Awakening His Vampire Mate

Blood Bonded Mates #6

by Jay Castle

Cole

For eight hundred years, I’ve walked this world without feeling even a shred of human emotion. I hunt murderers with a song in my heart, but I’m no hero, anti or otherwise. I enjoy besting other predators, and my own pleasure has always been the only thing that matters. My world is clean, simple, and perfect.

Then Eli stumbles into my life, and everything changes. The moment he looks at me with those dark, haunted eyes and calls me by a name I haven’t used in centuries, I feel something I thought lost to me forever: the ability to care for someone who isn’t me.

Suddenly, my existence isn’t about pleasure anymore. I would burn it all down for him without even a moment’s hesitation. But Eli has built his life around saving others. If he ever learns what I’ve done or who I really am, he’ll never forgive me.

He can never know the truth.

Eli

I’ve seen Nicolas in my dreams for as long as I can remember. I always wake up gasping, drowning in feelings of heartbreak I can’t explain. But that’s sheer madness. I should be focused on the grueling hours I’m putting in at the ER. On my unstable ex, whose threats are getting worse. On my sister, whose life is falling apart right in front of me. Or maybe even on the fact that every man I’ve ever given my heart to has shattered it. Those things matter. The dreams don’t.

Until the night I meet Nicolas. Then everything I thought I knew starts to unravel. Because he’s real. And he’s not human. I know I should run. But how can I leave the one person who’s always been mine, even before we’ve ever met? Still, I know he’s hiding something from me. Something far worse than his lack of heartbeat.

And I have to know what it is. Even if it destroys everything.

Awakening His Vampire Mate is the final book in the Blood Bonded Mates series. This 85,000-word spicy M/M paranormal romance features a skeptical human doctor coming face-to-face with the supernatural, dreams that might not just be dreams, a snarky inhuman vampire rediscovering his emotions through his fated mate, and a disgruntled detective stuck playing reluctant buddy cop to an immortal serial killer who hunts other killers. There will be at least one reunion centuries in the making, cameos from every couple in the previous books, and a guaranteed HEA (possibly even for some long-running side characters). You can also expect hurt/comfort, found family, funny moments, slow-burn spice, plenty of snark, and everyone getting exactly what they richly deserve.

Content warnings: As an open-door gay vampire romance, this book contains explicit sexual scenes between two consenting adult men. Additional warnings include on-page violence (never between partners), stalking, mentions of off-page abuse occurring in the past, strong language, depictions of alcoholism, smoking, death, stalking, and consensual blood-drinking. All major characters in this series are part of the LGBTQ+ community.

Genres: Paranormal, Fantasy, Romance, Vampires

340 pages, Kindle Edition

Published December 16, 2025

About the author

I write MM paranormal romance and I’m the author of the Blood Bonded Mates series. All of my books end with an HEA and most of them also have a fair amount of hurt/comfort woven in, which is one of my favorite romance tropes (both to read and to write).

I've always been an avid reader, practically ever since I could first pick up a book. I've also been fascinated by paranormal themes for pretty much all my life. If a book had witches, vampires, ghosts, time travel, etc., I wanted to read it.

I developed my love for the romance genre in general and paranormal romance in particular when I started "borrowing" the books off my mom's shelf with supernatural elements in them. She was a voracious reader of romance, so naturally, they were all paranormal romances. I fell in love with them. And once I discovered MM paranormal romance, I felt both seen and included for the first time. I now read a wide range of genres, but paranormal romance has always had a special place in my heart. After all, who doesn't love spooky stuff & happy endings?

I’m owned by cats and I’m a proud dog dad to a border collie (pictured above) who is probably smarter than I am. I live in the Pacific Northwest with my partner of 13 years.

Reviews

[Bee · Rating 5 out of 5]

4.5 stars, rounded up!

Right from the start, this series has been truly wonderful. I've loved every single book and I'm a little sad that this is the last book. But what an ending it was! Eli and Cole's story had me hooked right from the start. It helped that I am absolutely weak for characters like Cole, heh. But that was far from the only reason. The writing is stunning, the story is swoony, intense, suspenseful and all-around amazing. The characters, both old and new, stole my heart again. I will miss this found family dearly and I hope it won't be the last we've seen of them.

