Last Surrender: Half-Blood Princess

By Magen McMinimy

With vampire society finally on solid footing and everyone in new and exciting places in their lives, Sophia finally gets to enjoy her life as a married mother of two, she’s working with the help of her father and brothers to guide and lead her new line of vampires with Sage at her side as her solid rock of encouragement. Things are finally cooling down the problems that face them are small, but the small things aren’t always simple . . . 
While Rachel pushes for entrance into the vampire world she faces Dante’s resistance to the idea meanwhile Sophia deals with the appearance of more of Zillah’s vampires in Maldera Springs. Even from the grave Zillah pushes Sophia and brings the group of friends back together calling everyone back to Maldera Spring for one more fight for the people and town they love. 


‘Rachel sighed and so did Dante they’d been having this conversation—or argument—ever since Bryn had been kidnapped. She knew the risk of loving him and wanted to be better equipped to handle herself if she was ever in a situation like that. Dante had told her it would never happen and it wasn’t a good reason to change, but it wasn’t her only reason, she loved Dante and she really did want to be with him forever. And after what happened to Melanie, Rachel was more determined now, because it wasn’t just the supernatural world that was dangerous it was the world in general.’

• Language: English
• Publisher: Magen McMinimy
• Release date: Dec 17, 2013
• ISBN: 9781386344254

Book preview

The Story So Far...

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A word to sum up the past eight years? Complicated.

I’m Sophia Da’Roza, formally Sophia Daletsky. Four years ago, I married my best friend, Sage Da’Roza, a wonderful, strong, stoic, and gorgeous vampire. But my story started long before that.

Eight years ago, I found myself in the small town of Maldera Springs, where I came across the vampire brothers Dante and Tavian Baikov, as well as Tavian’s then-girlfriend, Sarah Maldera—the ancestor, as she had long been referred to in my family. My as in my father, Cain—the original vampire—and my two brothers, Enoch and Irad. I claimed Maldera Springs using a blood claim to protect the friends I made there.

Irad tried to kill Dante, whom I was dating at the time. Dante’s sire, Kara, came back, causing some problems and leaving Dante with no choice but to kill her.

My ex-fiancé, Ash, came around and brought some trouble with him in the form of his sire. Sage, Ash’s brother, came to help, and things became even more complicated.

We needed some help from a witch to destroy a powerful amulet—a resurrection stone that could bring people back from the dead. I ended up using it to save Sage, first, and in the process of saving him, I sent our witch—a sweet and powerful girl named Bryn—running from my home.

When I saved Sage, we found that our pasts had collided and there was an undeniable love linking us forever. With the recognition of a past we could not deny and a love stronger than anything we had ever expected, Sage and I gave in to a desire that had burned beneath the surface of both of us for years.

Once we gave in, our lives were blessed, but also became further complicated... I found myself pregnant, carrying Wiccan vampire twins, whom we named Ashlyn and Andre. They turned out to be part of a prophecy that brought a coven of vampires out of the shadows and after my children. Sage, Tavian, Dante, Ash, and Enoch became guardians, sworn to protect my beautiful children.

Together, we fled Maldera Springs and hid in the comfort of my father’s island, where we soon learned that Ashlyn and Andre were full of magic and growing at an exponential rate; they would be adults by their sixth birthday.

Things were further complicated when we learned the wolves were joining our enemy, and that an ancient vampire had possessed Tavian. We ultimately won that battle and all returned home—Tavian only slightly altered from the events. The big change was in Sarah.

Sarah left the island before the battle and moved to Scotland with the protection of one of my father’s bodyguards, Justin. Things were weird in Scotland, and Sarah was attacked by one of her supernatural ancestors—Sarah is the last living descendant of Abel, my father’s brother, and carries the blood of the slayers. When attacked, Sarah was turned into a banshee, and in the process of protecting her, Justin and Sarah fell in love.

After rallying and helping Sarah fight her ancestor, we returned to the states and to our lives in Maldera Springs. Sage and I raised the twins, while the rest of my family organized vampire society with Tavian’s help. We all fell into a good routine until the wolves attacked one of our own. Bryn was taken and eventually rescued, but not before some major damage had been done. Ash, being the man I knew he was capable of being, stepped up. He was there for Bryn, and is now helping to raise her half-Wiccan, half-wolf daughter, Abriana, and is loving that sweet little pup as his own.

The twins are grown and graduated from high school now. Andre moved with Ash, Bryn, and Abriana to Los Angeles to work with the North American pack of wolves. Andre can shift like me, but has a little trouble controlling it.

Ashlyn took a trip to New York with her best friend, Mel, who was kidnapped, murdered, and turned into a wraith. Tavian fell in line as Ashlyn’s hero as was prophesized.

And now we’re back in Maldera Springs...

When you love a vampire...

Rachel smiled at Dante. Man, she loved that vampire. He was everything she never knew she wanted—raw, possessive, animalistic, and full of passion that nearly knocked her senseless every time they made love. Lying in the dark, surrounded by his strong body, she let out a sigh of contentment.

How long will you guys be gone this time? she asked as she ran her fingers down his arm.

