Lover Eternal (Book 2)

Even when there were no more options for the body, the heart’s wishes find a way out, and as with all warmth, love rises. Besides, the will to fly was in the nature of the soul, so its home had to be up above. And gifts did come from the sky, like spring rain and summer breezes and fall sun and winter snow.

-Mary Luce on love and death

Lover Eternal is the second novel of The Black Dagger Brotherhood series by J.R. Ward. It is preceded by Dark Lover and followed by Lover Awakened. It was first published March 7, 2006.

The story of The Black Dagger Brotherhood is continued with the Brother Rhage as he falls in love with a human, which is forbidden to vampires.

Synopsis[]

In the shadows of the night in Caldwell, New York, there’s a deadly war raging between vampires and their slayers. And there exists a secret band of brothers like no other - six vampire warriors, defenders of their race.

Possessed by a deadly beast, Rhage is the most dangerous of the Black Dagger Brotherhood...

Within the brotherhood, Rhage is the vampire with the strongest appetites. He’s the best fighter, the quickest to act on his impulses, and the most voracious lover—for inside him burns a ferocious curse cast by the Scribe Virgin. Possessed by this dark side, Rhage fears the times when his inner dragon is unleashed, making him a danger to everyone around him.

Mary Luce, a survivor of many hardships, is unwittingly thrown into the vampire world and reliant on Rhage’s protection. With a life-threatening curse of her own, Mary is not looking for love. Her faith in miracles was lost years ago. But when Rhage’s intense animal attraction turns into something more emotional, he knows that he must make Mary his alone. And while their enemies close in, Mary fights desperately to gain life eternal with the one she loves…

Main Characters[]

Other Characters[]

Black Dagger Brotherhood Members[]

Others - Speaking Roles[]

Mentioned or non-Speaking Roles[]

Boo
iAm and Trez as "The Moors"

Plot[]

In 1898, Rhage joins the Brotherhood, but he was young and arrogant and made many poor decisions. He killed an owl, sacred to The Scribe Virgin, and begins to realize there are consequences to his actions. She curses him for the death of the bird with The Beast.

John Matthew, a mute orphan, calls the Suicide Prevention Hotline and listens to Mary Luce talk to him. While soaking her feet in a backyard pool, she sees John and invites him to join her. He's so small, obviously poor and hungry, that she doesn't feel threatened. He'd followed her home and confessed that he lived across from the hotline office and worried about her getting home safely since it was in a bad neighbourhood. So he started following her home to make sure she was safe.

Mary's neighbour and friend, Bella, came over to visit and pegged John as a vampire. While talking with Mary acting as interpreter, Bella asks about a bracelet John wears. He tells her that he made it after seeing the characters over and over in his dreams. Since it was in the language used by vampires, Bella recognized it as a warrior's name: Tehrror.

Bella calls the Brotherhood and at their direction, she brings John and Mary to the Brotherhood compound, telling them that it's a martial arts dojo because John has an interest in it. During John's meeting with the Brotherhood in the training centre, Rhage stumbled towards the gym to try and work off what was essentially a hangover after recently changing into the Beast. Virtually blind, he ran into Mary and, intrigued by her scent, came on too strongly for her comfort.

The Brotherhood erased her memory, but Rhage is determined to see her again. He asks Bella to set them up on a blind date and tells her to give Mary the name of Hal E. Wood. Since neither of them was familiar with human dating customs, Bella suggested T.G.I. Friday's. Other women in the restaurant, including the waitress, tried to catch his attention, but he only had eyes for Mary, who assumed he was merely humouring her. He was stunned by the fact that she wouldn't think someone like him would find her attractive.

He comes to look for her in her home one day and start to spend more time together. They fall for each other. One not being able to be without the other. Rhage finds out that Mary has terminal leukemia and so Mary starts to push him away. Scared to hurt him. After having sex with random women, Rhage realizes nothing can make him not want to be with Mary and they get back together.

Rhage brought Mary to the mansion to protect her from the Lessening Society, who ended up with her purse and therefore her name and address. The Brotherhood discovers he went against orders and not only did he not wipe her memory, but he also brought a human to the mansion. Scared by the Brothers and their anger, she tried to leave, but the front door was blocked by Zsadist, who frightened her further. Beth, carrying Boo, interrupted and scolded them for scaring Mary. She ordered the Brothers back into the billiards room where they'd been playing pool.

Wrath went to the Scribe Virgin over Rhage's transgressions, and she agrees to a Writhe ceremony as penance, which is essentially ritual torture at the hands of the Brotherhood. For the ceremony, Tohrment selects a three-tailed whip tipped with what looks like barbed pinecones. The only limit is that the Brothers cannot kill him, and they whip him bloody, then bandage him up. Zsadist tried to refuse to participate, but the Scribe Virgin pulled him aside for a private word and he took part. They tried to sneak Rhage into the Pit to recuperate, but Mary found them and yelled at them for hurting him.

Rhage has been scared to sleep with Mary because the Beast within him starts to lose control and he is scared that it will harm her. At one point he has sex with a random woman to calm his Beast, which sets back his relationship with Mary.

