Sanguine

She needs an escape.

Carmine never wanted to be a blood bride. Despite what the instructors tell her fellow brides, she knows that being sold off to the highest vampiric bidder will at best be fatally boring and, at worst, actually fatal. When her bride price is paid, she's prepared to do whatever it takes to save herself from becoming a vampire's mate.

He wants a change.

Atticus Caldwell is restless. He doesn't regret leaving the vampiric crime syndicates behind, but as the years crawl by, he's forced to admit that something's missing. Seeking to break up the mundanity of his life, he takes on a safe, straightforward job. Unfortunately, there's very little that's straightforward about being tricked into transporting a rebellious blood bride to her groom, and there's certainly nothing safe about the troublesome woman herself.

They'll both get more than they bargained for.

Carmine is by turns disarmingly sweet and a vicious little hellcat ready to do anything to change her fate. Atticus would've helped her on principle, but with every new stunt she pulls, he's forced to admit he isn't doing it just out of the goodness of his heart. He doesn't want a blood bride, but he'd do just about anything to have her. Too bad she's determined not to become a vampire's mate - and he's not the only vampire desperate for a taste.

Sanguine is a complete standalone novella in The New Protectorate Universe and can be read without the context of the other books in the series. A full series list as well as a character directory and content warnings can be found on the author's website.