Max Petrovsky is a soldier and two hundred year old vampire. Max is employed by the Kayrs family, vampires who rule the Realm. Max’s main duties include guarding Janie Paulsen, a gifted, psychic little girl prophesized to be the future of several of the immortal races. Max has always been rough and tough, but in caring for Janie he has discovered his softer side.

Sarah Pringle is a school teacher on the run from her own half-brother and the evil Kurjans. Her brother has had Sarah committed to a mental institution and is trying to take control of the family’s pharmaceutical business. Sarah has escaped and is hiding in a hotel when she spots Max outside her room. Sarah tries to make a run for it, but Max catches her, and then they are attacked by Kurjans.

I almost enjoyed this novella more than I have the full length novels in the series. It packed more of a punch, and it got to the point quicker. Maybe I just preferred the lead characters. Sarah has had a rough time, and she’s no fighter, but she’s tough and I really liked her spunk. Max has been in the two previous novels, and he’s adorable with Janie. I especially like how he plays Old Maid with the little girl and lets her paint his fingernails when he loses! He makes a good hero in this novella, too.

Emma Paulsen is a scientist, a geneticist. She’s also psychic and has had visions of a powerful king for most of her life. Emma has always been fierce, brave, and extremely protective of her empathic younger sister, Cara. Raised by an abusive father who thought his daughter’s gifts were signs of evil, Emma always put herself in the path of their father’s anger to protect Cara. Now Cara has married, and she’s in a different kind of danger. When Emma is kidnapped by the evil Kurjans, she doesn’t expect the king from her visions to save her.

Dage Kayrs is the King of the Realm, a powerful vampire. He has dreamt of Emma for two hundred years. He knows as soon as he sees her that Emma is his mate. Emma is not interested in being tied to any man. She’s always taken care of herself. Although she quickly realizes she has feelings for Dage, when she finds herself marked and mated to him, she is angry at first. Cara has been infected with a powerful virus created by the Kurjans to break the mating bond. The virus however has killed most of those it has been tested on. Emma must find a cure for Cara before it’s too late. Her own life may be in danger.

I liked this second book in the series. Some of the scientific parts of the story dragged for me. I’m already tired of this whole virus thing, and I know it’s going to go on through the rest of the series. I wish it didn’t. I also got a little annoyed with Emma when she refused to trust Dage. There were things she withheld and stupid things she tried to do on her own instead of asking for help. Her mate was described as the most powerful being in the world, and she was trying to fix everything herself. That was silly. I liked Dage a lot, but I thought he was too easy on Emma when he should’ve been tougher with her.