Blood Bonded Mates Series by Jay Castle

DANTE. My ability to sense the things other people can’t has already cost me any shot I ever might’ve had at normalcy. But normal is overrated anyhow, right? So what if I routinely send guys running for the hills because I come off as too weird for them? Besides, I don’t really mind being alone. It’s easier that way, after all. But then I meet Aiden. He stares at me like I’m the last cupcake in the display and I don’t know why. What I do know is that he’s hiding something big. I can feel it... moreDANTE. My ability to sense the things other people can’t has already cost me any shot I ever might’ve had at normalcy. But normal is overrated anyhow, right? So what if I routinely send guys running for the hills because I come off as too weird for them? Besides, I don’t really mind being alone. It’s easier that way, after all. But then I meet Aiden. He stares at me like I’m the last cupcake in the display and I don’t know why. What I do know is that he’s hiding something big. I can feel it. His secrets call out to me, demanding answers. But the closer I get to him, the more certain I am that finding the truth might mean risking my heart in the process. AIDEN. Bartending in a college town keeps me grounded. It’s as close to being human as I can get. An arrangement with the very confused but still obliging local butcher ensures I don't have to hunt for what sustains me. It's a quiet life with only two rules. Rule number one: don’t hurt anyone. And rule number two: don’t let anyone get too close. Sure, sometimes it gets a little lonely, but I’ve learned long ago that giving my heart over to someone else is nothing more than a recipe for pain. It’s far better that I’m on my own. That is, until Dante takes a job at the bar and turns my entire world inside out. I know should stay away, but I’m having trouble taking my eyes off him. And even though the way I’m feeling is dangerous for both of us, I know it’s only a matter of time until I give in. less

Pierce:. My death day is sacred. I spend it the same way I wish I could spend every day: alone in my isolated cabin, with a glass of wine in one hand and a book in the other. But when the scent of human blood shatters my solitude, I find James—unflappable, undeniably gorgeous, and utterly unafraid of me. He makes my blood boil and he stirs desires dormant for over a century. I must protect him, even if it costs me everything. James:... morePierce:. My death day is sacred. I spend it the same way I wish I could spend every day: alone in my isolated cabin, with a glass of wine in one hand and a book in the other. But when the scent of human blood shatters my solitude, I find James—unflappable, undeniably gorgeous, and utterly unafraid of me. He makes my blood boil and he stirs desires dormant for over a century. I must protect him, even if it costs me everything. James:. In the wake of my father’s passing, I go to our secluded camping spot in the mountains to scatter his ashes. It’s almost a full day’s hike from civilization and I expected to grieve alone. I never dreamed I’d get stranded by a freak snowstorm or that I’d be attacked by wolves. I certainly never imagined I’d meet someone like Pierce, the grumpy, overprotective, and annoyingly handsome vampire who saves my life. Now, snowed in and surrounded on all sides by the werewolves determined to turn me into one of them, my only protection is the vampire I’m inexplicably falling in love with. Snowed in with the Vampire Prince is a 36,000-word fated mates novella with an HEA, instalove, a fair amount of hurt/comfort, and no cliffhanger. This is book 1 in the Blood Bonded Mates series. This book contains mild violence, strong language, spicy scenes between men, and passages depicting consensual blood drinking, as one might expect from a MM vampire romance. This book is intended for mature audiences. less

