A Bond of Blood

Aeris and Illeine did everything right. They discovered they were mates, fell in love, and lived happily ever after.
For a little while.
Everything changes when the couple discovers that their sacred bond is actually the artificial product of a horrible sacrifice. To Aeris, the connection that once seemed so pure and beautiful is now tainted by death, horror, and regret. For Illeine, the great tragedy is her not-so-fated mate's reaction to the revelation.
The question of, "what if?" sends Aeris fleeing into the comfort of past, leaving a heartbroken Illeine to face the future alone.
But she won't stay down. And she's going to make sure he truly understands what it means to live with regret.
All she has to do it make sure she doesn't fall into her own trap.