Main characters: Merrick and Elise 
 Type of Kindred bonding: Complicated (Beast and Blood and Tranq Kindred) 
 Merrick is Elise's savior. 
 From the first moment Merrick met Elise he was drawn to her. 
 From the first moment Elise met Merrick she was drawn to him. 
 There seems to be a strong bond between them, but unfortunately they are told that it is not real. 
 Now, none of them can live without the other. Especially Elise needs to have skin contact with Merrick constantly. 
 What we learn as the story proceeds is that they are both tortured souls, they are both traumatized. Each one had a specific incident that scarred him and her for the rest of their lives. Merrick is dealing with it with aggression, anger and lack of trust. Elise is dealing with it with denial. She has built an imaginary vault deep inside her and locks everything in there. This couple has so many differences both in the way they look and in the way the react. Merrick is huge, scarred outside, scary looking. Elise is petite, pretty and very likable. 
 These differences make them perfect for each other in a "beauty and the beast" type of way. 
 Evangeline Anderson is describing with compassion, understanding and warmth the sensitive subject of child abuse and rape - although this book is a Sci-Fi romance above everything else. 
 There is also a very interesting parallel plot, with Draven and his grotesque beasts, which I suppose it will be developed in the next books. 
 What I truly loved in this book: The reference to my favorite toy when I was a kid: MY LITTLE PONY.