Bond of Destiny (1001 Dark Nights #150)

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Synopsis

Mere hours after his birth, Tracker was sold into slavery by his werewolf parents in exchange for power. After spending decades in service to the denizens of Sheoul, most of whom used and abused him, the angel Harvester transferred his slave bond to Jillian, a human woman mated to one of the Four Horsemen of the Apocalypse, who has given him as much freedom as the bond will allow. Because of his traumatic past, Tracker is afraid to trust anyone, must less feel love, but when Jillian's best friend shows up on the property he tends for his master, injured and in need of help, he can't leave Stacy to die. After bringing her to his cabin and being snowed in with her for several days, though, he begins to crave the intimacy and affection that only being close to another human being can bring.

Stacy Markham has been deeply attracted to Tracker ever since his slave bond was forced on Jillian, but her friend has all but declared him off limits. After wrecking her car in a blizzard, Stacy somehow manages to find her way to Jillian's property before passing out in the snow and awakens to find herself ensconced in Tracker's cozy cabin, being tended by him. Although it isn't easy for Stacy to break down his carefully constructed walls, over the next few days of being snowed in together, they grow much closer. However, just as it's looking like they might be able to forge some sort of a future together in spite of his slave bond, members of Tracker's pack come looking for him. They demand his help saving the pack and aren't averse to doing whatever it takes to force his hand. But even if Tracker and Stacy can survive what the pack has in store for them, the slavers may come for him as well if they ever find out that Tracker's bond is being held by a human and that she's given him as much leeway as she has.

Review

Bond of Destiny is the twentieth book in Larissa Ione's Demonica series. Sold into slavery mere hours after his birth, the werewolf Tracker has spent his entire seventy years as a slave. Ever since Jillian (Rogue Rider) was given his slave bond, he's experienced a new lease on life, but if the slavers ever found out that she was treating him humanely, they could revoke the bond and sell him to someone else. So he lives in near constant fear of losing the freedom she's granted him. Jillian's best friend, Stacey, has watched Tracker from afar and is deeply attracted to him, but Jillian has all but warned her away from him. When Stacey's truck slides off the steep mountain roads in the middle of a blizzard, she barely escapes with her life. Tracker finds her injured and passed out in the snow and takes her back to his cabin to look after her. However, the storm doesn't seem to be abating, leaving them snowed in together for several days. Fearful of trusting anyone, Tracker has always kept to himself, but living with Stacey makes him start to long for human connection and the love he's been denied all his life. Being in such close proximity, they quickly start to fall for one another. But then Tracker's pack comes looking for him, wanting him to save them from certain death, in spite of the fact that they've never done anything for him. They're not inclined to take no for an answer and will stop at nothing to get what they want. Even if Tracker and Stacey can survive the ordeal, they'll still have to contend with his slave bond, which forbids him from ever mating.

As a newborn, Tracker was sold by his parents to a demon slaver in exchange for being granted power over their pack. As a result, he's spent seventy years as a slave in the Underworld, being treated abominably by his masters. When we first met Tracker, his bond was held by the fallen angel, Harvester, who has since been redeemed back into Heaven. Toward the end of Rogue Rider, Harvester transferred his slave bond to Jillian. She, of course, doesn't believe in slavery, so she's given him a small cabin to call his own and generally allows him the freedom to do as he chooses. However, it's against the rules of the slaver's guild for a human to hold a slave bond or for anyone to treat him as well as she has, so if they find out, they could forcibly take him back. Because he has major trust issues, Tracker has mostly kept to himself in his little cabin, but it's a pretty lonely existence. He likes Jillian's friend, Stacey, but he's never really gotten to know her until they're stranded together during the snowstorm. Then he genuinely starts to connect with her and crave the love he's never known. But their romantic interlude is interrupted by his pack showing up, demanding that he help them produce an heir to his bloodline to save them from destruction. Tracker isn't inclined to help them when they never did anything for him, but when they decide to use Stacey as a bargaining chip, he'll do anything to save the woman he's fallen in love with. I've adored Tracker since he was Harvester's slave, and although it took a while, I'm thrilled that Larissa Ione finally wrote a story for him. He's a total sweetheart and a rare beta-leaning hero in this series. He's so shy when he first saves Stacey, but as they get to know one another, he gradually warms up. He still has fears, but he bravely stands up to his pack. I love that even juiced up on a Seminus demon concoction, he manages to control himself and not have sex with just any female and still be gentle and considerate with Stacey. Tracker will definitely go down as a favorite hero for me.

We first met Stacey as Jillian's best friend, who at that time, was in local law enforcement. The two of them were like peas in a pod, growing up together, and have always had each other's backs. After Stacey learned about all the things that go bump in the night, she decided to join DART and now handles the rare demon sightings in their small Colorado community. She's admired Tracker from afar ever since he came to live with Jillian, but Jillian has practically called him off limits. Stacey is aware of him being a slave and of some of the things that were done to him in the past, but she doesn't know everything until he rescues her and they're stranded alone for several days. It takes some kindness and patience on her part, but eventually he starts to open up about about his experiences. Even still, there are many things he doesn't dare do for fear that the slaver's guild will find out that he's breaking the rules and take him back. She doesn't want that to happen, but at the same time, she abhors slavery and just wants him to be able to live his own life and make his own choices. Unfortunately the few choices he does have continue to be impinged upon when his pack comes calling, making demands, and then takes Stacey captive to twist his arm. And then there's the slave bond that will never allow him to get mated to anyone. I loved Stacey for being so kind and gentle with Tracker and for understanding and helping him with his trust issues. She understandably gets frustrated with the slave bond, but once she comprehends the implications of it, she does what she can to make it easier on Tracker. She's also a kick-ass fighter when she needs to be, so overall, she was a great heroine.

Given how much I liked Tracker when he appeared in other books, I'd really been looking forward to Bond of Destiny and it didn't disappoint. Tracker and Stacy are wonderful together. He's a sweet, tortured hero, one of my favorite kinds, while she gradually earns his trust and showers him with all the love he's been missing. I'm a sucker for the stranded in a snowstorm and close proximity tropes, so that part of the story was a great way for them to get to know one another and start falling in love that showcased some wonderfully sweet romantic interludes. When Tracker's pack comes for him and Stacey, it turns more suspenseful, and then the ending where they finally figure out what to do about his slave bond was chef's kiss perfection. I love that Jillian and Reseph, along with the other Horsemen, got in on that action. Then there was Harvester, too, who still had a lot to make up to Tracker for things she'd done when he was her slave. I really like that she got to begin making amends. Given that this book is long novella/short novel length, I suppose things moved a little quickly between Tracker and Stacey, but their relationship still managed to give me all the feels I expect from a romance in spite of the rapid progression. I absolutely loved seeing Tracker finally get his much-deserved HEA, so overall, I can't think of a single thing I'd change about the story. It's definitely earned a spot on my keeper shelf and also as a favorite in the Demonica series for me.

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Larissa Ione

Themes

Amazing Animals
Beta Heroes
Tortured Heroes