Rhage goes to Vishous for advice on how to tie him up to prevent the Beast from taking control. Without missing a beat, V suggests chains like the kind you'd use to tow a car. Butch and V chain him thoroughly to his bed and then wait out in the corridor as an extra precaution. Mary though is not scared and shows the Beast kindness, and finds that the Beast listens to her, that her calm voice soothed it and allowed Rhage to return from Beast form once all threats were eliminated. They are able to sleep together, Rhage able to relax knowing that is the beast comes through it won't harm her.

As Mary gets worse, Rhage is desperate to do something about it so visits the Scribe Virgin. She makes a deal with Rhage for Mary’s health and long life in exchange for Rhage never being in her life again and taking on the Beast perpetually. The Scribe Virgin then adjusted the pact once she discovered that Mary was barren after chemotherapy. Since balance required a life for a life, infertility meant they could be together.

Chapter Summary[]

Chapter 1[]

The chapter begins in the Pit, the Brotherhood's off-site apartment, where Butch O’Neal searches through his sock drawer while getting dressed to visit Marissa. He and Vishous exchange sarcastic banter, showcasing their deepening friendship. Butch is clearly nervous about seeing Marissa again, especially since she’s been ignoring his calls for weeks. Despite this, he dresses sharply—new Brioni tie, Tom Ford jacket—hoping to find closure or rekindle what sparked between them.

Vishous is his usual cool and tech-savvy self, managing the Brotherhood’s new security command center while teasing Butch about his fashion obsession. Rhage arrives, larger-than-life in his leather trench and flirtatious bravado. He needles Butch about dressing up for what appears to be just another night at the club, but quickly realizes there's more to it—namely, Marissa.

Rhage unexpectedly opens up about longing for a deeper connection with a worthy female, a rare moment of vulnerability from the Brotherhood’s most sexually insatiable member. Butch is surprised by the sincerity behind Rhage's usual charm and bravado, but the moment passes quickly, covered up by a return to sarcasm and bravado.

Meanwhile, across Caldwell, Mary Luce arrives home from work at a local law office. Though her job isn’t demanding, she feels mentally and emotionally drained. She reflects on her past working with autistic children—a profession she found truly fulfilling—and considers reaching out to volunteer again.

Mary’s cozy converted barn home is a sanctuary, filled with light colors and clean spaces that reflect her need for peace after a dark childhood. As she settles in, she checks her voicemail: one message is from a colleague asking her to cover a shift at the suicide hotline, the other from her doctor requesting a follow-up to her recent physical.

The second message sends her into a spiral. The vague wording—“we’ll accommodate you”—terrifies her. Mary immediately suspects the worst: her leukemia, previously in remission, has returned.

Chapter 2[]

The chapter opens in a grimy basement where Mr. O, a high-ranking lesser, confronts his incompetent partner Mr. E after a failed interrogation. A vampire captive has escaped, and E, now injured and panicking, scrambles to explain the failure. Mr. O, unimpressed and coldly calculating, reassures E—only to send him away and begin cleaning the bloody mess. His real plan: eliminate E to preserve his own reputation and control.

The lessers are working out of a rundown house in a rough part of Caldwell—perfect for avoiding attention. O reflects on how poorly equipped the current setup is for long-term captivity and fantasizes about securing a remote, fortified facility to hold and break vampires over time.

When the Fore-lesser, Mr. X, arrives, the power dynamic shifts. Mr. X, pale and emotionless from his years in the Omega’s service, surveys the chaos and questions O. A tense exchange follows—O wants to discipline E himself, setting a brutal new standard for performance. Mr. X agrees, though he reminds O who's really in charge, paralyzing him briefly with a show of power. Before leaving, he grants O permission to handle E in front of others, hinting at the ruthless culture within the Lessening Society.

Meanwhile, the narrative shifts back to the Brotherhood. Rhage and Vishous step out of the Escalade at One Eye, their regular dive bar. The Brothers have spent the night patrolling for lessers without success—unusual and unsettling after their recent strike against the Society. Rhage, whose dangerous inner curse needs regular outlets through violence or sex, is on edge. His power is building dangerously, and he fears losing control.

As Butch prepares to see Marissa, Rhage wishes him luck. He and Vishous discuss Butch’s feelings for the vampire female, revealing that even among warriors, emotions complicate things. Rhage then turns the conversation to himself, asking V if he’s ever seen his future. Vishous's cursed, prophetic eye turns black, and he warns Rhage: his destiny is coming—and she’s a virgin.

The foreboding moment rattles Rhage, who’s haunted by the beast within and the 91 years left on his curse. Though intrigued by V’s prophecy, he ultimately chooses not to know more. The chapter ends with the two Brothers stepping into the bar, the promise of fate hanging in the air.

Chapter 3[]

Mary worries about a cryptic voicemail from her doctor, dreading the possibility that her leukemia has returned. Although she's been in remission for two years, fear claws at her as she drives downtown to volunteer at the Suicide Prevention Hotline. It’s Thursday night, and she’s covering for another volunteer, hoping the work will distract her from spiraling thoughts of sickness and death.

As she enters the rundown building in a dilapidated part of town, memories of her past brush up against her present. Years ago, Mary had been on the other end of the hotline, a desperate caller. Now, she’s one of the most dedicated volunteers, though she keeps her own battles—past and possibly present—hidden from everyone.

