Vampire Dragons are members of the undead. They sustain themselves by drinking the blood of others. It is said that they are only “alive” at night, and seem dead or asleep during the day, as they cannot endure sunlight for long periods of time. Vampire Dragons can only reproduce by changing the eggs of other dragons, puncturing the shell with their fangs and injecting venom that kills the baby inside.

Dragons are highly-intelligent reptilian creatures that—from a human perspective, at least—appear to live forever. Many different varieties of dragon exist, each with their own unique qualities, habitats, and behavior. Adolescence in dragons is usually marked by the growth of a hatchling’s wings, although not all breeds of dragons grow wings and some breeds have other traits that indicate the beginning of maturation. In Galsreim, dragons and humans coexist peacefully.

Akilatrai is a frigid, vain female Vampire Dragon and the "mate" of Aszalia'xai. Merciless and cruel, she and her mate lead the growing coven of Vampire Dragons, manipulating the "daywalking" dragons with a smooth tongue and low tricks. Even Kiryu and most of the dominant males fear this serpent-toothed female, and despite the human being the supposed "owner", he has been forced into an almost subservient role to Akilatrai and Aszalia'xai. More than a few of the snakebite-like marks on Kiryu's body are from being coerced into "feeding" the two Vampires. There seems to be little hope for Kiryu and his other dragons to escape this cruel relationship, however the recently regrouping resistance seems to stand the best chance of overturning the Vampires...