Catching Midnight: A Tale of Fated Mates

by Morgan Elektra

In the kingdom of Arcadium, vampires rule.

Twenty-one year old Jaden is the last remaining human slave to the vicious princess, Kezia. His life is subject to her every erratic whim. It’s a painful and lonely existence.

Then, a chance late night meeting results in a fated connection Jaden never could have imagined.

General Alrick Van der Meer was recently made king. While on a tour of the continent, he meets an intriguing human male with a scent he can’t resist. But someone is trying to end Alrick’s reign before it starts, and Jaden’s past may hold a secret to stopping the assassin. If they fail, the kingdom, and their future, is lost.

Catching Midnight is a spicy omegaverse romantasy novel featuring fair

Genres: Omegaverse, Paranormal, Fantasy

421 pages, Kindle Edition

Published August 11, 2026

About the author

Born in the artists’ community of Woodstock, NY, Morgan Elektra discovered her passion for writing at a young age, penning stories of witches, vampires, and monsters at the dining room table. After years working day jobs and moonlighting as a reviewer for popular genre website Dread Central, Morgan left the comfort of an office to follow her dreams of writing fiction. She spent the early twenty-teens as a freelance ghostwriter of erotica, but has now put aside the masks to write under her own name. Morgan graduated from Southern New Hampshire University with her MFA in Creative Writing. She writes dark fiction, paranormal romance, and erotica for those who, like her, are in love with the dark.

When not writing she can be found reading, or volunteering with and participating in her local LGBTQ+ community.

She currently lives near Savannah, GA with her husband, their cat Harlequin, and—if the rumours are to be believed (and she sincerely hopes they are)—an awful lot of ghosts.

If you have any questions this almost entirely true bio doesn't answer, Morgan encourages you to ask! She is an open book... cracked spine and all!

Reviews

[Elizabeth]

“One of these days, I am going to fuck you while you’re in a dress.”

This is a lovely fantasy book that's focused on the romance between Alrick and Jaden. They meet in a rare unguarded moment where they see each other as equals, and get to know each other without the weight of society's expectations.

Alrick had never truly contemplated settling down. ‌‌‌‌‌​‌​‌‌‌​‌‌​‌​‌‌In his youth, he had dreamt of bonding with an omega. But they were so rare and coveted once discovered, it was unlikely he’d find one.

Alrick is charmed by Jaden's beauty and naiveté, and Jaden is so sheltered that any new, handsome man he encounters is the focus of all his attention. The only problem is that Alrick is the brand new vampire king and Jaden is a human slave, owned by a cruel princess.

“So, you’re a slave.” He didn’t say it as an accusation, but Jaden flinched. Something inside him grated. “And you’re a king.”

Jaden is assigned to be Alrick's companion during his royal visit, and goes from thwarting an attempt on Alrick's life to warming his bed in a matter of hours.

Jaden wanted for nothing but his freedom and had always known that was beyond his reach. But now . . . . He thought of the way his body trembled and burned when Alrick kissed him.

There is some really excellent, intricate world building featured in this book, from politics to the lore of how vampires overthrew humans and took over. It gave me the expectation that the book would continue in the same vein, which is why the pacing slump in the middle caught me off guard. Alrick and Jaden have a ton of sex (and get to know each other a little bit in between rounds) but honestly it just became a bit repetitive and dull. The initial reason why I wanted to read the book was that Jaden likes to dress in gowns, and normally that's super hot. It's definitely a major plot point, but I missed the chemistry and heat and steam I was expecting. I understood the attraction from Alrick's perspective: he loves seeing Jaden in his corset, his scent and his beauty. He's thrilled to have finally found the omega mate that he thought he'd never find. On the other hand, innocent, virginal Jaden seems kind of swept up in the whole thing. For the first time he's being accepted for who he is, treated as close to an equal as a human slave can be to a vampire king, and allowed to leave his isolated tower. He truly cares for Alrick, but I wasn't convinced there was anything there beside good sex and finally being treated like he was worth something.