Soon after settling into her cubicle, she receives a call from her anonymous, silent regular. He always phones from pay phones downtown, never speaking, never identifying himself. Though unnerving, the repeated calls have become familiar. Mary suspects the caller is troubled, but she also feels a strange connection—like she's helping, even without a conversation. Rhonda, the executive director, confronts her about her obsession with the caller, voicing concern that Mary is too emotionally invested and needs to take a break. Despite Mary’s protests, Rhonda insists she take two weeks off after Bill arrives for his shift.

Mary leaves reluctantly and returns to her empty, silent home. The solitude crashes in, triggering memories of her illness and of watching her mother die slowly and painfully from the same disease. Unable to stay inside, she flees into the cold night air and walks to her backyard pool. Dipping her feet into the freezing water, she uses the shock to suppress a mounting panic attack.

A movement nearby draws her attention, and she’s startled to find a boy standing near the pool. He’s thin, pale, and hauntingly beautiful—almost otherworldly. He doesn’t speak but uses American Sign Language. Mary, who once worked with autistic children, quickly signs back. The boy, John Matthew, confirms he’s the silent caller. He explains that he never meant to frighten her; he just finds comfort in her voice. He’s been watching over her from a nearby building and even followed her home—on his bike, because he worries for her safety late at night.

Instead of feeling threatened, Mary is deeply moved. John is painfully vulnerable but sincere. Despite the clear boundaries her volunteer role imposes, she invites him to stay by the pool. He quietly joins her, and the two sit side by side, their feet in the water.

When Mary’s elegant and mysterious neighbor Bella walks over to check on her, she meets John and immediately draws his attention. Bella, with her dark beauty and enigmatic presence, fascinates everyone she meets. But instead of withdrawing, John relaxes into the shared moment. Mary, sensing the fragility in him, silently promises herself not to turn him away.

Chapter 4[]

Rhage and Vishous spend the evening at a bar frequented by humans, where Rhage hunts for a female to help him burn off the destructive energy building inside him. He selects a blonde human woman who’s clearly interested, but their interaction is briefly interrupted by Caith, a vampire female known for throwing herself at the Brothers. Rhage coldly rebuffs her advances, making it clear he has no interest in her. Despite Caith’s persistent flirtation and sexual insinuations, Rhage keeps his focus on the human woman, recognizing the emptiness of the interaction but compelled by the physical need that comes with his curse.

Meanwhile, across town at Mary Luce’s backyard pool, she and John Matthew are enjoying a light-hearted evening with Bella. John shares his love of martial arts and movies, and for a rare moment, laughter and warmth define the gathering. Things shift when Bella notices John’s leather bracelet and the unusual symbols etched into it—symbols she instantly recognizes as part of the Old Language, spelling out the warrior name Tehrror. Her sudden intensity alarms both Mary and John, but Bella quickly pulls back, apologizing. John, unsettled, begins to experience a sharp headache, which Mary interprets as possible hypoglycemia and coaxes him into the house with her for dinner.

Once inside her own kitchen, Bella processes the realization that John is a vampire who hasn't yet undergone his transition. The markings, his age, and the fact that he’s unaware of his true identity make the situation urgent. She considers reaching out to her brother Rehvenge or to Havers, the race’s physician, but quickly concludes that neither is the right fit. Instead, she retrieves a secret number rumored to connect civilians to the Black Dagger Brotherhood and makes a call. To her shock, someone answers after the beep. She leaves a message, simply stating she needs help.

A short while later, Bella receives a call back. A commanding male voice confirms they received her message and instructs her to bring John to them the following night at nine. When Bella explains John cannot speak and uses a human translator—Mary—the voice on the other end assures her they will handle any necessary memory erasure. He already knows her address. The call ends with chilling efficiency.

Bella returns to Mary’s place and gently brings up the idea of introducing John to a group of elite martial artists, leaving out the full truth. John is intrigued but worries about the cost and his physical size. Bella assures him the meeting is free and encourages him to at least meet the group. When John reminds her that he can hear perfectly well, she apologizes and reiterates the offer. With Mary translating, John agrees to go. Mary, initially surprised to be asked to come along, learns it’s at nine p.m. and agrees, unaware that the meeting is with the Black Dagger Brotherhood.

Chapter 5[]

Butch heads to One Eye in a haze of rejection after Marissa refuses to see him. He seeks comfort in alcohol, finding his usual companions absent or occupied. Vishous eventually joins him, emerging from a back room with disheveled clothes and a woman trailing behind. The two exchange brief sympathies over Butch’s failed attempt with Marissa before V announces that Wrath has summoned them back to the mansion.

Butch offers to gather Rhage, who’s busy in a dark corner with a brunette. The moment is interrupted when Butch informs him of the Brotherhood’s call. Frustrated but understanding, Rhage compels the woman into a docile trance before leaving. Outside, he apologizes to Butch for the earlier hostility, and they share mutual disappointment over their respective failed encounters.

On the way back, their ride is interrupted by a scene in a field: a group of lessers hanging a body from a tree. Rhage charges in without hesitation, launching into combat without a weapon. Vishous warns Butch to stay in the vehicle, but Butch grabs a Glock and joins the fray. Rhage’s fighting is savage, powerful, and without mercy. Vishous and Butch handle other attackers, and Butch eventually makes his way to the body hanging from the tree—a dead lesser, badly beaten.