Aside from being a wonderful human being, Jay is also a very talented author, and I can't wait to see what wonderful stories he'll bring us in the future. If you haven't checked this series out yet and you love paranormal romances featuring vampires, shifters, and more, please give this one a try. You won't regret it.

I received an ARC from the author in exchange for an honest review. My opinions are my own.

[Abigail Beckwith · Rating 4 out of 5]

"Awakening His Vampire Mate" is the sixth book in Jay Castle's Blood Bonded Mates series.

["Cole
For eight hundred years, I’ve walked this world without feeling even a shred of human emotion. I hunt murderers with a song in my heart, but I’m no hero, anti or otherwise. I enjoy besting other predators, and my own pleasure has always been the only thing that matters. My world is clean, simple, and perfect.
Then Eli stumbles into my life, and everything changes. The moment he looks at me with those dark, haunted eyes and calls me by a name I haven’t used in centuries, I feel something I thought lost to me forever: the ability to care for someone who isn’t me.
Suddenly, my existence isn’t about pleasure anymore. I would burn it all down for him without even a moment’s hesitation. But Eli has built his life around saving others. If he ever learns what I’ve done or who I really am, he’ll never forgive me.
He can never know the truth.

Eli
I’ve seen Nicolas in my dreams for as long as I can remember. I always wake up gasping, drowning in feelings of heartbreak I can’t explain. But that’s sheer madness. I should be focused on the grueling hours I’m putting in at the ER. On my unstable ex, whose threats are getting worse. On my sister, whose life is falling apart right in front of me. Or maybe even on the fact that every man I’ve ever given my heart to has shattered it. Those things matter. The dreams don’t.
Until the night I meet Nicolas. Then everything I thought I knew starts to unravel. Because he’s real. And he’s not human. I know I should run. But how can I leave the one person who’s always been mine, even before we’ve ever met? Still, I know he’s hiding something from me. Something far worse than his lack of heartbeat.
And I have to know what it is. Even if it destroys everything."]

The fact that they were both awakened in some manner by meeting each other is a beautiful parallel. Not just about their love for each other, but past lives and old feelings. It was adorable and much deeper than I could imagine this book going.

I also love how we were told so many times how horrible Nicolas was. Granted, he wasn't a good person, but he wasn't entirely evil. He had evil urges, but he did good things with them (or at least, he took the evil urges out on evil people).

Plus all of the new fated mates that we were (again--some the same as last time and some brand-new ones) introduced. So more books. PLUS a spin-off series!

Trigger Warnings: on-page violence (never between partners), mentions of off-page abuse occurring in the past, depictions of alcoholism, death, stalking, and more.

#arcs #arcteammember
#snowedinwiththevampireprince #embracinghisvampiremate #marriedtothevampireking #huntinghisvampiremate #taminghisvampiemate #awakeninghisvampiremate #bloodbondedmates #bloodbondedmatesseries #jaycastle #books #queerbooks #queererotica #bodicerippers #bookstagram #bookphotography #ilovebooks

[Jacqueleen the Reading Queen♡ · Rating 5 out of 5]

