariana Salier, a musician who has been Santo-Germano's lover, loses her home and livelihood to an unscrupulous spymaster. Santo-Germano wishes to save and provide for both, but someone has embezzled much of his fortune and he has been accused of kidnapping a nobleman. To make matters worse, a spy has discovered the vampire's true nature and intends to kill him. Stretched to his limits, Santo-Germano must make most unpleasant choices in this powerful and passionate novel of religion and politics.