Jaden’s smile was gorgeous, wide and real. “I just want you.”

The other sticking point for me is that Jaden remains a slave for the majority of the book, while Alrick does everything to obtain his consent ASIDE FROM FREEING HIM. He has a dim view of slavery overall, so I really don't understand why he waits so long to secure Jaden's freedom. There's political implications of freeing someone else's slave, but the whole thing gave me a bit of the ick. It's like Jaden has to prove himself as a romantic partner before he's earned his freedom from slavery.

I enjoyed the writing and the story overall, it just didn't come together and deliver what I was hoping for. A few plot points read as OTT, and a few others weren't wrapped up satisfactorily. I think the book needed a bit more editing and beta reading prior to publication. A few typos and soundalike word errors snuck through as well. I think my disappointment is based on how close it was to being something great.. it just fell a little short for me personally.

Rating: 3.5 stars
Angst: 3/5
Steam: 2/5

I received a copy of this book from GRR and this is my honest review.

[Ana Silva]

This book was so good! Vampires and omegaverse? Yes, please!

Morgan Elektra is a new to me author and I’m so glad this was my first book by her. When I read the blurb for this book, I knew I needed to read it ASAP.

First off, I have to say how much I despise Kezia. That woman was a heartless witch and I was so tempted to get inside the book and strangle her myself 🤬

Jaden was taken as a baby by Kezia after his parents died. From that moment on, he became a slave confined to a tower and away from everyone. He barely interacted with anyone and nobody outside the palace knew of his existence.

My poor baby Jaden didn’t deserve to be subjected to her cruelty. The audacity of her to make Jaden believe she saved him out of the goodness of her heart when in reality she had an agenda. I hated how bad she treated him and disguised it as care.

Alrick was a fierce soldier who was appointed king after the queen passed away. The news of his new role wasn’t exactly welcomed since there was someone who wanted the throne for themselves.

When Alrick was invited to the castle, he got his first glimpse at Jaden. He was immediately taken by beautiful young man whose sweet nature and easy smile made his heart skip.

Jaden had no idea that the man he spent time talking was actually the new king. He never expected that someone like the king would ever look his way. Yet somehow, the king was interested in a slave like him.

As expected, Kezia tried her hardest to keep them apart but their bond is stronger than any evil intent she might have had. Alrick made sure that she would never hurt Jaden ever again.

I really loved them together. I loved that in the end Jaden turned out to be the most important person in their kingdom. He was never just a slave.

[Nicole]

Review for Catching Midnight (A Tale of Fated Mates) by Morgan Elektra

Triggers/Tropes

Spicy
Fairytale vibes
Omegaverse
Political intrigue
Knotting
MPREG
Crossing swords
Heat

The first thing I want to say is that Morgan Elektra is a new author to me. I am so happy that this is the first book I have read by them. It had most things I look for in a story I want to read. You have intrigue, which I love. I am a sucker for a fated mates story. Who doesn't want to read a story where the two are fated mates, meant for each other? I felt for Jaden, who is a 21-year-old human slave who goes through a lot at the hands of Princess Kezia. Then there is Alrick, who is a general who has just been made king. He travels through the continents. While traveling, he meets Jaden. From the first meeting, he finds that Jaden's smell draws him as no other has. He can't get him out of his thoughts. For me, I loved the mystery that is in this story. They need to find the assassin who is trying to take out Alrick to stop him. I just couldn't put this book down. The unfolding of this story kept me reading till the last word. After reading this story, I need to find and read more by this author.

Nicole Harvey

[Shayla]

Rating:⭐⭐⭐ out of 5

Welcome to the vampire omegaverse—a concept brimming with dark, supernatural potential.

The Good
• Plot: I really love the idea of a vampire omegaverse. Blending those tropes together is honestly what drew me in from the start, and there's so much potential there.
• Novel Foundation: There is a really solid foundation for the story here. You can tell the core premise is strong and sets up a fascinating world.

