Revealed: Brides of the Kindred #5

Revealed
Evangeline Anderson
Brides of the Kindred, book five
ebook, 376 pages
Published February 24th 2012 by Evangeline Anderson Books (first published January 12th 2012)
ISBN 9781452488356

Nadiah has the Sight—the ability to see into the future. But the one thing she can’t see is how she’s ever going to be free of the blood bond her parents forced her into when she was only six. Her fiancée is an evil bastard who delights in torturing her and her only way out of a loveless marriage is for a Kindred warrior to challenge the hated bond. But Nadiah has no warrior to challenge for her—she just has Rast.

Adam Rast doesn’t know why he feels so protective and possessive of Nadiah, only that he’s willing to kill or die to protect her. When the chance to set her free arises, he takes it without hesitation, even though his lack of Kindred blood could mean his defeat or even his death. But Rast has a secret, one even he doesn’t know he possesses. When he undertakes Nadiah’s quest, the truth comes out in a strange and provocative way.

Can Nadiah and Rast live through their ordeal? Will the truth about Rast set them free…or kill them?

! Spoilers !

After four books, we finally get a change of pace. A breath of fresh air. Up until now, the males have been wonderful mates, living and breathing with the sole purpose of cherishing and protecting their women. Well, now we have Detective Adam Rast. A guy who doesn't give a damn about pissing off a girl.

• Rast gave her a long look and then shook his head. ​"You'​re fucking gorgeous, you know? It​'s too damn bad all that pretty has to come with crazy attached to it."​ (taken from Found)

And yet... it doesn't last. Suddenly Rast is one of our own when Nadiah faints beside him in the HKR building and is unable to be revived. Sylvan comes at once to collect his weakened cousin. As he attempts to take her from Rast's arms, a switch gets flipped and instantly Rast is consumed with the need to keep her to himself. No other male may touch her. No matter that Sylvan is married and kin to the woman.

Honestly, both Rast and Nadiah have changed since we first met each of them. Back in book two, Nadiah was a spirited young woman who swooned over anything romantic. But when the gift of Sight comes upon her, Nadiah matures fast from the burden, and her impending bond in an arranged marriage only exacerbates her misery.

The first chapter alone was so touching and I didn't expect chapter two at all as Rast jumps right into the challenge to break Nadiah's blood bond betrothal. Soon enough, he's telling his mom he's leaving Earth and will likely never return. Okay, son, By the way, you're adopted.

These two definitely have some fucked up parents. On a positive note, the guy's willing to sing. And vows not to change the color of Nadiah's eyes (for us non Tranq Prime people, that means he won't fuck her). The guy goes through almost the whole ordeal with the state of mind that he doesn't get to keep her in the end. But alas, he declares his love and his intention of marrying her. And only then will he take her virtue. Big mistake there.

• “No!” It was a shout of agony from the bottom of his soul. Suddenly Rast knew what he had to do. He had to pull Nadiah to him, yes. But he also had to give her a reason to come. Had to give her the strength to break the bond with her evil fiancée and come to him forever.
  
  “Nadiah,” he called, yanking on the cord as hard as he could. “Nadiah, come back to me right now. Come back to me because I love you!”
  
  Her eyes flew wide and she turned her attention from Y’dex to him. “Rast,” she whispered uncertainly. “Do you…do you really mean that?”
  
  “Of course I fucking mean it!” he shouted, angry and desperate with love for her. “Now get back here so I can prove it!”

Merrick finally makes his grand entrance. He's a seven-foot-seven hybrid Kindred male with the cock of the Beast Kindred and the fangs of the Blood Kindred. His eyes are mismatched and he bears scars across his face. Formidable for sure. But Elise, the last tortured victim of the AllFather doesn't even notice when he saves her from her escape pod which has been lost, floating in space.

Updating our other favorite people... Kat is preparing to marry Lock and Deep. Lauren is pregnant. Yay Xairn!! And Sophia and Severn have yet to conceive, but apparently there's a reason. For the Goddess is waiting for the heir to take the Empty Throne. And our loveable no-mere-human is that heir.

All he has to do to claim it, is sprout wings. and remain on First World forever.

I'm not sure where all these people would be without Sylvan and Kat. Certainly not together. Those two are the answers to so many of the problems that arise. And thankfully, now Sylvan can become a daddy.

By now, we've met Lissa, whom I'm fairly certain is the heroine of book seven. She's been exiled to the First World by her mother to serve as a priestess and well, the book *is* entitled Exiled. I'm beginning to wonder if this series ever ends...?

Taking a small, day-long break before book six to explore another story. It's way overdo, and with fourteen new books this week, I've got plenty of options.

4 out of 5 stars.

When the evening shadows and the stars appear

And there is no one there to dry your tears

I could hold you for a million years

To make you feel my love

Previously in the series: