Title:
Bound By Blood
(Bound – Vampire/Werewolf
Romance 1)
Author:
Cynthia Eden
Release
Date: April 5, 2011
Publisher:
Self
Category:
Contemporary Erotic
Paranormal Romance
Type:
Digital
Blurb:
It’s
an Immortal War…
Vampires
and werewolves have been blood enemies for centuries, but now a new threat is
rising…demons are escaping from hell and those demons are intent on wiping out
both the vamps and the werewolves.
When
you have no one to trust…
In
order to stop the demons, pureblood vampire princess Morgan LaBeaux agrees to
the treaty offered by werewolf alpha Jace Vaughn. She’ll mate with him, share
her blood with him…and in return, the wolves will aid the vampires in this
battle.
The
enemy of my enemy is my husband…
But
Morgan doesn’t realize just how dangerous the wolves can truly be. Jace has
been waiting years to claim her. He’s set a trap for his princess, and now that
he has her, Jace doesn’t plan to let her go. He’ll send the demons back
to hell, and he’ll keep his vampiress—forever.
Because
the blood binds all.
Excerpt: (from the Cynthia Eden website)
By
reading any further, you are stating that you are at least 18 years of age.
If you
are under the age of 18, please exit this site.
The
sexy little vampiress walked into the bar as if she owned the place.
Since
Howling Moon was a low-rent dive hidden on the shadier side of Miami, a bar
that catered to werewolves, well, the lady was very much out of fucking place.
And, if she wasn’t careful, she might just become the night’s entertainment.
Jace
Vaughn tensed when he saw her. He wasn’t as drunk as the other wolves,
not yet anyway, so he recognized the deceptively delicate woman instantly.
He
could see the hint of her small fangs peeking out just behind the plump
fullness of her too-red lips. Vamps’ fangs always came out when they were about
to fight or fuck.
So
which one was the vamp about to do?
She
stilled inside the doorway of the bar. Her long blond hair tumbled behind her
as her gaze raked to the left. To the right. Huh. Looked like she was hunting
for someone—or something. In this place, the only thing she’d find was a pack
ready to rip her to pieces.
Vampires
and wolves weren’t exactly playing nice these days. Or any days.
She
should know that.
But
then her gaze swept by him. Swept by, then came right back. Her blue
eyes—bright with a vamp’s power—caught his. She stared at him, and Jace
found he couldn’t look away. A vampire’s trick of compulsion?
Nah…more
likely just his own lust. Because the lady was hot. Most female
vamps were, those pureblood ones anyway. And Jace knew he was looking at
one of the elite pureblood Florida vamps.
A
pureblood, in a werewolf hell.
He
smiled. Fate must be laughing her ass off somewhere.
Then,
she smiled too. A lick of heat shot straight through his body, and
the beast that he kept chained inside stretched and growled.
Want.
She
started walking toward him in her high, fuck-me or fuck-off black boots.
Jace shoved away from the bar.
But
the others had noticed her now, and they were closing in.
Three
males. Big and hulking because that was the way of the beast.
“Vampire…”
The snarl floated in the air, and the males reached for her.
“No!”
His roar broke a second too slowly.
Two
of the males crashed into nearby tables. They’d made the mistake of
actually touching her. You didn’t touch a vampiress who didn’t want to be
touched. Fools should know that rule.
Purebloods
were especially strong.
Excitement
had the beast inside yanking on his leash.
Every
person in the bar froze for a moment, then instantly turned their attention on
her. The vamp had the third wolf on the floor in front of her. He
hadn’t shifted, not yet, but his claws were already lengthening. She had one
small hand at his throat while the other held tight to his hair, yanking his
head back to better expose his neck.
Vampires
always went for the throat. So predictable. Their hunger made them weak
every time.
“Kill
the bitch…” Ah, that mutter came from one of the guys she’d tossed a good ten
feet. He was already rising with his claws out and blood dripping from his
busted cheek.
Jace
lifted his hand, staying the men even as they rose. “Not…yet.”
He
knew no one would disobey. They couldn’t. He was alpha, and if they tried, he’d
be the one kicking ass.
Even
the shitty band stopped playing as he crossed the room. The few human
females in the bar glanced around curiously, and he saw a couple of the
shifters push them toward the back. The women came to play at Howling
Moon. Or rather, the wolves played with them. Those women knew the score
about the supernatural world, and they knew to keep quiet about the paranormal
society.
The
vampiress didn’t release her grip on her prey. Jace took his time
stalking toward her. Like most vamps, she had pale, ivory skin. Her
features were…damn, pretty perfect. Wide eyes, high cheeks, small
nose. Her chin was pointed a little, giving her a slightly stubborn edge,
but then, bloodsuckers were not exactly known to be easy going.
Neither
were wolves.
She
wore all black. Tight black shirt, a very short black skirt, and
those boots that oozed sex.
Sex
and violence. Yeah, that was pretty much how vamps and wolves rolled.
As
he closed in on her, Jace picked up her scent, separating the light perfume of
her skin from the booze, sweat, and the cigarettes in the air. The
vampire smelled sweet, tempting.
Her
kind always did. The better to lure their prey in for that deadly bite. But she
was—
More.
He
inclined his head toward her. “Let him go.”