"𝙸𝚝 𝚠𝚊𝚜 𝚎𝚟𝚎𝚛𝚢 𝚋𝚒𝚝 𝚊𝚜 𝚐𝚘𝚘𝚍 𝚊𝚜 𝚊𝚗𝚢 𝚘𝚏 𝚖𝚢 𝚍𝚛𝚎𝚊𝚖𝚜 𝚎𝚟𝚎𝚛 𝚑𝚊𝚍 𝚋𝚎𝚎𝚗. 𝙱𝚞𝚝 𝚒𝚝 𝚠𝚊𝚜 𝚎𝚟𝚎𝚗 𝚋𝚎𝚝𝚝𝚎𝚛 𝚝𝚑𝚊𝚗 𝚝𝚑𝚊𝚝, 𝚋𝚎𝚌𝚊𝚞𝚜𝚎 𝚑𝚎 𝚠𝚊𝚜 𝚑𝚎𝚛𝚎. 𝙸𝚖𝚙𝚘𝚜𝚜𝚒𝚋𝚕𝚢, 𝚑𝚎 𝚠𝚊𝚜 𝚛𝚎𝚊𝚕, 𝚊𝚗𝚍 𝚑𝚎 𝚠𝚊𝚜 𝚒𝚗 𝚖𝚢 𝚊𝚛𝚖𝚜 𝚊𝚗𝚍, 𝚏𝚘𝚛 𝚝𝚑𝚎 𝚏𝚒𝚛𝚜𝚝 𝚝𝚒𝚖𝚎 𝚒𝚗 - 𝚠𝚎𝚕𝚕, 𝚎𝚟𝚎𝚛 - 𝙸 𝚔𝚗𝚎𝚠, 𝚎𝚟𝚎𝚛𝚢 𝚙𝚊𝚛𝚝 𝚘𝚏 𝚖𝚎 𝚔𝚗𝚎𝚠, 𝚍𝚘𝚠𝚗 𝚝𝚘 𝚝𝚑𝚎 𝚏𝚞𝚌𝚔𝚒𝚗𝚐 𝚖𝚊𝚛𝚛𝚘𝚠 𝚘𝚏 𝚖𝚢 𝚋𝚘𝚗𝚎𝚜, 𝚝𝚑𝚊𝚝 𝙸 𝚠𝚊𝚜𝚗'𝚝 𝚊𝚕𝚘𝚗𝚎 𝚊𝚗𝚢𝚖𝚘𝚛𝚎."

Once I finished Taming His Vampire Mate I wanted to get my hands on this book ASAP. I've always been a fan of Thierry throughout the series, so to find out he had a twin brother out there who had gone off the rails was like dangling a carrot. I mean, there are two of them!? Ironically, of the two of them, Nicolas turns out to be the calmer twin, which is wild because that vampire has been slaughtering his way through murderers for 8 centuries.

"𝙰𝚗𝚍 𝚝𝚑𝚊𝚝 𝚠𝚊𝚜 𝚊𝚕𝚕 𝚋𝚎𝚌𝚊𝚞𝚜𝚎 𝚘𝚏 𝙳𝚘𝚌𝚝𝚘𝚛 𝙳𝚎 𝙻𝚊 𝙲𝚛𝚞𝚣. 𝙱𝚎𝚌𝚊𝚞𝚜𝚎 𝚘𝚏 𝙴𝚕𝚒. 𝙷𝚎 𝚑𝚊𝚍 𝚜𝚘𝚖𝚎𝚑𝚘𝚠 𝚐𝚒𝚟𝚎𝚗 𝚖𝚎 𝚋𝚊𝚌𝚔 𝚖𝚢 𝚠𝚘𝚛𝚕𝚍."

I really enjoyed the story of Nicolas falling in love with Eli. It takes him some time to realize that's what is happening. A lot of the story is watching Nicolas grow and feel for the first time in hundreds of years. He's been without emotions, without guilt for so long that it takes him time to catch up. He just knows he has this overwhelming need to protect Eli. To keep him safe from anything that may harm him, including himself when he tries to drive home after a double shift in the ER.

Eli was such a sweetheart. I don't know if I'd have been as collected as he was when finding out that the man you've been seeing for months also drinks blood and kills people. I'm sure it was even harder for him because up until that point, Nicolas was the most attentive and caring boyfriend ever. I'm glad he held onto that fact because I think it helped him realize who Nicolas was now as opposed to who he had been in the past.

The reunion with the twins was both heartbreaking and heartwarming all at once. Heartbreaking because these two lost so much time with one another, but heartwarming because it was obvious that both brothers were determined to heal their bond going forward. The ending was great, seeing many of the past MCs all welcoming Nicolas and his mate. Not to mention the tease we got for the next series this author is working on. Lets go Werewolves!!!

