Blood and Broken Bonds

Gavin, a vampire duke, mourns his wife Roslyn, whose death was meant to end a political alliance. But Roslyn is alive, hiding in Alaska, tangled in a web of secrets and new loves. When Gavin finds her, old wounds reopen. Their marriage, unconsummated and fraught with betrayal, is a battlefield of desire and resentment. Gavin's possessiveness clashes with Roslyn's need for freedom, and the revelation of her survival sets off a chain reaction. The past refuses to stay buried, and the blood that once bound them now threatens to drown them both in longing and rage.

Wolves, Vampires, and Lies

Roslyn's new life is built on lies. She's found solace with the Mercer twins, Ben and Remi—wolf shifters who see her as their mate. But her past as a vampire duchess haunts her, especially when Gavin arrives, demanding what he believes is his. The Mercers' world is upended by her secrets, and the fragile trust between them is tested. Asher, a human hacker with a mysterious past, is drawn into their orbit, complicating loyalties and desires. The bar they run becomes a crucible for jealousy, confessions, and the first sparks of a love that refuses to fit any mold.

The Demon's Bargain

When Ben is accused of murder, Roslyn's world unravels. With no other options, she summons Pan, a seductive demon, to bargain for Ben's freedom. The price is steep: her body, her blood, and a piece of her soul. Pan's mark binds her, offering protection but also awakening forbidden desires. The demon's presence is intoxicating and terrifying, and Roslyn is forced to confront the darkness within herself. The deal saves Ben, but at a cost that will echo through every relationship she holds dear.

Secrets in the Shadows

The aftermath of Ben's release is a storm of revelations. The Mercers learn of Roslyn's marriage, her deal with Pan, and the true nature of her bloodline. Asher's own secrets—his curse and hidden power—begin to surface. The group is forced to confront the reality that love alone cannot shield them from the consequences of their choices. Each confession is a wound, but also a step toward a deeper, more honest connection. The shadows lengthen, and the line between ally and enemy blurs.

Mates and Misunderstandings

The bonds between Roslyn and her mates deepen, but so do the misunderstandings. Remi and Ben struggle with jealousy and the fear of losing Roslyn to Gavin or Pan. Asher's place in the group is uncertain, his humanity both a strength and a vulnerability. Gavin's attempts to reclaim Roslyn are met with resistance, but his own feelings are more complicated than he admits. The group must navigate the treacherous waters of polyamory, dominance, and submission, learning that love is as much about letting go as it is about holding on.

The Ties That Claim

The physical and emotional bonds between Roslyn and her mates are tested in the crucible of passion. Each man claims her in his own way—Ben's gentle dominance, Remi's playful strength, Asher's vulnerability, and Gavin's ruthless control. The lines between pleasure and pain blur, and Roslyn discovers new facets of herself in their arms. The group's intimacy becomes a sanctuary, but also a battleground, as old wounds and new fears threaten to tear them apart.

Tangled Hearts, Tangled Sheets

The group's sexual explorations become a mirror for their emotional struggles. Threesomes and foursomes test boundaries and trust, while the dungeon becomes a place of both healing and hurt. Roslyn's submission to Gavin is both a surrender and a reclamation of power. Asher and Remi's growing bond adds another layer of complexity. Each encounter is a negotiation of needs, desires, and fears, forging a family out of chaos and longing.

The Vampire's Return

Gavin refuses to let Roslyn go, escalating his efforts to reclaim her. He manipulates, seduces, and threatens, forcing her to confront the truth of their bond. The Mercers and Asher rally to protect her, but Gavin's power is formidable. The group must decide whether to fight for Roslyn or let her choose her own path. The past and present collide in a confrontation that will determine the future of every relationship in their tangled web.

The Council's Price

The vampire Council demands retribution for old crimes. Ben is forced to relive the massacre of his pack, testifying against Aisling, the vampire who destroyed his family. Gavin's political maneuvering is both a lifeline and a threat. The cost of justice is high, and the group must decide what they are willing to sacrifice. The Council's judgment hangs over them all, a reminder that power is never given without a price.

The Demon's Mark

Lilith, the original succubus, offers Roslyn a way to break Pan's hold. The price is a new bargain—her pleasure, her privacy, and a public display of submission. The deal severs Pan's connection, but not without consequences. Pan's rage is unleashed, and the group is left to wonder if they have traded one devil for another. The marks on Roslyn's body are both a warning and a promise: nothing is ever truly free.

The Plague Spreads

Pan, furious at losing Roslyn, unleashes a plague on Aurora Springs. Birds fall from the sky, animals sicken, and the land itself begins to die. The group is besieged by supernatural forces, their sanctuary no longer safe. Asher's curse worsens, and the boundaries between worlds begin to blur. The threat is no longer just personal—it is existential. Survival will require sacrifice, courage, and a willingness to face the darkness within and without.