"I’m not sure, luv. Samuel has a few vampires he wants Tavian to meet, and then we have to meet with the royals—"

"You shouldn’t say it like that, Dante," she scolded him softly.

He growled teasingly against her skin, sending shivers through her body.

I love the way you smell, he murmured against her neck before taking a deep breath and pulling in the lemon-fresh scent of her arousal.

You’re changing the subject. She giggled as he ran a smooth hand down her hip.

True, and you’re right; the royal family should be respected. I just have issues with one of them.

Irad’s not all bad. He’s trying, and he’s gotten a lot better; look at how good he’s been with Ashlyn and Andre.

Again, you are right, but can we talk about something else?

Sure... let’s talk about why you don’t want me to change.

Dante sighed. This again, Rachel?

Yes, this again. Why are you so resistant to me wanting to spend eternity with you?

Because it’s not the only reason you think you want this. Besides, you’re too young, Rachel. Finish college, explore who you are, and if you still want to become a vampire, we can talk about it then.

Rachel sighed, and so did Dante. They’d been having this conversation—or argument—ever since Bryn had been kidnapped. She knew the risk of loving him and wanted to be better equipped to handle herself if she were ever in a situation like that. Dante had told her it would never happen and it wasn’t a good reason to change, but it wasn’t her only reason. Rachel loved Dante, and she really did want to be with him forever. And after what had happened to Melanie, Rachel was even more determined to change, because it wasn’t just the supernatural world that was dangerous, it was the world in general.

As the hypnotic feel of Dante’s hand running down her hip, and the pressure of his chest against her back, lulled her. She heard him whisper low in her ear.

I want forever with you, luv. You’re everything to me, and there will never come a day I won’t want you by my side.

I love you, she murmured back just before she feel into a deep slumber.

Chapter One

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Rachel! Dante yelled as he backed up towards her.

I’m fine, Dante! she said as she ducked another flying fist.

Dante grunted and threw a knife into the heart of the vampire who was closing in on him. He felt his back press against Rachel’s, and a small amount of his tension released; he knew they were after him more than her.

Enough! Sophia called out, and the remaining four vampires stood down.

Sophia, what are you doing? Rachel demanded through heavy breaths.

Dante moved to stand next to Rachel, taking her chin in his hand. She waved him off, but not before he got a good look at her injuries. It always drove him crazy how whenever in a fight it was always the face others went for. 

Go, Sophia told the four vampires who had been attacking Rachel and Dante.

I’m not done with them, Sophia, Rachel hissed.

That’s enough, Rachel, Dante said softly.

No, it’s not, she said and stomped off.

The five vampires who had been taken down stood then, each pulling a steel knife from their chest.

Sophia smirked at them. Go see Tavian; tell him his brother and a human took you down.

Sophia knew Tavian would give them hell; he was now in charge of a small unit of their army that resided in Maldera Springs.

She smiled at Dante once the remaining vampires were gone. What are you going to do about this?

Sophia didn’t mind Rachel using their men to spar with, but she worried about the damage Rachel was taking from it.

I don’t know. The training is getting out of control.

Dante, she petitioned for the change again.

She wants to change because she’s scared.

So what purpose does training with our army serve?

I think she’s trying to push my decision, knowing I can’t stand to see her hurt. And if it doesn’t push me, it makes her stronger at least.

Well, no offense, but she doesn’t need to push you... I have no reason to deny her petition.

Vampires had been coming to her father and brothers for the past two years, requesting the change for humans in their lives. Rachel was the first to petition the change under Sophia’s line, and while she knew eventually she would be faced with these petitions, she had hoped the first one wouldn’t be from Sage’s ex-girlfriend.

Dante smirked. Really? So you’re okay with Sage turning her? Because I’m fairly certain Ash isn’t going to do it.

Sophia glared at him. "I want Sage to do it about as much as you do, she shot back. But if that’s what it comes to, then I’ll ask him to do it and I’ll deal with it. But if you agreed to change her, I would talk to my father about giving you back the power to do this for her."

I don’t know. I don’t want her changing because of fear, but talk to him and see what he says. I need to go check on her.

Okay. Sage and I are going to see him this weekend.

Dante left Sophia and went home to find Rachel. She was in the study with a drink in hand while she sulked on the settee.

Luv? Dante edged toward her carefully. Can I heal you?

Rachel looked up, and while she wanted to glare and snap at him, he was just too gorgeous with his scruffy facial hair, dark bronze locks, and sapphire eyes that looked at her with such love. She couldn’t be mad.

I’ll be fine, she told him.

But I love healing you. He smiled as his fangs dropped.

Rachel stood, slipping a long, loose lock of his hair behind his ear. He’d let it grow out, and while she had never been a fan of long hair on men, Dante rocked it with his sleek, sandy locks. Rachel shivered as she thought how much she loved running her fingers through it and how it provided her with the perfect handholds when he would lower his lips to the most sensitive parts of her body.

She laughed as he took her in his arms and brought her to his room.

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Tavian watched as the five vampires his brother and Rachel had taken out weaved through the obstacle course. He