The Second Breath

A millennium after human extinction, vampires and werewolves share dominion. Vampire First Baron Knox and werewolf champion Aurora are sworn enemies—and secret lovers. When the Werewolf King enacts the 'Pure Blood Decree' branding Aurora's mother inferior, Aurora must win the Twin Moons Festival to claim the wish-granting 'Twin Moons Heart' and save her. To help him, Knox performs the forbidden Blood Clan ritual 'Shared Life,' allowing Aurora to wield vampire power. Unbeknownst to Aurora, the ritual is a one-way sacrifice: every wound he receives transfers to Knox. After his brother's betrayal, his mother's murder, his sister's death, and his own crucifixion by silver nails for treason, the lovers are forced to publicly turn against each other, staging a fake engagement and a duel to the death while secretly purging the vampire elders and uncovering the Werewolf King's conspiracy. They ultimately learn that festival and decree are fabrications designed to prevent their love from breaking an ancient curse. On finals night of festival they expose evidence of this deception overthrow both regimes in process As Knox lies dying from wounds inflicted during rebellion Aurora abandons onl…