Unexpected help appears in the form Celestine Vaughan, a vampire who represents The Society, a cooperative organization of humans and vampires. She promises that The Refuge will keep Michael safe from both William and hostile humans; he won't have to kill to survive. Michael wonders why Adam never told him about The Society. Before he can make extensive inquiries, however, an attack by William and an enslaved Adam forces Michael to move into The Refuge.

What should be the end of Michael's troubles is only the beginning, as he learns what The Society REALLY does and how The Refuge REALLY operates. Again and again COLD KISS makes us ask how good the good guys really are -- The Society, Adam ... even Michael himself, who is descended from Adam's sadism-tainted vampire bloodline. Michael's experiences are sometimes thought-provoking and sometimes downright scary. But through it all he remains a sympathetic character, courageous and kind, now and then showing understated and somewhat grim humor ("Since I am a vampire -- had I mentioned that? -- sunrises are not my favorite moments of the day.").

COLD KISS offers no easy answers to the central questions about the goodness and trustworthiness of vampires. But for this reader it leaves no doubt that Michael himself deserves a shot at continued existence. Whatever is in his blood, there is much of humanity in his thoughts and deeds.