The Bird Crisis

The town is attacked by a swarm of diseased ravens, a harbinger of the spreading plague. The group is forced to flee, seeking refuge in Asher's fortified home. The crisis exposes old wounds and new strengths, as each member of the group must confront their fears and limitations. The birds are not just a physical threat—they are a symbol of the chaos and corruption unleashed by Pan's vengeance.

The Fight for Freedom

The group faces enemies on all sides—Aisling's vengeance, Pan's plague, and the Council's demands. Each fight is a test of loyalty, love, and strength. The bonds between Roslyn and her mates are both weapon and shield, but not all battles can be won. Sacrifices are made, and the cost of freedom becomes painfully clear. The fight is not just for survival, but for the right to choose their own destiny.

The Dungeon's Lesson

In the sanctuary of Asher's dungeon, Roslyn and Gavin explore the depths of dominance and submission. The scene is both a lesson and a liberation, a space where pain becomes pleasure and trust is both tested and rewarded. The aftercare that follows is a reminder that true strength lies in vulnerability. The marks Gavin leaves are both a claim and a comfort, a testament to the power of love that embraces every part of the self.

The Death of Rosie

In a moment of chaos, Aisling kills Roslyn, snapping her neck before her mates can save her. The bond that united them is severed, leaving Ben, Remi, Asher, and Gavin in agony. Grief and rage consume them, and vengeance is swift but hollow. The loss of Roslyn is a wound that cannot be healed, a reminder that even the strongest love is not immune to fate's cruelty. The world darkens, and the end seems inevitable.

The Demon's Grief

Pan, too, is devastated by Roslyn's death. His obsession becomes grief, and his mother's disappointment is a new torment. The plan for the Apocalypse falters, and Pan is ordered to retrieve Roslyn's blood before it is too late. The hellmouth opens, and Pan prepares to walk the earth in a new vessel. The lines between love and possession, grief and rage, blur as the endgame begins.

The End Begins

The plague spreads unchecked, the town is dying, and the group is fractured by loss. The supernatural world teeters on the brink of apocalypse. Each character is forced to confront their own darkness, their own capacity for love and destruction. The bonds that once saved them may not be enough to hold back the tide. But even in the face of ruin, the possibility of resurrection—and revenge—remains.

Resurrection and Ruin

As the dust settles, the true cost of love and power is revealed. Pan prepares to claim Roslyn's body, the hellmouth yawns, and the world stands on the edge of destruction. The mates are united in grief and fury, ready to fight for what remains. But the game is not over. The next move belongs to the darkness, and the price of resurrection may be more than any of them can bear.

Characters

Roslyn Blackthorne

Roslyn is the linchpin of the story—a woman who faked her death to escape a loveless political marriage and the machinations of vampire society. Her journey is one of self-discovery, as she navigates the complexities of love, power, and identity. Torn between her past as a vampire duchess and her present as the mate of two wolf shifters and a human hacker, Roslyn is both vulnerable and fiercely resilient. Her willingness to sacrifice for those she loves is both her greatest strength and her deepest flaw. She is marked—literally and figuratively—by every man who claims her, and her struggle is to reconcile the many pieces of herself into a whole.

Gavin Donoghue

Gavin is Roslyn's estranged husband, a vampire duke whose love is as possessive as it is passionate. He is driven by a need to control, to claim, and to protect what he sees as his. Gavin's journey is one of painful growth, as he is forced to confront the consequences of his actions and the limits of his power. His dominance masks a deep vulnerability, and his love for Roslyn is both his salvation and his undoing. He is a master of pain and pleasure, but must learn that true strength lies in trust and surrender.

Ben Mercer

Ben is one of the Mercer twins, a wolf shifter whose stutter and quiet strength hide a well of pain. The massacre of his pack by vampires left him scarred, and his love for Roslyn is both a balm and a source of fear. Ben's dominance is gentle, rooted in a desire to care for and protect. He struggles with jealousy, inadequacy, and the fear of losing those he loves. His journey is one of healing, as he learns to trust, to share, and to accept love in all its forms.

Remi Mercer

Remi is Ben's twin, a wolf shifter whose humor and warmth hold the group together. He is the most adaptable, embracing polyamory and the complexities of their unconventional family. Remi's playfulness masks a deep need for connection and acceptance. He is both a caretaker and a provocateur, pushing boundaries and encouraging growth. His relationship with Asher adds another layer to his character, revealing a capacity for vulnerability and courage.