[Madison Bryant · Rating 5 out of 5]

Nicolas (Cole): approximately around 800 years old. My first impression of Cole would be he reminds me of a sociopath, a funny one though. He’s kind of clueless in certain ways. But he’s smart at others, having his “sidekick” be his conscience. And as Harris would say,“ Not a good guy, my ass.” He has rituals that he doesn’t want to deviate from. I LOVE him!! Very neat monster indeed. Haha, he ran!?? I’m crying 😂. He thinks Eli’s a killer 😂😂.  He’s manic, I’m starting to feel like he might be bipolar.

Eli (29 years old): dependable to a point. I repeat do NOT allow him to pick guys!! Oh, he’s a hot mess! Thinks something is wrong with him because of his dreams about Nicolas. Get HIM TIGER!! Deeply insecure. Feisty & adorable, I just want to hug him!! I was a little disappointed in him when he learned the secret, but he came through.

Cole & Eli together well they both have a horrible taste for men, besides the fates choosing them for each other. The second time they meet aka Cole getting impatient about stalking him, so he bursts into the changing room. Eli kisses him AFTER Cole basically admits to stalking him. So you can say Eli’s kind of crazy. And Cole is (almost) brutally honest. It’s really refreshing. They’re really magical together, like two stars aligning, and they just fit together even if it’s a little rough. But, real too, at the same time. Eli, really helps Cole be able to be vulnerable, and I want to say innocent in a way. It feels like Eli pushed him to be the vampire he was always meant to be. They were just floating through life before they met.

I’ve read this book TWICE already! The plot was really enjoyable, plus I was really surprised by a lot of stuff. You have got to really pay attention because there are little hints everywhere! If you're just getting into this series, I would recommend reading in order so you know everything or if you've already read the series, to go back and refresh your memory. I really enjoyed this series, and I'm sad that it's over, or is it? 🤨

[Stephanie · Rating 4 out of 5]

What a great way to end this series. Cole (Nicolas) has been wandering the earth for 800 years, enacting cold and calculated justice against the human murderers of the world. He does it because he likes it. Cole has cut himself off from all his human emotions for so long he's sure he doesn't even have them anymore. Eli is struggling to keep his little family of him and his sister together. He's drowning in work as an ER doctor and the past failed relationships he's had. Not to mention the alcoholism his sister is suffering from. When these 2 wounded men meet, Cole knows there is no way he will let Eli go on as he has been. Their meeting also brings to the surface Cole's buried humanity and Eli's past existences on earth. I really enjoyed watching them each come to terms with their painful pasts to embrace a future with one another. They are also hot as hell together. The action parts were a good read as well and do heed the content warnings about violence (never against each other). It was also nice to see the past couples make appearances and tie up various loose ends and story arcs. I am a bit sad to see it end, but I look forward to reading a new series in the same universe. I would highly recommend the whole series.

[Steve Pardue · Rating 5 out of 5]

The sixth and last installment in the Blood Bonded Mates series captivates readers just as powerfully as its predecessors. For long-time fans, every page feels like a nostalgic reunion with familiar characters. This series has kept readers guessing about the depth and variety of supernatural beings, and this final book is no different.

Eli, an old soul and a doctor, has traversed many lifetimes in search of his true love, Cole, an eight-century-old vampire. Their relationship dives deep into themes of love and destiny. As Eli reflects on his past lives, readers are drawn into the profound connection that binds him to Cole, the focal point of this narrative.

This book brings back beloved characters from previous installments as they unite against a powerful adversary. Readers will experience thrilling action sequences interwoven with heartfelt moments, particularly through Eli's struggle to support his alcoholic sister, Sam. The tension mounts as Cole's arrival disrupts their fabric of normalcy, prompting both chaos and transformation. With its blend of emotion, action, and supernatural intrigue, this final chapter provides a satisfying wrap-up to an engaging series.

[Ana Silva · Rating 5 out of 5]

So many feeling to unpack😭

I was so ready to hate Cole. He was such a jerk in book five that I was ready to just hate him on principle. But then he turns out to have the biggest heart of them all.

He lost so much. Almost a millennium is a long time to be alone. My heart broke for him.

Eli didn’t know why he kept dreaming about Cole, all he knew was that waking up without him was pure agony. Every time he woke up to reality, his heart broker a little more.