ETHAN. The bad news is that the vampires and witches of this city are all going to kill each other. Meaning that everyone I care about is pretty much doomed. The good news is, I have a plan to stop it. Step one: Marry Nathaniel Bailey, the leader of the city’s vampires. Step two: Make myself into the most enticing bait possible so that the murderous vampire who is actively trying to plunge the whole city into chaos comes after ME next... moreETHAN. The bad news is that the vampires and witches of this city are all going to kill each other. Meaning that everyone I care about is pretty much doomed. The good news is, I have a plan to stop it. Step one: Marry Nathaniel Bailey, the leader of the city’s vampires. Step two: Make myself into the most enticing bait possible so that the murderous vampire who is actively trying to plunge the whole city into chaos comes after ME next. Step three: Place my life in the hands of my newly minted husband, who probably doesn’t care whether I live or die. What could possibly go wrong? NATHANIEL. From the very first moment I lay eyes on Ethan Solomon, I know he’s my mate. And when he proposes to me less than five minutes after our first meeting, part of an insane plan to broker peace between the witches and the vampires, I accept his proposal without hesitation. Ethan thinks that we’ve entered into a fake marriage. He has no idea how real it is for me. He has no idea how long I have waited for him. And he has no idea that I will stop at nothing until I’ve made him mine. Married to the Vampire King is a 92,000-word MM paranormal romance novel featuring a potty-mouth warlock with no magic who just wants to protect everyone he cares about, a cinnamon roll of a vampire king who will do anything for his mate, snarky side characters, spicy scenes, a bit of magic, a dash of found family, and a guaranteed happily ever after with no cliffhanger. This is book 2 in the Blood Bonded Mates series. It contains some violence, mentions of death/loss of loved ones, strong language, sexual scenes between men, and passages depicting consensual blood drinking, as one might expect from a male-male vampire romance. This book is intended for mature audiences. less

BRYAN. After everything I've done, I don't deserve love. Especially not from Tobias Hawthorne—the brave, gorgeous, annoyingly perfect warlock who insists he's my fated mate. Actually, I might already be halfway in love with him, but Tobias doesn't need to know that. Because it can't happen. I can't put him in danger. Not when I've hurt so many people already. Instead, I'll use this darkness to hunt monsters and make the world a safer place. Love doesn't factor in... moreBRYAN. After everything I've done, I don't deserve love. Especially not from Tobias Hawthorne—the brave, gorgeous, annoyingly perfect warlock who insists he's my fated mate. Actually, I might already be halfway in love with him, but Tobias doesn't need to know that. Because it can't happen. I can't put him in danger. Not when I've hurt so many people already. Instead, I'll use this darkness to hunt monsters and make the world a safer place. Love doesn't factor in. And if I just keep telling myself that, maybe someday I'll believe it. TOBIAS. At fourteen, I cast a spell to see the face of my fated mate. I never expected it to be a vampire. And I denied it for years. Then I met Bryan, and my world made sense for the first time. Until he left. It's fine. I'm the coven's go-to warlock for banishing big bads. Work keeps me distracted. Except when it doesn't. Which is always. But Bryan needs space, and I'll give him anything he needs, even if it hurts. But then a demon shows me a future where Bryan dies. I have to protect him, no matter the cost. He doesn't want a warlock bodyguard. Too bad. I'm not going anywhere, even if saving him makes him hate me. Protecting His Vampire Mate is a 90,000-word MM paranormal romance novel featuring a golden retriever warlock who just wants to protect his mate, a stand-offish vampire who needs ALL of the love, only one bed, haunted houses and spooky ghosts that need to be banished, overcoming trauma, spicy scenes, lots of magic, and a guaranteed happily ever after with no cliffhanger. This is book 3 in the Blood Bonded Mates series. It contains some violence, mentions of death/loss of loved ones, on-page depictions of mind-control, strong language, sexual scenes between men, and passages depicting consensual blood drinking, as one might expect from a male-male vampire romance. Please see the front matter of the book for a discussion of potential triggers. This book is intended for mature audiences. less

