Chapter 1 Present Day Morton rushed off the stage of the nightclub, leaving behind the rest of the musicians who usually played for him. The piercing, thunderous applause and screams of the audience followed him as he turned the corner and headed for his dressing room. “Xavier!” He shook his head, ignoring the shouts, and opened the door to privacy at last. “Graham?” Too much privacy. The room was empty. Where was his lover? He’d thought he would be here, waiting. Shaking his head, he picked up a towel and wiped at the sweat dripping from his forehead. How was it he could be immortal and still sweat so much? It made little sense to him, but these performances made him sweat like he’d run four quarters across a basketball court. Morton sat before his mirror on the makeup table. He’d