Lover Unbound: A Novel of the Black Dagger Brotherhood - Softcover

Über die Autorin bzw. den Autor

J. R. Ward is the author of more than thirty novels, including those in her #1 New York Times bestselling Black Dagger Brotherhood series. She is also the author of the Black Dagger Legacy series and the Bourbon Kings series. There are more than fifteen million copies of her novels in print worldwide, and they have been published in twenty-six different countries around the world. She lives in the South with her family.

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Praise for J. R. Ward and her novels

“J. R. Ward’s unique band of brothers is to die for.
I love this series!”

—Suzanne Brockmann, New York Times
bestselling author of Into the Storm

“Best new series I’ve read in years! Tautly written,
wickedly sexy, and just plain fun. Now here’s a band of
brothers who know how to show a girl a good time.”

—Lisa Gardner, New York Times
bestselling author of Gone

Lover Revealed

“Frighteningly addictive…The series [has] earned Ward an Anne Rice–style following, deservedly so; this entry should prove no less popular.”

—Publishers Weekly

“It’s tough to keep raising the bar in a series, but the phenomenal Ward manages to do just that!…Amazing…The world of the Black Dagger Brotherhood continues to grow and become more layered, ramping up the tension, risk, and passion. This is awesome stuff.”

—Romantic Times (4½ Stars, Top Pick)

Lover Awakened

“Ward spins her take on Beauty and the Beast into a raw, gritty tour de force…. A tale that sparks enough plot stunners to keep readers fascinated for years to come.”

—Booklist (starred review)

“Lover Awakened is utterly absorbing and deliciously erotic. I found myself turning pages faster and faster—and then I wished I hadn’t, because there was no more to read! The Brotherhood is the hottest collection of studs in romance, and I can’t wait for the next one!”

—USA Today bestselling author Angela Knight

“Compelling…Ward pulls no punches in this dark, dangerous, and at times tragic series.”

—Romantic Times (4½ Stars, Top Pick)

Lover Eternal

“Ward wields a commanding voice perfect for the genre, and readers new to the world of the Black Dagger Brotherhood should hold on tight for an intriguing, adrenaline-pumping ride featuring a race of warrior vampires who fill enemies with terror and women with desire. Like any good thrill ride, the pace changes with a tender story of survival and hope and leaves readers begging for more. Fans of L. A. Banks, Laurell K. Hamilton, and Sherrilyn Kenyon will add Ward to their must-read list.”

—Booklist

“[An] extremely intense and emotionally powerful tale…. Ward’s paranormal world is, among other things, colorful, dangerous, and richly conceived…. Intricate plots and believable characters.”

—Romantic Times (4½ Stars, Top Pick)

Dark Lover

“It’s not easy to find a new twist on the vampire myth, but Ward succeeds beautifully. This dark and compelling world is filled with enticing romance as well as perilous adventure. With myriad possibilities to choose from, the Black Dagger Brotherhood series promises tons of thrills and chills.”

—Romantic Times (4½ Stars, Top Pick)

“A dynamite new vampire series—delicious, erotic, and thrilling! J. R. Ward has created a wonderful cast of characters, with a sexy, tormented, to-die-for hero…. A fabulous treat for romance readers!”

—Nicole Jordan, New York Times bestselling author of Fever Dreams: A Novel

“J. R. Ward has a great style of writing, and she shines…. You will lose yourself in this world; it is different, creative, dark, violent, and flat-out amazing…If you read only one paranormal this year, make it Dark Lover.”

—All About Romance

“An awesome, instantly addictive debut novel. It’s a midnight whirlwind of dangerous characters and mesmerizing erotic romance. The Black Dagger Brotherhood owns me now. Dark fantasy lovers, you just got served.”

—Lynn Viehl, author of Night Lost

Novels in the Black Dagger Brotherhood series by J. R. Ward

Dark Lover

Lover Eternal

Lover Awakened

Lover Revealed

Lover Unbound

LOVER UNBOUND

A Novel of the Black Dagger Brotherhood

J. R. Ward

A SIGNET BOOK

With immense gratitude to the readers
of the Black Dagger Brotherhood,
and a shout-out to the Cellies!
I’m not even going to bring up the couch.
I can’t count that high.

Thank you so very much:
Karen Solem, Kara Cesare, Claire Zion, Kara Welsh.

Thank you, Dorine and Angie,
for taking such very good care of me—
and thanks also to S-Byte and Ventrue for everything
you do out of the goodness of your hearts!

As always with gratitude to my executive committee:
Sue Grafton, Dr. Jessica Andersen, Betsey Vaughan,
and my Partner.
And with much respect to the incomparable
Suzanne Brockmann.

To DLB—guess what? ya mummy still loves ya xxx
To NTM—as always, with love and gratitude.
As you well know.

And I have to say,
none of this would be possible without:
my loving husband, who sticks by me always;
my wonderful mother, who’s been with me since…
well, hey, the very beginning;
my family (both those of blood and those by choice);
and my dearest friends.

Glossary of Terms and Proper Nouns

Prologue

Chapter One

Chapter Two

Chapter Three

Chapter Four

Chapter Five

Chapter Six

Chapter Seven

Chapter Eight

Chapter Nine

Chapter Ten

Chapter Eleven

Chapter Twelve

Chapter Thirteen

Chapter Fourteen

Chapter Fifteen

Chapter Sixteen

Chapter Seventeen

Chapter Eighteen

Chapter Nineteen

Chapter Twenty

Chapter Twenty-one

Chapter Twenty-two

Chapter Twenty-three

Chapter Twenty-four

Chapter Twenty-five

Chapter Twenty-six

Chapter Twenty-seven

Chapter Twenty-eight

Chapter Twenty-nine

Chapter Thirty

Chapter Thirty-one

Chapter Thirty-two

Chapter Thirty-three

Chapter Thirty-four

Chapter Thirty-five

Chapter Thirty-six

Chapter Thirty-seven

Chapter Thirty-eight

Chapter Thirty-nine

Chapter Forty

Chapter Forty-one

Chapter Forty-two

Chapter Forty-three

Chapter Forty-four

Chapter Forty-five

Chapter Forty-six

Chapter Forty-seven

Chapter Forty-eight

Chapter Forty-nine

Chapter Fifty

Chapter Fifty-one

Chapter Fifty-two

Chapter Fifty-three

Chapter Fifty-four

Epilogue

Glossary of Terms and Proper Nouns

ahvenge (v.) Act of mortal retribution, carried out typically by a male loved one.

attendhente (n.) Chosen who serves the Scribe Virgin in particularly close manner.

Black Dagger Brotherhood (pr. n). Highly trained vampire warriors who protect their species against the Lessening Society. As a result of selective breeding within the race, Brothers possess immense physical and mental strength as well as rapid healing capabilities. They are not siblings for the most part, and are inducted into the Brotherhood upon nomination by the Brothers. Aggressive, self-reliant, and secretive by nature, they exist apart from civilians, having little contact with members of the other classes except when they need to feed. They are the subjects of legend and the objects of reverence within the vampire...