Even without confirmation he knew deep down that Cole was his. That no matter what happened, he would always find him.

I love stories with reincarnation element. I’ve always been fascinated about people who love the same person in every lifetime. In Eli and Cole’s case, that knowledge was quite painful given how one of those lives was cut short.

Cole was so miserable living with a guilty conscience. His burden was so heavy that when he was finally freed from it, he couldn’t help but feel relieved.

I loved them both so much. Finding each other again after almost a thousand years was the most heartwarming thing ever.

I’m sad to see this series end but I’m so happy with how it ended. I’m so excited for the next series.

[Kate · Rating 5 out of 5]

**********Contains Spoilers**********

I really enjoyed this book and thought it was a good conclusion to the Blood Bonded Mates Series by Jay Castle. I’m so glad that 800 year old vampire Cole aka Nicolas (Thierry’s twin) and his fated mate Eli who’s an old soul found each other again. Meeting Eli was the catalyst of making Cole feel again. I thought that they were great together. The friendship between Cole & the human police detective Harris made me smile.

I loved being able to catch up with all the characters that we’ve gotten to know and fall in love with throughout this amazing series. I’m sad that this is the end of this series but it’s definitely not the last we’ve seen from this world, as there’s a spin-off series in the works. I’m really looking forward to reading the first book in the spin-off, The Wolves of Crescent Springs Series and seeing Harris get his own happily ever after. I’m also looking forward to reading more books by Jay in the future. I’d definitely recommend this book, series and author to others.

[Mary · Rating 4 out of 5]

"Maybe you are a real boy, after all."

Why on earth was it always middle-aged white men?"

"After all, I've crossed oceans of time to find you."

"Not the mortal he's madly , desperately in love with-the kind, beautiful, perfect man with brown eyes so deep and timeless it's as though he's seen eons pass him by."

Come on, what's not to love about a PNR with allusions to Pinocchio, Bram Stoker, serial killers, lush declarations of love. Cole and Jay's story, the last in the Blood Bonded series, I think is my favorite of this series. To watch how these two journey to their HEA, watching as their dynamics shift as they embrace who they are truly supposed to be gives us such great closure to such a saga. And along the way, we meet such great secondary characters. Sam's own journey, her meet awkward with Sadie, and Chase, Cole's sort of best friend, so good. And then all the various characters who help defeat the bad guy, Cole and Thierry's found family, sigh. Yes, we get all of the various mates, friends in the epilogue and the set up for the next first book in the next series! Can't wait.

P.S. I was lucky to watch this work come into being on Castle's Patreon. To see him take a decent read to this story was a privileged peak behind the writing process.

[Cara · Rating 5 out of 5]

Awakening His Vampire Mate is the sixth and final book in the Blood Bonded Mates series. I'm a little sad because it's the last book in the series and I've grown very fond of the characters. They are a found family.

In this book, we meet Nicolas, Thierry's brother, who is a feral vampire. Following on from the plot of the previous book, he will find Eli, his fated mate. But it won't be that easy either, because Eli is not just a simple human being and his history with Nicolas is much more complicated.


I love this series and each of the characters.

Now the best part is that there will be a spinoff, with a character who appears in this book and an old acquaintance, thus expanding the universe.

I can't wait to read it.

+I want to thank the author for the ARC. This is my voluntary and honest opinion+

[Breanna · Rating 5 out of 5]

This was such a great conclusion to the series! This book nicely ties up a lot of loose ends to conclude the series. While setting up and leaving some things open for a spin off. While not every individual book was a 5 star, this is a 5 star series for me. I definitely recommend the series. It's best read in order as there is a through plot, characters reappear, and there's a found family theme.

I loved the dynamic of the relationship between Cole and Eli, especially since this one was starting from a different perspective than most of the series as one partner starts as an emotionless vampire. I do think making Coles vicitim choice being serial killers was a way to lessen the impact of him being an emotionless killer and make him more redeemable to the reader.

I received an ARC, but this is my honest opinion. 

