Dirty Blood

A sickness has claimed the kingdoms of men. Everyone is either sick or dying, weak to a curse that has no cure—except for me. I’m immune to this mysterious illness, and I do my best to heal the sick and ease the pain of the dying. I was supposed to marry the Prince of Raventower, but after his father and elder brother succumbed to the sickness, he’s now king—and can only marry someone of his station.

Kingsnake promised me he would let me go once he found the cure, but he’s known this entire time and never once shared it with me. And now that I know the truth—that there is no cure—he still won’t let me go. Now I’m his prisoner once again. He asks to feed from me several times, but I refuse all his advances. If he wants my blood, he’ll have to force it from me. He comes to my bedchambers to speak with me, but I pretend he doesn’t exist. Once his hunger intensifies and the weakness sets in, he’s forced to feed—and it won’t be from me.

Kingsnake and I still have to finish what we started, to form an alliance with The Ethereal and share the cure with the humans, but now it’s hard to be in the same room with him. We’ve found our way back to each other before…but I’m not sure how we’ll do it this time.

My task is simple: kidnap Princess Rolfe. But the second I lay eyes on her I realize she’s anything but simple. Rancor, Leader of the Teeth, has commanded I fetch her in exchange for the Golden Serpent venom. But my plan is immediately derailed when I feel it. When I feel how much she wants me… I’ve had many lovers in my lifetime, but her passion puts them all to shame. One night turns into two…and then three…and then it becomes clear all my nights will be reserved for this woman. But I gave Rancor my word—and I have to keep it.

Harlow is smart and fierce, and I should have known that she would cross me. Now I'm a prisoner under the castle—and once her father returns I'm as good as dead. I've heard tales of the king's ferocity, and I know he'll burn me alive with just his stare. But before he can kill me, I make a proposal. If he lets me live, I'll pledge the vampires to fight in this war. The Teeth are dangerous, whatever plans they have are even more dangerous. King Rolfe needs me alive—whether he likes it or not. He spares my life—but I'm still a prisoner.

I had the chance to leave these lands and avoid the war—but I chose to stay. I chose to stay because if I don't keep Harlow safe, she'll die. The demons are a foe too powerful, invulnerable to Huntley's fire-breathing dragons, a fiend so untouchable that HeartHolme and the other kingdoms stand no chance. I tried so hard to fight it, restrained my emotions from the first time we were together, but the inevitable has come to pass. I've fallen hard for this woman—a human. I've chosen to risk my immortality for her even though she wouldn't forsake her humanity for me.