As Butch investigates the body, a gunshot rings out and Rhage drops, shot in the shoulder. Butch prepares to fire at the shooter but is blinded by a sudden flash of light. Vishous grabs him, dragging him back to the Escalade. Butch insists on going back for Rhage but is silenced by an unearthly roar.

In the clearing stands a massive beast—eight feet tall, dragon-like, cloaked in iridescent scales, with glowing white eyes and dagger-like claws. It’s Rhage, transformed. Vishous explains that Rhage was cursed by the Scribe Virgin and now harbors a beast within him, triggered by emotional or physical overload. The creature annihilates the remaining lessers in a brutal, horrifying display.

Butch watches in stunned silence. The monster, sensing no more enemies, turns its focus to the Escalade, approaching with terrifying intensity. Its breath fogs the glass as it comes nose-to-nose with Butch. Then, with a cry of anguish, the creature convulses and flashes once more—Rhage returns to his normal form, naked and bloodied, lying in the grass.

Butch rushes out and covers him, trying to comfort the weakened warrior. Rhage, delirious and trembling, asks for Vishous and begs to be taken home. Butch assures him they’ll get him there safely.

Elsewhere, O escapes the scene, having witnessed the beast's carnage. He returns to his truck, calculating the magnitude of what just occurred. Six lessers were lost in minutes, and the Brotherhood’s strength—especially whatever power Rhage holds—is clearly beyond anything they anticipated. O calls Mr. X to report the disaster, knowing punishment is inevitable. Still, he clings to the one victory of the night: torturing and killing E. As ordered, he heads to a secluded cabin in the woods to meet with Mr. X and deliver the full report.

Chapter 6[]

Rhage struggles with the aftermath of a brutal attack, his senses impaired and body aching from severe pain. Unable to focus his eyes, he feels helpless as V and Butch carefully lift and carry him to the safety of V’s Escalade. Cold and nauseous, Rhage fights waves of sickness while being transported home, his body feeling battered as if struck repeatedly with a spiked bat. Despite the intense nausea and weakness, his friends provide steady support, urging him to hold on and promising care.

Once home, Rhage is helped into the shower, where the warmth and cleansing water offer some relief from the grime and pain inflicted by his attacker. The gentle care from Butch and V helps soothe both his physical wounds and his shaken spirit. Afterwards, Rhage is led to bed, given Alka-Seltzer for his stomach, and slowly drifts toward rest, surrounded by trusted friends.

As Rhage rests, V and Butch quietly discuss the severity of his injuries. Though the bullet passed through him cleanly, his battered state is concerning. They recognize the toll his constant fear and sense of responsibility take on him—he hides his terror of losing control and hurting others behind a confident facade. His loyalty and care for his friends are evident, especially in his first question upon regaining consciousness, asking if V and Butch are unharmed.

Meanwhile, Mary struggles with insomnia and restless thoughts. She attempts relaxation techniques, but her mind wanders to John, a young man she cares about deeply. Reflecting on John’s maturity and the kindness shown by Bella toward him, Mary contemplates the loneliness and yearning for connection she feels. She fantasizes about confidence and admiration she never experienced, weighed down by self-pity and the harsh realities of her life marked by illness and lost youth. Seeking distraction, she turns to a magazine, hoping for an escape from her swirling emotions.

Chapter 7[]

After Rhage is settled and asleep, Butch accompanies Vishous to Wrath’s private study to debrief. Despite not typically being present for Brotherhood meetings, Butch joins due to his firsthand encounter with the lesser found strung up in a tree. The opulent Versailles-inspired decor of the room strikes Butch as unfitting for a warrior command center, but the mansion’s security outweighs its aesthetic impracticality.

Tohrment is already present, his commanding form stretched out on a delicate silk-covered couch. Although a fearsome warrior, Tohr exudes a surprising empathy and warmth. As the Brotherhood’s field leader since Wrath's ascension to the throne, Tohr lives separately with his pregnant shellan, Wellsie. Vishous casually reports that Rhage “let loose” during the encounter with the lessers, while Phury soon joins them. Butch admires Phury's composed and refined demeanor, noting the contrast between his own flashy fashion and Phury's intrinsic elegance. Despite a prosthetic limb, Phury moves with barely a limp—his battlefield performance unaffected.

Zsadist, Phury's twin, arrives last, keeping to a far corner of the room. Butch remains uneasy in his presence. Zsadist’s scarred face, tattoos, piercings, and cold black eyes convey a terrifying intensity. Known for his unpredictable violence, his history as a slave for over a century is reflected in the deep void within him.

Wrath finally enters, instantly commanding the room with his presence. Dressed in black leather and wearing wraparound sunglasses, he moves like royalty—fitting for the last purebred vampire and the race’s Blind King. He expresses appreciation for Butch’s care of Rhage during the mission. The meeting turns serious as Wrath delivers an update: Havers treated a civilian male who had been brutally tortured by lessers trying to extract information about the Brotherhood. The male succumbed to his injuries but confirmed that the interrogation site was designed for prolonged torture.

Wrath sees this as a disturbing shift in the Lessening Society’s tactics and assigns tasks accordingly—Vishous to notify the civilian's family, Phury to gather more details from Havers’s nurse. Vishous and Butch describe the lesser they found murdered by his own kind. Butch produces a wallet retrieved from the lesser—Gary Essen, a former neighbor of his. Tohr volunteers to search the man’s apartment.

