Bloodbound

In Vespera, vampires don't lurk in the shadows, they rule. Caeryn Blaze was born to be a vessel, property of the De Laurentis family, raised to offer her blood on command. She knows the rules: keep your head down, never question, never forget what you are.

Then she walks into the vampire heir's chambers, and everything changes.

Malcolm De Laurentis has never fed from a human. But the moment Caeryn's scent reaches him, an ancient word awakens in his blood, mate.

She is his, not as a vessel, but she is something far more dangerous. Because mate bonds between vampires and the Bound are forbidden. If the higher houses discover the truth, they won't see love.

They'll see weakness. And in Vespera, weakness is destroyed. As their forbidden bond deepens, Malcolm refuses to take what his family demands. But the De Laurentis won't let their heir defy centuries of law. The Binding remains. Caeryn's blood is still owned.

And the vampire who swore to protect her must choose: His throne or his mate.

She was born to kneel. He was born to rule. Neither of them were supposed to be bound to the other.

But some bonds are older than kingdoms and  some vessels were never meant to obey.