The second novel in the Darkyn series an excellent Dark Fantasy series.

Alex has repaired the damage done to his body by the Brethren, a sadistic, brutal group of pseudo Priests, by incorporating her surgical skills and amazing Vampiric healing abilities, but Thierry's mind is still dangerously unstable and when he flees Cyprian's sanctuary in New Orleans, he heads for Chicago where a girl in ICU lives after being beaten and set afire in a brutal attack very reminiscent of what the Brethren had done to him and others. His only thoughts are to avenger the injustice as the Knight Templar he once was.

What he finds when he gets to Chicago is something he never thought to feel again, an intense attraction to Jema Shaw, the burned girl's former co-worker. Jema is dying and her life expectancy is very short but as he watches her, he decides to try and get whatever information he can from her about the burned girl, what he gets, is drawn into her dreams. Something compels him to come to her nightly and share her dreams, again, he is surprised by the diverse nature of the dreams and what they reveal about both parties, not just the specific erotic moments they share. As the dreams bring them closer and closer, Jema starts to remember more and more of the dreams, something that should not happen, and wants to explore more of the life she has been and will be denied.

Meanwhile, Cyprian, has come to request assistance from Jaus, the Surzerain of Chicago after Thierry's son Jamys takes off to find his father. Jamys tongue had been cut out at his mother's direction to prevent him from telling his father about his mother's betrayal making him only able to communicate telepathically, but only with humans and not with Kyn, which prevents him talking with those of his own kind and of letting his father know how much he cares about him.

Things start to heat up as bit by bit the pieces start to fall in place and when its discovered the "insulin" Jema's doctor has been giving her isn't insulin, questions begin to mount up faster than answers. In between assassination attempts on Cyprian, Jema and Alex, there a lot to be wary of and betrayal seems to be the only common denominator.

This book covers a lot territory and while I thought it an excellent book, I really recommend reading If Angels Burn first. Private Demon continues the story wonderfully and doesn't spend a lot of time back tracking, which is just fine with me, but may puzzle the reader if they pick up this book first. The interaction of the continuing characters is flawless, with each developing according to their own personalities and traits. Lynn Viehl does an excellent job of character progression and makes you want to stick with the story to find out what will happen next. I am eagerly anticipating Valentin Jaus' story in a future novel, hint hint.. And my only complaint is that I now have to wait until Dark Need, book 3 of the Darkyn is released in June 2006 to find out more about Lucan.