Before dispersing, Tohr shares one final note: a civilian female reported finding a young male named Tehrror and will bring him to the training center the next night. The boy's human translator will accompany him, but the Brotherhood plans to erase her memories afterward.

Meanwhile, at the Society's hideout cabin, Mr. X confronts Mr. O about the deaths of his entire squadron. Mr. O insists he’s innocent, claiming a creature—not himself—was responsible. Mr. X dismisses the explanation, accuses him of murder, and violently asserts dominance, stomping on Mr. O’s face and questioning whether his strength is worth the uncontrollable risk he poses. Mr. O’s brutal efficiency has cost the Society several seasoned "Prime" lessers—assets that take decades to develop.

As Mr. X prepares to punish him, a strange, escalating hum fills the air. Mr. O senses the danger and resists, but Mr. X uses his power to paralyze him and forces him into a bedroom just as the source of the sound—the Omega—arrives. Mr. O panics at the sight of the dark deity. Mr. X gently arranges Mr. O’s appearance and leaves through the back door as the Omega enters. The chapter ends with Mr. X hearing screams as he drives away.

Chapter 8[]

Mary, Bella, and John Matthew leave Bella’s house and are greeted by Fritz, an oddly cheerful and elderly manservant who ushers them into a black-tinted Mercedes. As the car travels, Mary grows uneasy, especially when the vehicle stops multiple times at security checkpoints. Eventually, they arrive at an underground parking garage and are led by Fritz through a maze of sterile corridors monitored by surveillance cameras.

They're placed in a small, stark room reminiscent of a police interrogation chamber. Mary questions Bella about where they are, but Bella gives only vague answers, hinting that the place is a training facility and that they’re about to meet extraordinary males. As Mary grows more suspicious, she steps out into the hall—and encounters a tall, stunningly attractive blond male in clear distress.

Rhage, disoriented and sick after a transformation, is trying to reach the training center gym when he senses someone watching him. Reacting instinctively, he violently pins Mary against the wall by her throat. Realizing she’s human—and sick—he doesn’t release her, but his aggression shifts into fixation. Her voice soothes and captivates him deeply, and he insists she keep talking, touching her and pressing his body against hers. Despite her fear and confusion, Mary is physically affected by his presence, as is he by hers. The encounter turns electric and charged, brimming with sensual tension, until they’re interrupted by Bella and then a commanding voice.

Tohrment arrives, chastising Rhage for his behavior and reminding him the female isn’t for his pleasure. Rhage reluctantly lets Mary go but not before parting with a possessive promise: “See you later, Mary.”

Still shaken, Mary is escorted with Bella and John into a formal meeting with Tohrment. As Bella confirms she’s the one who made the call, Tohrment dismisses her to speak privately with John. The conversation quickly takes the shape of an investigation into John’s background. Mary translates as John reveals he grew up in the foster system and has no knowledge of his biological parents. When asked about a bracelet he always wears, he explains the design came to him in dreams—dreams that include ancient writing on stone walls, blood, fangs, and biting.

Tohrment notes everything carefully, especially when John shows a circular scar on his chest he’s had since birth. Though Mary is visibly uneasy with the probing questions, John is both compliant and intrigued. The chapter ends with a deepening mystery surrounding John’s origins and the Brotherhood’s clear belief that he is something more than human—something that connects to their world.

Chapter 9[]

Bella lingers in the hallway outside the Brotherhood’s interrogation room, nervously braiding strands of her hair. The sheer presence of the Brotherhood warriors has left her shaken—massive, aggressive, and radiating dominance, they make even her formidable brother Rehvenge seem tame by comparison. Her concern shifts to Mary, who had clearly caught the attention of one of the warriors—Rhage. The heat in his gaze had been unmistakable, and Bella knows that the Brotherhood aren’t accustomed to denial. Though not known for forcing females, their power and magnetism make resistance unlikely.

Needing to move, Bella wanders the compound and is drawn by the sound of heavy, rhythmic pounding. It leads her to a vast gymnasium where a lone warrior is pummeling a punching bag with intense, focused fury. His form is graceful yet lethal, every strike powerful enough to keep the bag swaying at an angle. She doesn’t recognize him from behind—his light brown buzzed hair and black workout gear obscure his identity—but there’s no question that he's breathtakingly dangerous.

When the bag is suddenly ripped open by a black dagger, Bella startles as sand and padding flood the mat. The male turns, revealing a face slashed by a brutal scar running from his forehead, down his nose, across his cheek, and ending at his mouth. It twists his upper lip, his expression unreadable behind black, unreadable eyes. She senses he wants her—yet he doesn’t know what to do with the desire, and just as quickly, a cold anger replaces it.

Trapped inside the gym, Bella tries to open the door, but it won’t budge. The male approaches, flipping his dagger between his fingers like a toy, and his hostility is sharp and nearly overwhelming. His voice is low and threatening as he demands to know why she’s there, accusing her of interrupting his workout. Cornered, Bella can only apologize, shrinking against the door as he pins his hands on either side of her head.

