Raven's Blood - Cassandra Lawson

Following the death of her wood nymph mother at the hands of vampires, Raven worked hard to build a life for herself in one of the few remaining human settlements. Her life takes a frightening turn when she finds herself an unwilling guest in a vampire settlement. She soon discovers the vampires are nothing like she expected them to be. Still, she cannot help feeling her attraction to the vampire leader is a betrayal to her mother's memory and her human friends. From the moment Connor laid eyes on Raven, she has thrown his entire world off-balance. To prove his strength as a leader, he has no choice but to take her up on her offer to trade her freedom for that of her human friends. Having begun his life as a slave, he has no interest in keeping the wood nymph captive, but Connor soon discovers Raven may be the one thing he cannot live without. As Connor and Raven explore their attraction to each other, a new danger emerges that threatens both vampires and humans. While Connor tries to unravel the mystery of the attacks from a new species of vampire, a madman will go to any lengths to get Raven's blood. No cliffhangers. Can be read as a standalone novel. ***This book contains a graphic scene involving physical and psychological abuse which may be disturbing to some readers.