When Apollo Greatdrakes--alchemist, playboy, and reluctant dragon shifter--is kidnapped by a secret society of blood mages, he expects his family to come to rescue him. What he gets is Lachlan Ironwood, storming in very pissed off and utterly irresistible. With the Sanguis Vitae--a centuries-old alchemical order obsessed with immortality--believing Apollo is their perfect specimen, they won't stop until they have what they want: a dragon under their control and their scalpels. Now Apollo and Lachlan must put aside their messy feelings and focus on taking down the ancient order of alchemists before they attack someone else they love. But there's another kind of chemistry brewing between them that can't be ignored. Apollo knows Lachlan is his fated mate, but he's terrified of claiming a man who might not be capable of the forever that dragons demand. Meanwhile, Lachlan is determined to prove he wants more than just Apollo's body--he wants his heart and all the messy emotions that go with it. As they navigate masquerade balls, dangerous blood magic, and their own sizzling attraction, Apollo and Lachlan must decide if they will risk everything for a chance at true love. Because the Sanguis Vitae aren't just after Apollo's blood--they are a danger to all supernatural creatures. And time is running out. Contains mature themes.