She inhales his scent—unnamable but incendiary—and it stirs something in her she can’t suppress. When he tells her to "prove" her apology by getting on her hands and knees, the situation teeters into something more dangerous and charged than fear alone.

Before it escalates, another warrior bursts in—tall, with long hair—and commands the scarred male to back off. With a whisper in Bella’s ear and a touch to her chest that sends a shiver down her spine, the scarred male mutters that she’s been saved, then stalks out. The second male escorts Bella back to the interrogation room without answering her question about who the warrior was.

Alone again, Bella struggles to make sense of what just happened—still breathless, caught between fear and a deeper, darker pull.

Chapter 10[]

Rhage wakes suddenly, frustrated to find no word from Tohr, who had promised to call after dealing with a human female but hasn’t checked in for over six hours. Despite lingering soreness and nausea, Rhage showers and dresses, then heads to Wrath’s study, suspecting Tohr is briefing the king. There, he finds Tohr pacing and talking with Wrath. Rhage’s persistent questions about the human female and her connection to a boy trainee spark a tense exchange. Wrath makes clear that any involvement with the human must be strictly controlled, emphasizing the need to verify backgrounds and warning Rhage that if he pursues the human, her memories must be wiped and she must never see Rhage again. Reluctantly, Tohr agrees to Rhage’s involvement under those strict conditions and provides Rhage with the human’s and her friend’s phone numbers.

Meanwhile, Bella, preparing for rest, receives a demanding call from the warrior Rhage, ordering her to have her friend Mary meet him for dinner. Bella feels torn and guilty, fearing for Mary’s safety and resenting being coerced into this situation. Rhage assures Bella he will not harm Mary and promises a public meeting under the alias "Hal E. Wood," instructing Bella to arrange for Mary to meet him at TGI Friday’s at eight o’clock that evening.

In a separate, darker storyline, O awakens in Mr. X’s cabin after a brutal, torturous day imposed by the Omega. Physically and emotionally raw, O struggles to regain composure but is forced to face the cold normalcy of Mr. X’s professional demeanor. Mr. X presents a grim ultimatum: O must accept strict discipline and remain in line or suffer consequences. Though drained and vulnerable, O complies, agreeing to the arrangement while secretly hoping for strength to return. Mr. X hints at the Omega’s interest in O, teasing a possible future encounter that leaves O unsettled.

Chapter 11[]

Mary arrives at a bustling TGI Friday’s, mentally bracing herself for a dinner date she barely remembers agreeing to. Distracted by an impending doctor’s appointment and fogged by recent memory lapses, she feels out of place among the lively diners, self-conscious in her plain, comfortable clothes and guarded by a serious, no-nonsense demeanor. Her internal struggle to stay calm is interrupted when a strikingly handsome, imposing man enters—a presence so commanding that other men seem to shrink away.

This man, Rhage, scans the restaurant with predatory grace before approaching Mary, who initially tries to avoid interaction but finds herself cornered. Despite her modest appearance and no-nonsense attitude, Rhage is immediately captivated by her delicate features, natural beauty, and fierce, warrior-like eyes. The tension between them builds as Rhage insists on staying and sharing the meal, sensing more beneath Mary’s guarded exterior.

Throughout their interaction, Mary’s defensive sarcasm contrasts with Rhage’s patient, intense interest. She challenges his assumptions about charity and intimacy, even as he quietly senses her underlying strength and vulnerability. Rhage's attraction deepens when he cautiously reaches to touch her hand, inhaling her subtle natural scent, which sparks a powerful physical reaction in him. The encounter ends with a charged, silent promise of more to come, as both wrestle with the magnetic pull growing between them amid the casual din of the restaurant.

Chapter 12[]

Mary finds herself overwhelmed by the intensity of her dinner date with Hal, who radiates charisma, mystery, and an unsettling familiarity. Despite believing she's unremarkable, she’s struck by how attentively he focuses on her. Hal orders an enormous amount of food while Mary limits herself to a salad, further highlighting their differences. The waitress mistakes Mary for Hal’s sister, prompting him to firmly state that she’s his date.

Their conversation begins with small talk, but quickly deepens. Hal insists on learning about Mary’s past, especially her previous work with autistic children. Though guarded, Mary admits that her mother’s battle with muscular dystrophy inspired her career as a rehab therapist. Her empathy and insight reveal a compassionate nature shaped by personal hardship—particularly her mother’s death and her own serious illness, which forced her to leave her profession. Hal’s persistence in drawing out her story is both bold and disarming.

As the meal progresses, Hal proves himself an attentive and well-mannered diner, though his appetite is staggering. He comments on Mary’s smile, calling her lovely, and reveals that he has five brothers—one of whom they recently lost, a subject that clearly wounds him. Their interaction continues to blur the line between flirtation and something deeper. Mary is drawn to Hal, even as she fights against the pull.

When she asks what he does for a living, Hal vaguely describes himself as “a soldier,” avoiding specific details and displaying a somber intensity that reinforces her impression of his deadly air. Their growing connection is interrupted by the restaurant staff—particularly women showing clear interest in Hal—but Mary tries to maintain her emotional distance. Still, she’s clearly affected when one of them leaves a phone number for him, prompting her to cut the evening short.

