Bride

In a flashback to the past, Misery works at a tech company and masquerades as a Human. Her father’s head guard, Vania, arrives and blows her cover, scares the Humans, and insists that she meet with her father. Vania takes Misery to The Nest, the enormous building that houses most of the Vampyre community and which Misery’s family has governed for centuries. It’s been years since she’s seen her father, who doesn’t approve of her disguising herself as a Human. He tells her a new Human governor has been elected who wants to stop the Collateral program. In her youth, Misery was one of the children exchanged with a Human child as part of these peace agreements.

Misery’s conversation with her father reveals that being the Collateral isolated her from her own kind. It also engendered mistrust and anger toward her father, who insists that he puts his community’s needs first—even above his children—as all good leaders should. Instead of returning to The Nest, Misery moves back into the Human community in disguise where she feels less ostracized.

Henry wants to stop the Humans and Weres from making an alliance against the Vampyres, who are weaker in number. The Weres have a new Alpha who is open to alliances and who has agreed to a one-year show of faith between the species by temporarily marrying a Vampyre. Henry wants Misery to be the bride. She refuses and is walking out when her father says the Alpha’s name. It is familiar and makes Misery agree to the wedding.

The novel returns to the present action. Davenport, the Human governor, finds Misery trying to be alone at the wedding. He asks how she got her name. His ignorance of Vampyre customs makes her remember her friend Serena’s childhood disappointment when Misery dispelled many myths about Vampyres.

The governor says that the Were Collateral who is coming to live with the Vampyres is the mate of her new husband, Lowe Moreland. This makes Misery feel even more awkward about the situation. She happens on a private conversation between Lowe and trusted advisors about consequences for something that has to do with scent. It makes her feel even worse, as she assumes she smells repulsive to him.

A squabble between a Were and Vampyre child breaks out. As the parents square off to fight, Lowe steps in and solves the issue, treating each child with kindness and understanding. He returns to a quiet corner and speaks to a still hidden Misery, saying he smells her and knows she’s there. Misery comes out and they have an awkward first dance. His blood smells overwhelmingly good and she wonders why his eyes dilate when he looks at her. He asks if her father hates her, saying that he needs to know so he can properly protect her. He reveals he knows her history of being sent away as a child and the various attempts on her life. This surprises Misery, even as a man disguised as a waiter tries to stab her. Lowe catches the knife inches from her throat. He says for the next year they should stay away from each other and walks away bleeding fragrant, green blood.

Misery sleeps in a closet to keep out of the sunlight. She is woken in the middle of the day by a child who won’t stop asking her about Vampyres. The child is Lowe’s orphaned sister Ana, who complains that the woman watching her, Juno, is grouchy. Misery tries to talk to Juno, a Were woman. Juno warns Misery to stay away.

Serena’s cat appears from under the bed. Misery reflects that Vampyres don’t like animals, but when Serena disappeared Misery felt obligated to look after her cat. The authorities don’t search for Serena seriously, especially after Misery mentions that she and Serena had a fight. Serena was working on a story for her paper and didn’t come home from an interview. Misery had looked through Serena’s things and found a single clue disguised in their secret language in Serena’s planner, the name “L.E. Moreland.”

Lowe’s house on the lake is beautiful, sunny, and comfortable. Misery expects the kind of hostility she got from the Humans, but the Weres are different. Alex, her first Were acquaintance, is nervous around her, and she enjoys teasing him about feeding on blood. They bond over coding references. He gives her information about Were hierarchy and Lowe’s power. In turn, she dispels rumors about Vampyres being able to turn into bats. She tries to get information about Serena but fails. Later, Misery tries searching the Internet for information on Lowe and gets nothing, except that he was expected at the diplomatic event Serena was attending the night she disappeared.

A Were named Max confronts her and gets increasingly angry, ranting that Lowe is making alliances with the enemy. He attacks her and she defends herself. Lowe appears out of nowhere and pins her to the wall.

Lowe makes sure Max is okay. Other Weres accuse Misery of attacking Max. Lowe takes her in his office and asks what happened. Juno interrupts and says Misery is falsely accusing Max of working with the Loyals. Misery doesn’t know what that means and insists on her innocence. When Juno leaves there’s tension in the room between Misery and Lowe. Misery tries to ease it with sarcasm about her lack of sexual experience, and reveals that she really likes Ana. Lowe tells her to behave. Despite herself, Misery feels his Alpha power and wants to agree. When she leaves, she looks back and sees him inhaling her scent with a tortured look.

Misery is being escorted everywhere and is constantly supervised. She rarely sees Lowe. Mick, one of the older Were guards, is the only one who is relaxed and kind to her. He supervises a call she makes to Owen. She feels like she connects better with her brother. They talk in Vampyre language so Owen can tell her he has no new information on Serena.

Ana surprises Misery later by coming in the window off the roof. Ana mispronounces Misery’s name and asks to play on her computer. Misery is confused by how much she enjoys Ana’s presence and codes games for her to play. She opens up to the little girl about her missing friend and Ana says her brother can help find Serena. Ana reveals that Lowe doesn’t sleep, a problem she calls pneumonia. She goes out the window saying he’s away dealing with lollipops, which Misery understands means Loyals. Knowing Lowe is gone, Misery grabs a hairpin to break into his room.