Asher Henry

Asher is the wildcard—a human with a mysterious past, a curse that threatens his life, and a heart that longs for belonging. His intelligence and resourcefulness make him invaluable, but his humanity is both a strength and a source of insecurity. Asher's journey is one of self-acceptance, as he learns that love is not about power, but about presence. His growing bond with Remi and Roslyn is a testament to the power of vulnerability and trust.

Pan (Pandemic)

Pan is the demon who bargains for Roslyn's body and soul. He is both tempter and tormentor, offering protection at a terrible price. Pan's obsession with Roslyn is a twisted form of love, rooted in his own loneliness and need for control. His actions unleash a plague on the world, but his grief at losing Roslyn reveals a capacity for pain and longing. Pan is a mirror for the darkness within every character—a reminder that love and destruction are often two sides of the same coin.

Lilith Duval

Lilith is the original demon, a succubus whose neutrality and self-interest make her both ally and threat. She offers Roslyn a way out of Pan's bargain, but at a price. Lilith's power is immense, but her true motives are always hidden. She is a force of nature, a reminder that in the supernatural world, nothing is ever truly free.

Aisling O'Connor

Aisling is the vampire responsible for the massacre of the Mercer pack and the ongoing threat to Roslyn and her mates. She is ruthless, cunning, and driven by a need for power. Aisling's actions are the catalyst for much of the story's conflict, and her death is both a victory and a tragedy. She is a reminder that the past is never truly dead, and that vengeance always comes at a cost.

Noah Blackthorne

Noah is Roslyn's brother, a vampire who straddles the line between family loyalty and political necessity. His love for Roslyn is fierce, but his inability to protect her is a source of pain. Noah's journey is one of acceptance, as he learns to trust Roslyn's choices and to let go of the need to control her fate.

The Vampire Council

The Council is the ultimate authority in the vampire world, a group of ancient beings whose decisions shape the fate of every character. They are both a source of justice and a reminder of the dangers of unchecked power. Their presence is a constant threat, and their judgment is both feared and sought.

Plot Devices

Polyamory and Mate Bonds

The story's central device is the polyamorous bond between Roslyn and her mates. Each relationship is unique, with its own dynamics of dominance, submission, jealousy, and trust. The mate bond is both a source of strength and a vulnerability, binding the group together but also exposing them to pain and loss. The narrative structure weaves these relationships into a tapestry of desire, conflict, and growth, using their intimacy as both sanctuary and crucible.

Supernatural Politics and Power

The vampire Council, the shifter hierarchy, and the demon bargains create a web of power that shapes every character's choices. Political alliances, betrayals, and bargains drive the plot, forcing the characters to navigate a world where love is never enough. The use of testimony, mind-reading, and magical contracts adds layers of tension and suspense, foreshadowing the inevitable collision between personal desire and public duty.

The Demon's Bargain and Mark

Pan's bargain with Roslyn is a classic Faustian device—offering salvation in exchange for something irreplaceable. The mark he leaves is both a shield and a shackle, a symbol of the ways in which love and power are always intertwined. The eventual breaking of the bargain, and the new deal with Lilith, underscores the theme that every freedom comes with a new form of bondage.

The Plague and Apocalypse

The supernatural plague unleashed by Pan is both a literal and metaphorical threat. It represents the consequences of unchecked desire and the dangers of playing with forces beyond one's control. The spread of disease, the dying animals, and the attack of the birds are all foreshadowed throughout the narrative, building a sense of impending doom that culminates in Roslyn's death and the opening of the hellmouth.

Death and Resurrection

The death of Roslyn is the story's emotional climax, shattering the bonds that have held the group together. The aftermath—grief, vengeance, and the possibility of resurrection—sets the stage for the next phase of the story. The use of death as both an ending and a beginning is a powerful device, forcing every character to confront the limits of their love and the true cost of power.

Analysis

Claimed by the Shifters is a dark, sensual exploration of love, power, and the cost of survival in a world where nothing is simple and every choice has consequences. At its heart, the novel is a meditation on the nature of bonds—romantic, familial, supernatural—and the ways in which they both save and destroy us. The polyamorous relationships at the center of the story are not just titillating; they are a crucible for growth, forcing each character to confront their own fears, desires, and limitations. The supernatural elements—vampires, shifters, demons, and plagues—are both metaphor and reality, externalizing the internal struggles of the characters. The book's willingness to embrace pain, both physical and emotional, is a testament to its commitment to honesty: love is not easy, and the things we do to protect it can be as destructive as they are redemptive. Ultimately, Claimed by the Shifters is a story about the power of choice—the choice to love, to trust, to fight, and to let go. It is a reminder that even in the darkest moments, the possibility of resurrection remains, and that the bonds we forge in pain can become the foundation for something new.

Last updated: September 10, 2025