Hal follows her out to the parking lot. Despite her attempts to walk away, he insists on escorting her. Mary, initially fearful, finds herself aroused by his nearness and barely contained energy. When he asks to kiss her goodnight, she resists—but not convincingly. The kiss itself is surprisingly tender and intimate, but ends in a strange and abrupt reaction: Hal recoils from her, physically staggering back, arms crossed as if in pain or conflict. Without a word, he walks away into the shadows, leaving Mary confused, aroused, and more intrigued than ever.

Chapter 13[]

Rhage dematerializes into the courtyard between the Brotherhood mansion and the Pit, unsettled by an unfamiliar buzz vibrating through his body. The sensation had begun the moment he kissed Mary—an electric hum that seemed both foreign and dangerous. Alarmed, he pulled away from her and left, hoping that distance would help ease the sensation. But now that it's fading, his body is craving release, and he's frustrated. Normally after unleashing the beast, he gets downtime—but Tohrment’s new leadership has placed restrictions on post-transformation recovery.

Since Darius’s death and Wrath’s ascension, the Brotherhood is down to five fighters. Tohr’s rules make sense—every warrior is essential—but the forced rest is suffocating to Rhage. Needing an outlet, he grabs his car keys and takes off in his powerful GTO, driving with no destination in mind. He can’t stop thinking about Mary—the softness of her trembling mouth, the sweetness of her kiss, the way she calmed him rather than agitating him further. It makes no sense. The reaction his body had felt dangerous, not arousing, but her presence brought peace, not chaos.

Rhage reflects on his long history of meaningless sexual encounters—faceless women who served as nothing more than release valves. Even when he made sure they found pleasure too, it never fulfilled him. The realization that Mary could never be just another hookup strikes hard. She’s different. Pure. And the idea of using her like he did with the others disgusts him. He could never reduce her to that.

A call from Tohrment interrupts his spiraling thoughts. Tohr checks in about Mary and the boy, John Matthew. Rhage confirms Mary won’t be a problem—she barely knows John and only met him recently. Tohr teases him about the encounter, assuming it was sexual, but Rhage remains quiet. When Tohr suggests he blow off steam at One Eye like he did a few nights ago—with two women back-to-back—Rhage finally breaks.

He confesses that the constant, anonymous sex is eating him alive. He hates the emptiness, the smells, the ache in his chest afterward. He chooses women who don’t care about him to avoid violating anyone emotionally—but it still feels wrong. There’s no intimacy, no joy. Just the cold inevitability of having to do it all again because otherwise, he’s a threat to others. While his brothers return home to mates and warmth, he returns to loneliness.

Stunned, Tohrment apologizes, clearly unaware of the emotional toll Rhage has been carrying. Rhage ends the call abruptly, overwhelmed, and pulls off the road. Alone in the quiet woods, he drops his head to the steering wheel and thinks of Mary. He realizes he never erased her memories of him—and it wasn’t an accident. Deep down, he didn’t want her to forget. He wants to see her again. Wants her to remember.

And that, he knows, is dangerous—for both of them.

Chapter 14[]

Mary wakes in the early morning hours, overheated and anxious. The symptoms are familiar—flush skin, aching joints, and a fever spike right around 4:18 AM. Though she tells herself it might just be a cold, her history with serious illness fills her with dread. Unable to sleep, she gets up, lights up the house, and heads to the kitchen to make coffee in an attempt to distract herself from the looming doctor's appointment just hours away.

As she prepares her coffee, a shadow looms outside the glass door. Startled, Mary recognizes Rhage—whom she still knows only as "Hal." He's dressed in black leather and standing outside her house at 4:30 AM. When questioned, he calmly explains that he wanted to see her and knew she was awake. Despite her misgivings and the late hour, she lets him in, still unsure of his intentions.

Their interaction is charged with both unease and attraction. Mary questions why he isn’t with one of the many women who throw themselves at him, and he bluntly tells her, “They aren’t you.” His honesty unsettles her more than any smooth line might have. He insists he's only there to talk, making it clear that if he wanted in, locks wouldn’t stop him—but instead, he’s choosing to respect her space.

Once inside, the contrast between Rhage and Mary’s soft, neutral-toned living room is stark. His heavy coat practically crushes her furniture, and his powerful body looks even more dominant in the cozy space. When Mary slices her thumb open while trying to open a coffee can, Rhage quickly takes control. He gently sucks the wound to stop the bleeding—shocking her not just with the intimacy of the act, but also with the fact that the cut appears to heal rapidly.

When Mary questions the danger of transferring disease, Rhage calmly says it wouldn’t matter to him, and assures her he isn’t sick. The emotional weight of the moment builds, especially when he asks her directly if his body pleases her. Though she tries to resist the topic, Rhage is deeply earnest—offering to cover himself if she says no. The vulnerability in his gesture leaves her speechless.

Despite their simmering connection, Mary begins to panic. His size, his beauty, his vitality—everything about him reminds her of what she believes she can’t have. Overwhelmed, she asks him to leave, and lashes out, calling him a stray dog. Her words hit hard. Rhage’s entire demeanor shifts; he turns cold, his eyes like shards of aquamarine ice. He corrects her sharply—telling her not to call him “Hal”—and storms out, brushing past her without looking back.