DANNY. I’ve been hunting monsters for as long as I can remember, and for the last five years, Michael’s been by my side. He’s not just my partner—he’s my best friend. Things were simple. Then, four months ago, I thought we were both about to die. And I blurted out something I hadn’t even admitted to I’m in love with him. I always thought I was straight but there’s no denying that Michael is my person. He always has been. Except he doesn’t feel the same... moreDANNY. I’ve been hunting monsters for as long as I can remember, and for the last five years, Michael’s been by my side. He’s not just my partner—he’s my best friend. Things were simple. Then, four months ago, I thought we were both about to die. And I blurted out something I hadn’t even admitted to I’m in love with him. I always thought I was straight but there’s no denying that Michael is my person. He always has been. Except he doesn’t feel the same. Worse, now it seems like he’s planning to quit hunting. And every moment I have left with him is a reminder that he’s about to walk out of my world for good. MICHAEL. Five years ago, vampires took everything from me. The only thing that’s kept me together since then is Danny. He’s my home, even if he doesn’t know it. I’d do anything for him. But I can’t allow myself to love him. Not like he wants. The last time I let someone in, I lost everything. Maybe I’m the bad guy for pretending like nothing’s changed between us, but Danny’s confession is the one thing I can’t deal with. I can’t let myself be weak again. I won’t. But every day that passes, I see the hurt in his eyes and it’s getting worse. And I know that if I don’t figure this out soon, I’m going to lose him for good. Hunting His Vampire Mate is an 82,000-word friends to lovers MM paranormal romance featuring bi-awakening, fated mates, found family, spicy scenes, magic, and at least one deeply irritated vampire who has had quite enough nonsense for one night. This is book 4 of the Blood Bonded Mates series and there will be plenty of cameos of the couples from previous books and, as always, an HEA between the main characters with no cliffhanger. This novel contains strong language, explicit sexual scenes between two adult men, mentions of death/loss of a loved one, demisexual representation, displays of grief and devotion, and the consensual blood drinking one might expect to see in a male-male vampire romance. This book is intended for mature audiences. less

Cole. For eight hundred years, I’ve walked this world without feeling even a shred of human emotion. I hunt murderers with a song in my heart, but I’m no hero, anti or otherwise. I enjoy besting other predators, and my own pleasure has always been the only thing that matters. My world is clean, simple, and perfect. Then Eli stumbles into my life, and everything changes... moreCole. For eight hundred years, I’ve walked this world without feeling even a shred of human emotion. I hunt murderers with a song in my heart, but I’m no hero, anti or otherwise. I enjoy besting other predators, and my own pleasure has always been the only thing that matters. My world is clean, simple, and perfect. Then Eli stumbles into my life, and everything changes. The moment he looks at me with those dark, haunted eyes and calls me by a name I haven’t used in centuries, I feel something I thought lost to me forever: the ability to care for someone who isn’t me. Suddenly, my existence isn’t about pleasure anymore. I would burn it all down for him without even a moment’s hesitation. But Eli has built his life around saving others. If he ever learns what I’ve done or who I really am, he’ll never forgive me. He can never know the truth. Eli. I’ve seen Nicolas in my dreams for as long as I can remember. I always wake up gasping, drowning in feelings of heartbreak I can’t explain. But that’s sheer madness. I should be focused on the grueling hours I’m putting in at the ER. On my unstable ex, whose threats are getting worse. On my sister, whose life is falling apart right in front of me. Or maybe even on the fact that every man I’ve ever given my heart to has shattered it. Those things matter. The dreams don’t. Until the night I meet Nicolas. Then everything I thought I knew starts to unravel. Because he’s real. And he’s not human. I know I should run. But how can I leave the one person who’s always been mine, even before we’ve ever met? Still, I know he’s hiding something from me. Something far worse than his lack of heartbeat. And I have to know what it is. Even if it destroys everything. Awakening His Vampire Mate is the final book in the Blood Bonded Mates series. This 85,000-word spicy M/M paranormal romance features a skeptical human doctor coming face-to-face with the supernatural, dreams that might not just be dreams, a snarky inhuman vampire rediscovering his emotions through his fated mate, and a disgruntled detective stuck playing reluctant buddy cop to an immortal serial killer who hunts other killers. There will be at least one reunion centuries in the making, cameos from every couple in the previous books, and a guaranteed HEA (possibly even for some long-running side characters). You can also expect hurt/comfort, found family, funny moments, slow-burn spice, plenty of snark, and everyone getting exactly what they richly deserve. Content warnings: As an open-door gay vampire romance, this book contains explicit sexual scenes between two consenting adult men. Additional warnings include on-page violence (never between partners), stalking, mentions of off-page abuse occurring in the past, strong language, depictions of alcoholism, smoking, death, stalking, and consensual blood-drinking. All major characters in this series are part of the LGBTQ+ community. less