Nathan

Crave the Night

(Midnight Breed #12)

by Lara Adrian

Nathan, Nathan, Nathan… Compelling, captivating *sigh* Another Hunter, another Gen One!  Nathan is Corinne’s son, torn from her at birth; trained, conditioned, brutalized by Dragos’ Minions and handlers. Hunters were born and bred as Dragos’ killing machines,  ruthless vitriolic assassins.

Corinne’s desperate search to find her son results with a successful rescue when she and Hunter find Nathan, a feral savage who knows nothing but killing and brutality. Nathan agrees to return to the Order with his mother and Hunter, learns to accommodate to “home” an obscure concept as home bestows affection, protection, respect, and love.

 Now, he’s all grown up! He remains the ferocious, emotionless self-controlled Gen One Hunter, leader of his own warrior squad. 

Crave the Night tells Nathan’s story; with a particular focus on his cravings…

I was thoroughly mesmerized, captivated by his confidence, and arrogant swagger! Nathan exudes dominance, he’s always in control. Demanding, but not overbearing, his personality is palatable… imbued with cool logic and dry humor. (The humor is basically my interpretation of his discourse as Nathan would be the first to pronounce he has no sense of humor) 

 And yet, Adrian adeptly exposes Nathan’s layers,  with gradual inexorable delicacy. He’s broken, haunted by his brutal sadistic past; an enslaved youth trained and conditioned to be a lethal emotionless assassin “a dark legion for killing”. To survive, Nathan detaches, creates a  cold remote facade that will block any emotional investment or elements of trust. Nothing or no one can pierce his walls. He compartmentalizes, navigates the emotional social maze, a technique that facilitates and strengthens his ability to survive any environment. Thus, Nathan is an enigma…Others give him “his space”  cuts a wide berth for him for he defines all relationships on HIS terms, HIS timetable. Nathan dominates and controls his world!

“He called the shots. He controlled the rules, the pace, the boundaries. He decided how things started and ended—all of it, every time.”

Ok, sounds like a great plan…worked well, until the kiss…”A kiss that had unsettled him and, enraged him. Disturbed him on a level he was still struggling  to comprehend.”

The lovely Jordana Gates conquers the formidable Hunter. Utterly taken aback by her actions, more importantly, his response to her, Jordana rocked his world, turned it and him totally upside down! He cannot forget her as she dominates his thoughts and awakens his cravings! “The powerful stillness of his body as she threw herself  against him”

Utterly ridiculous as Jordana Gates, the daughter of a wealthy Darkhaven aristocrat belongs elsewhere far away from this world of darkness and violence. She is light; he, “the massive Breed warrior was a study of darkness and intensity”

Nevertheless, (you got it) they’re attracted to each other. For there’s something about this dark warrior that captivates Jordana. “You're a dark, dangerous storm, Nathan," She tilted her head back, her glacial blue eyes arresting, even in the darkness of the club. "If I'm not careful I'm going to leap off a cliff with you.” 

Jordana is utterly discontented with her sheltered life. Stifled by the expectations and the pedestal she’s been placed, she rebels against her father’s and Elliott’s control. However, Jordana is afraid… to take the risk, to step out onto the cliff, afraid to disappoint. Thus, she accepts the cocoon. Allows the opinions of others to direct her.

Nevertheless, Nathan rocks her world as well. Awakens her cravings and desires for him; awakens her desire to determine and define her life and define who she is.

 “Save me, her pulse seemed to drum in her veins.”

“Take me. Save her from what? Take her where…or how?”

“You waited for it” he said. “ You crave it now, as much as I do”

Meanwhile…

The overarching plot continues with the death of Reginald Crow, a member of an immortal species that left their realm to destroy both Breed and Humans. Lucan and the Order search for clues, for intel concerning the Atlanteans.  They’ve been aware of the existence of the Atlanteans and the connection to the origins of the Breedmates. Lucan is involved in a balancing act, defusing Human hysteria and mistrust, collaborating with the JUSTIS law enforcement agency as well as tasking the Order to maintain the tenuous peace between the two species. Lucan detests this diplomatic bull**it, yet cooler heads and diplomacy must prevail. 

Crave the Night opens with Nathan and his squad patrolling the illegal nightclub, La Notte searching for Cassian Gray, a person of interest the Order wants to question.  Aric confronts and physically battles Rune, Carys’ lover, then rushes to the museum opening to confront Carys. Of course, the warriors follow to defuse Aric’s planned confrontation. However, the entire night goes sideways! Now Nathan must face the enchanting Jordana and…the kiss

“The beautiful Darkhaven-raised female he’d been trying to bar from his thoughts for the past week—ever since she’d pressed her mouth against his in an entirely unexpected, totally unforgettable kiss.”

Do I like Nathan?

Hell Yeah! I gravitate and thoroughly enjoy all the Gen One alphas. Nathan represents the distant, broken warrior of the 2nd generation Order. He illustrates the dark, distant tortured hero inexorably drawn to the light, becomes transformed! Another Phoenix, Nathan soars… from the ashes, self-aware as he learns to accept all of himself embraces his desires and cravings… and Jordana! In turn, he’s able to save her… motivate and encourage her to soar as well!

Raw, gritty and direct, Nathan knows when others attempt to avoid, to dismiss his inquiries, and he’s not fooled…especially, with Jordana. He pushes, prods forces her to confront her fears, her excuses, and refuses to allow her to run away…

And he’s such a flirt! A study of contrasts, Nathan is focused, direct, controlled; yet, simultaneously charming and teasing. He pierces Jordana’s walls of insecurity, quietly assures her that he will protect…

“How have I tormented you, beautiful Jordana? You won’t say it? Then I’ll have to guess. Was it torment when I kissed you like this?” 

*Sigh* Just love him!

Nathan and Jordana are Crave the Night. They’re complicated with a host of emotional layers accentuated with cravings… for each other, for a better life. Nathan craves for normalcy; a mate, a family, love, and self-acceptance. And Jordana craves Nathan; the panacea, to relieve the undefined, yet ever-present ache; her need to create her own path.

Crave the Night is a great read! Fierce battles, hooded immortal assassins, smexy hott scenes, angst-driven romance, a crystal artifact, confrontations with new characters…Cassian Gray, Zael, Rune, Carys as well as reconnecting with the 2nd generation warrior squads.

And Nathan melts, his impenetrable walls crumble…

“She’d captivated him with a kiss

She’d  challenged him, gentled him

Now she owned him”

Overall, an enjoyable read as Nathan is definitely delectable!