Tegan

Midnight Awakening

(Midnight Breed #3)

by

Lara Adrian

Well, this is better! Many readers and fans feel that Tegan’s story is the best of the Midnight Breed series. He’s the psychopath, and there’s one in every series; their story is the most heart wrenching, the most transformative. Is this the reason for their popularity? Initially mired in the depths of the emotional abyss, contented to live in sufferable silence and guilt, we watch them rise, as the phoenix; watch them embrace their love interest, inexorably open themselves… to trust, to live again, to “awaken.”  

They disconnect, even from their fellow warriors; solitary, terrifying, vicious, distant, unfeeling; (Zarek, Zsadist, anyone?) They live with buried memories, scarred unhealed wounds, evidence of physical torture and emotional abuse. A familiar canon of the PNR genre, I expected to be bored with this predictable, familiar trope; and yet, Tegan holds his own, brings his uniqueness to the Breed narrative. 

This is Tegan’s story… 

A Gen One vampire, sired by one of the original Ancients, extremely powerful, volatile, Tegan’s intricate derma glyphs identify his heritage, his skilled lethal prowess. “He was the ghost you never saw coming, death breathing down your neck before you even realized you were in the crosshairs.” 

And it’s Elise that attracts, intrigues him! Who knew! 

In the preceding segment Kiss of Crimson, Elise, a Darkhaven socialite suffers a tragic loss when her son Camden falls victim to Crimson, a fatal drug that incurs Bloodlust in vampires. Camden falls victim to Crimson, succumbs to the Bloodlust, and is subsequently, killed.  Devastated, Elise responds to her grief by seeking vengeance; leaves the sanctuary of Darkhaven, conducts nightly kills of Rogue vampires, the degenerates responsible for Camden’s demise; more importantly, she seeks their leader, Marek. In the midst of a battle with a Minion, Tegan discovers Elise’s suicidal mission. “I think you’re out of your fucking head [Tegan]”. Reluctantly, he helps diminish the effects, the pain of her Breedmate psychic ability that bombards her with thoughts and emotions of others; she suffers from migraine headaches and nosebleeds, uses MP3 players and sound proofing to drown out the white noise… Tegan helps, and protects…He understands, relates to her grief, her all consuming need for vengeance, for it’s an integral part of his story…

Tegan and Elise, (didn’t see this coming)… 

A pair of opposites sharing a common goal; the menacing psychopath, and the Darkhaven aristocrat collaborate to solve a mystery, to stop and eliminate an impending calamity. Working together, they must rely, trust, and protect each other; consequently, a bond forms, a connection no other understands. Elise needs Tegan’s strength,  his support and blood; openly, she shares her feelings, her hopes to be with him…yet, Tegan knows the consequences…to be blood bonded to a Breedmate is Forever! Elise deserves better, and more than he can offer, or is willing to offer. He must sustain his self-control. Yet… and yet, this Elise mesmerizes him, captivates him; her strength, resolve, determination, and downright stubbornness, uncommon behavior of a sheltered Darkhaven female, infuriates AND intrigues him! Thus, we have Beauty and the Beast… the push/pull factor, he wants her, pushes her away; insults her, protects, embraces…

Tegan is sooo frustrating… with his indecisive, on/again/off again attitude. (Just take the plunge, why don’t you?) He remembers his…Sorcha, his deceased Breedmate, so innocent, the one he failed to protect. Her suffering, subsequent death, haunts him, embitters him.  

Midnight Awakening reconnects us with the other Breed warriors: Lucan, Dante, Gideon, Rio, Nikolai and their Breedmates: Gabrielle, Savannah, and Tess. Tegan and Elise’s action-packed adventure intrigues, their romantic dance entertains…an engaging couple worth meeting!