“Of
course.” Her voice rolled lightly, soft, sensual, but had no accent. She
dropped her hold on the wolf instantly.
Then
Mike made the mistake of lunging back up and slicing at her with his claws.
Rage
exploded inside of Jace, and he leapt forward even as his own claws broke from
his fingertips.
Don’t
hurt—
She
stepped back, ducked, then shoved her fist right at the wolf’s heart. Her
punch threw Mike back against Jace.
Jace
grabbed the wolf and twisted him around. He lifted the other guy off the
floor and glared at him. “I don’t remember giving you permission to attack,
Mike.”
He
heard the vamp’s breaths panting lightly and knew she wasn’t as controlled as
she appeared. No scent of fear, not yet.
“B-bloodsucker…comin’
in here…” Mike snarled. “She can’t just…walk in…”
“I
was invited here,” she said smoothly.
Still
trapped in Jace’s grip, Mike twisted and glared over his shoulder. “Who the
hell…would be dumb enough to invite a vampire here—”
“Your
alpha.” Her answer came with a shrug as her gaze lifted back to Jace.
Then she inclined her head in the smallest of subservient gestures. Submission.
“I was told of your offer, and I’m here to accept.”
Mike’s
head swung back toward him. “Jace?” His voice was stronger now. Wolves always
healed fast. “What bullshit is she talking about?”
Jace
slammed his forehead into Mike’s nose. Bones crunched and blood spurted even as
the smaller wolf howled. Then Jace threw the guy against the nearest
wall, one that was about fifteen feet away. When Mike crashed, he didn’t
get up.
Silence.
So thick it covered the whole bar. Jace stared at the vamp, trying to keep all
emotion from his face. Then, slowly, he closed the remaining space
between him and the woman who was going to change everything for him.
He
caught her hand and turned her palm over. Hell, yes, the mark was there,
cradled inside her left hand. Just like he’d known it would be. A
blood-red rose.
He
stood close enough to see the circle of gold in her eyes. The faint gold that
marked her just as her hand did. She was something far more than an ordinary
bloodsucker.
She
was a vampire princess. His key to power, immortality, and she was the
perfect weapon that he needed to kick the ass of the demons who’d come to town
looking to wipe out his people.
Her
lips parted as she stared up at him. He glimpsed her deceptively delicate
fangs.
And
he caught the scent of fear as it swept through her.
She
was right to be afraid. Now that she was there, within his grasp, and
he’d never let her go.
Never.
“I’m
Jace.” He let her see his own fangs. “And you’re mine.” A claim made
before all the wolves in the room. From now on, any wolf who touched her
would face him—and death.
She
swallowed and tilted her head back to better meet his stare. “Hello, husband.”
The
wolf within growled…Mine.
Review:
Jace is
an Alpha werewolf. Mortal enemies of vampires, but faced with a new threat,
demons who have been killing wolf and vamp alike, he offers a deal. Somewhere a
portal has been opened, allowing the demons to escape hell. Jace has a theory
that if he mates with a vampire princess (a pureblood) and drinks from her,
that he could gain enough strength to close the doorway and the looming demon
threat to both species. An alliance with the vamps whether temporary or permanent
could only serve in both best interests, so why the heck not? Mate with the
woman, end the threat. It’s easy. He only needs the vampire council to agree to
the terms. So he waits … until she walks in his door.
Morganna
has been thrown to the wolves- quite literally. At the urging of the council,
she agrees to mate with the wolf. No one seems to have any better ideas to end
the suffering at the hands of the demons so they might as well try working
together – just this once. Only problem is that Jace isn’t what she has been
led to believe about wolves, but neither is Morgan what Jace assumed about vampires.
The two share an instant attraction and also blood. With the blood sharing
comes a memory share. It isn’t an ability that wolves have ever had before, but
the wolves never before drank of the creatures that viewed as filthy either.
Morgan and Jace know the truth from their memory share. They also know how
strong their passion is. A temporary truce isn’t going to be much of an option
– especially after marking one another and claiming “mine”.
Holy
crap! I thought I really enjoyed the 3rd book in the series, which I
had mistakenly read first, but I enjoyed
this one even more! Ms. Eden has a talent in this relatively unexplored world
where vamp and wolf come together in a haze of lust and love. I was skeptical,
even after reading the 3rd book because often times, especially when
a series doesn’t spill over with common characters, it is difficult to hold the
same momentum. But hold it did! Now knowing that the 1st and 3rd
books are amazing, I have no doubt the other books in the series will be just
as phenomenal. It is hard to connect with characters within novellas most of
the time. And ultimately, these two didn’t go all that deep, but I still found
myself enjoying them very much, wishing for an HEA, easily picturing everything
occurring as it unfolded in the pages. Being able to assimilate into a story
with so few pages is quite a feat indeed. I can’t imagine anyone who enjoys
PNR, HEA’s, and especially some super erotic sensual heat, not absolutely
loving these stories. They are, what I consider, quick reads with solid plots,
likeable characters, and smoking hot sex. It’s made of win! Also, I just
downloaded this one for FREE! I don’t know if that is always the case, but
either way, you should already be on that! Get it in your TBR now! You won’t be
disappointed!
Kindle version
purchased for personal library
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