Regret hits instantly. Mary throws on a jacket and runs after him into the woods, calling out his name. But the forest is silent, and there's no trace of him. Alone once again, she returns to her house—left to wrestle with guilt, confusion, and the terrifying draw she feels toward the man who calls himself Rhage.

Chapter 15[]

Mr. O receives a rare word of approval from Mr. X after a failed interrogation of a vampire, only to learn that the real questioning had been handled by Mr. X beforehand as a test of loyalty and competence. O masks his frustration, having just returned from time spent with the Omega, and follows Mr. X into the isolated cabin, where a new squadron of slayers is being assembled. Among the lessers, O is the only one with remaining human features like dark hair—an anomaly that draws both suspicion and aggression from the others. He meets their hostility with cold dominance, invigorated by the threat of violence and reaffirmed in his identity through confrontation.

Mr. X names O the commander of two squadrons and tasks him with teaching persuasion techniques. The demand to keep them alive signals Mr. X’s strategic shift toward organized manipulation rather than indiscriminate slaughter. Despite the promotion, O’s disgust at the location—especially the bedroom where he was previously brutalized—lingers. He negotiates for a better facility, but Mr. X insists on using the cabin until a new site is secured. With quiet fury, O thanks him for the advancement and leaves.

Once alone, O stops at a CVS to purchase hair dye, confronting the physical transformation brought on by his time as a lesser. His hair, once naturally brown, is turning pale at the roots, a visual reminder of his gradual loss of humanity. He clings to the dark color as a form of resistance against the anonymity of the Society. In his barren home—a space more like a military outpost than a residence—he dyes his hair, battles revulsion at his reflection, and questions what he has become. The cost of trading his soul has finally begun to register. While the initial benefits of strength, anonymity, and material support once seemed worth the sacrifice, the restrictions imposed by Mr. X and the emotional toll are becoming unbearable.

Haunted by his past, O whispers his old name—David Ormond—in a desperate attempt to reclaim a piece of himself. But even that feels hollow. Desperate to fill the emotional void left by Jennifer, the woman he once loved, he roams downtown until he finds a prostitute who vaguely resembles her. O pays her, but the interaction quickly turns violent. He demands to be called by his real name and forces her at knifepoint to tell him she loves him. The act, driven by grief and rage, fails to soothe him. Her voice and body are wrong. The past remains unreachable, and his fury boils over into a brutal, uncontrolled outburst.

Chapter 16[]

Rhage pushes his body to its physical limits during a brutal early morning weightlifting session with Butch, using the pain as a distraction from his emotional turmoil. As the two spar verbally, it's clear both are dealing with personal issues—Rhage over Mary, and Butch over Marissa. Their banter turns honest as they open up about their struggles with the women they care for. Rhage admits Mary kicked him out after a biting comment, and Butch confesses to going as far as hiding in bushes under Marissa’s window just to feel close to her. They share a moment of mutual sympathy, highlighting the depth of their respective attachments.

Their conversation shifts to Brotherhood business. Butch relays updates about a civilian male who escaped from the lessers and was later found injured downtown. The victim had mumbled “X. O. E.” — a known lesser term. Butch also reveals that a lesser’s apartment had been recently cleaned out, indicating the enemy is moving quickly and methodically. The missing jar, typically used to contain a heart, confirms the lesser had already been retrieved by his own. Discussion turns to dead prostitutes previously found with vampire bite marks and heroin in their blood. Rhage accuses Zsadist of feeding irresponsibly, but Butch proposes a darker theory: the prostitutes are bait, used to lure vampires for capture using tranquilizer darts.

Butch confesses he hasn't told Wrath or Tohr about this new murder, unsure of his place in Brotherhood matters. Rhage reassures him that he belongs with them, revealing that Vishous was the one who vouched for him. The moment is cut short when Tohrment storms into the gym with urgent news: a message has come from Mary. She called the Brotherhood’s general mailbox and specifically asked for Rhage. Tohr is furious—Mary shouldn’t remember Rhage, let alone have their number. It's clear Rhage failed to erase her memory as protocol demands.

A tense confrontation erupts between Rhage and Tohr. Rhage stands his ground and threatens anyone who tries to hurt Mary, even Tohr himself. The argument escalates until Butch intervenes and pulls Rhage back. Tohr calms slightly and presses Rhage for answers. Rhage insists Mary doesn't know what he is and denies giving her the phone number, theorizing perhaps Bella shared it. Tohr, skeptical and increasingly concerned, accuses Rhage of getting involved with a human emotionally—a dangerous and forbidden line to cross. He orders Rhage to wipe himself from Mary’s memory permanently, emphasizing that it’s for her own safety.

In the second half of the chapter, Mary is at her doctor’s office for a follow-up. She notices she’s lost weight and feels the familiar unease of medical visits. As she waits in the exam room, her phone rings—it’s Rhage, using the name Hal. Their conversation is gentle but charged with emotion. Mary apologizes for the way she treated him, revealing her cancer may have returned. Rhage says he already knows, though he doesn’t confirm who told him. She explains her emotional state and how being around him triggered deep fear and vulnerability. Despite it all, he asks to see her again that night at eight.

Their connection is undeniable. Before they hang up, he asks her to wear her hair down, a small but intimate request that leaves her visibly touched. Dr. Delia Croce enters the room, and Mary—already suspecting the worst—confirms it with a single line. Her cancer is back.