[Barb · Rating 5 out of 5]

Such a wonderful read that kept me captivated! I seriously did not want to put this book down! Nicholas/Cole was awesome! He had me laughing quite a bit! He was actually such a sweetheart! I don’t want to spoil anything but the way he went about giving Eli what he needed and how he went to Harris was just so sweet! I loved his interactions with Harris! Then the deal with Sam…yeah total sweetheart! I felt so bad for everything Eli had to go through before finding Cole! He was a total sweetheart also! These two were just perfect for each other! This book has so much found family and I absolutely adore that! So many fantastic characters that are sweet, sassy, and hilarious! This is definitely a wonderful addition to this series and a fantastic ending! Definitely look forward to the spinoff! Very highly recommend! This is my honest opinion of this complimentary copy of this book

[Zelda · Rating 5 out of 5]

I love this book so much! Awakening His Vampire Mate is the final book in this series and the author did a fantastic job bringing the series to a satisfying conclusion.

Nicolas (Cole) and Elliott (Eli) story is simply beautiful. Cole may be my favorite of the vampires. I love slow burn and how the plot twist kept coming. The author knows how to keep things interesting and exciting with the attention to details. It has the right amount angst and heartbreak, healing as well as spice. You get love and a bit of mystery that makes the story that much more inviting. The found family is strong with this one. 🥰🥰🥰🥰

Although this book can be read as a standalone, I highly recommend reading the series.😍😍 A great wrap up to a great series. I'm so excited about the spin off to The Wolves of Crescent Springs!

[Kelly · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is officially my favorite book of the series. And it's so appropriately named! With Nicolas, we get to see what happens when a vampire who has lost all humanity finds his fated mate. Thus far in the series, we basically only know Nicolas as being evil incarnate since he was turned. This story digs into his history and gives us someone to root for. His emotional journey after meeting Eli was lovely to watch. Eli came into some self-awareness of his own that added a bit more romanticism to their story. I'm sad the series is concluded, but excited for the spinoff series The Wolves of Crescent Springs!

[Cynthia M Brow · Rating 5 out of 5]

Awakening His Vampire Mate is the 6th and final book in the Blood Bonded Mates series. In my opinion this series is best read in order. This is the story of Eli a human and Nicolas (Cole) a vampire. I really enjoyed this whole series and hate saying goodbye to found family. I loved these two and seeing them work through everything to build a relationship. Jay Castle has created an amazing series and I'm looking forward to seeing what he writes next. I would definitely recommend this book and series.
received a free review copy

[ViVi · Rating 4 out of 5]

4/5⭐

Great ending of an amazing series. I can't wait for more stories set in this world. I loved the chemistry between Nicolas and Eli. They had a very heartbreaking but also very beautiful story. It was also nice to see how much the characters developed by the end of the book. Especially Sam, I was really proud of her how much she turned her life around and found happiness along the way too. I do wish we got more action scenes, most of the book was a little slow paced for me, but I still enjoyed it a lot because of the amazing characters.

[lori forsyth · Rating 5 out of 5]

Awesome series

I love this book & series but this one is awesome I suppose it being the most recent but the interactions between Cole & Eli are fantastic & hilarious I felt like II was in the middle of all of them - I truly wish the series would go on!!!!
Thank you - Lori

[Marie smith · Rating 5 out of 5]

Eli and Cole were amazing I loved every minute of this book. I could not put it down and I was hooked. There sweet moments and sad moments as well as some funny moments. An all around good reads definitely recommend

[... · Rating 4 out of 5]

Aw, I loved this one! And the whole series 🥰

[Tash · Rating 4 out of 5]

Cute, im looking forward to harris’ book

[Elise H · Rating 4 out of 5]

4,25⭐️

My favorite of the serie, loved Nicolas and Eli ❤️

[Demian Grimm · Rating 5 out of 5]

4.5 ⭐

[Jeanine Beaulieu St Pierre · Rating 5 out of 5]

I have other books in this series but I haven’t read them yet but I was in the mood to read one tonight and the info they gave for this book seemed so interesting so I read it and loved everything in this book ,,,imagine living so many pasted lives that your start remembering and meeting your other half and not being as scared as you thought and then helping with friends getting a final end to person and much much more.,,,,I have read this book for this author for my honest opinion