A novelette of 15,000 words, sequel to the Windrose Chronicles series by Barbara Hambly. When the head of a Los Angeles criminal gang seeks out exiled wizard Antryg Windrose looking for wizardly advice on his love life, Antryg realizes that the man's girlfriend is a lamia, a trans-dimensional creature that absorbs the soul and personality of her victim, a little at a time. Unfortunately her victims become addicted to the process of having their souls drained, who while the lamia is becoming more and more like a Los Angeles criminal - in cunning, ruthlessness, and selfishness - her victim, though demanding his freedom from her, is not really willing to give her up. And this is before she starts hunting other victims...