Alek Dragovich (Drago) is an enforcer for the undead Directorate. His responsibilities include judging whether "aberrations" (people of mixed vampire/dhampir/human blood) should live or die. He has enjoyed his position of power for many years until he is called upon to judge Marya Jaks, daughter of a gypsy dhampir. Shortly after her interview by Drago, Marya discovers that he has deemed her a threat and marked her for death. Not one to take things lying down, Marya decides to fight back.

Marya and Drago are soon dragged into a world of "kill or be killed". Someone wants them both dead but who?

Afterimage follows on directly from Jaye's previous book "Double Image" and it is equally as enjoyable. Jaye has taken Drago, one of the lesser combatants from the first volume, and has expanded his character into a marvellous lead. When reading Afterimage gain insights into his past that explain some of the aspects of his personality. Marya Jaks is a red-blooded gypsy with the passionate nature you would expect from a member of this society. She is a strong woman, not one to take her death sentence lightly. If she is going to die then she is damn-well going to take Drago with her.

This book combines many features that I love to find in a book; strong characters (both male and female), good interplay between the main participants, a compelling plot line, a decent smattering of sexual tension and vampires! Afterimage was another of those "one-sitting" books that I love to read and I look forward to the next.

Synopsis
  Russian Alek Dragovich, enforcer for the Undead, is feeling the weight of his years and has yet to find the elusive affaire d'amour that would lighten his burden. Nothing, but nothing, is going well.

  His position in the Directorate is in jeopardy, and even his mentor Nikolena is threatening to remove her support if Drago doesn't stop employing his unorthodox methods of resolving his cases. Nikolena gives Drago one last chance to redeem himself—to locate and eliminate a high-ranking member of the Brotherhood who is using forbidden methods to ascend the hierarchy. Still, Drago has little interest in Nikolena's schemes until this one becomes personal. When someone tries to kill him…that's personal.

  That "someone" is raven-haired Gypsy Marya Jaks, daughter of a dhampir, offspring of a vampire and his mortal wife. Dhampirs are famous among the Roma for their ability to detect vampires, thereby making them perfect vampire killers. When Marya learns that Drago has deemed her a threat to the vampire community and has ordered her termination, she strikes back.

  Drago, the hunter, has become the hunted, but is it Marya who truly wants him dead or Nikolena's mysterious power-hungry vampire? Drago resolves to keep Marya alive until he can learn the truth, and he must summon the strength of will to elevate himself from pawn to player in the deadliest of games.

  The afterimage of Drago's neon blue eyes has haunted Marya from the first moment she encountered him in her bedroom, but will the image signify her destruction, or a bond so powerful it can overcome a legacy of hatred.