Areas for Growth
• Characters: Jaden was cute but honestly a bit bland, and Alrick was lacking the depth I was looking for. I feel like there needed to be a lot more character-building moments so we could actually get to know them. It was hard to fully connect when we only really get surface-level details.
• Pacing: The pacing of this novel was definitely a bit wonky. It started off fairly fast-paced and hooked me, but then it hit this massive lull in the middle that I really struggled to push through. After that, the ending felt super rushed, and the timeline shifts right at the end had me genuinely confused about what was happening when.
• Formatting: I'm not sure if this was an issue specific to my copy, but the formatting in general was kind of messy. The paragraphs weren't separated very well, which made it hard to read and caused some unnecessary confusion here and there.

Minor Grievances
One of the things that had my eye twitching was the repeated usage of the word 'male'. I know this is more of a personal pet peeve, but noticeable, frequent word repetition like that pulls me out of the story and gives me a slight bit of the ick.

Final Verdict:
Overall, this novel wasn't bad, but not great either. I think it would heavily benefit from some additional beta readers to help smooth out the pacing, plus a thorough formatting pass. The cool idea is definitely there, it just needs a bit more polish before it's ready.

I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.

[Merissa (Archaeolibrarian)]

CATCHING MIDNIGHT is a standalone fantasy romance that gives you a reluctant king and a slave. Talk about opposites attract!

The queen is dying and names Alrick as her successor. There are a few raised eyebrows, but they agree to her wishes... on the surface, at least. Kezia is a harsh character from the beginning and shows her manipulative and devious ways in subtle actions. Her staff fear her, and Jaden, her slave, is usually the one who bears the brunt of her anger. Once crowned, Alrick tours the kingdom, visiting with Kezia. It's there that he meets Jaden, who, after being kept in a tower for most of his life, has no idea who Alrick is. What follows is an Alpha/omega romance coupled with a multitude of varying assassination attempts.

This was a great story with wonderful characters. I really felt for Jaden, and Kezia certainly kept me on edge the whole time. Alrick is a sweetie, and I loved the heat between him and Jaden. He wasn't going to let a little thing like slavery get in his way. The pacing is smooth, and you get information without it being an info-dump. It is spicy and sensual, with some tender moments.

I thoroughly enjoyed this book and would look forward to returning to their world. Definitely recommended by me. 4 out of 5 great stars.

** The same worded review will appear elsewhere. **

* A copy of this book was provided to me with no requirements for a review. I voluntarily read this book; the comments here are my honest opinion. *

Merissa
Archaeolibrarian
Aug 24, 2026

[Jeanette Waters]

Morgan Elektra had me at page one. "Catching Midnight" is a romantasy about a vampire king and his human omega who is also a slave. Alarick was a general. Chosen by the dying queen of his country because he had at least a drop of the ruling family's bloodline, he is a reluctant king. His advisors suggest an introduction tour of the country. And it's during his visit to Princess Kezia, that he meet the half vamp/half human omega, Jaden. Kezia uses his interest in the younger man to distract Alarick so she can kill him.
Most vampire males are alphas, most females, betas. Rarest of all are the omegas. Alarick's advisors want him to mate, an unbonded alpha on the throne makes people nervous. And sometimes homicidal. Good worldbuilding, we get the story of the rise of the vampire. Lots of court politics and intrigue. There is mention of a Fae kingdom, not followed up on.
The uneven power exchange was a bit problematic for me. A high ick factor. Alarick is fascinated by
Jaden's youth and innocence. Jaden worships the older vamp. But for part of the book, I wondered if it was 'love' or 'someone paying attention to me' on Jaden's part.
This is the first thing I've read from this author. It certainly won't be the last. I read this in one go. It was exciting, sizzling. Not too spicy.
I received an advanced copy of this e book and this is my review.

[Dee Layton]

Catching midnight was an absolutely amazing book. Morgan Elektra is a new author to me. She comes highly recommended and I'm so glad I read her book. Boy this was a hot one and I loved it. Who doesn't love an MM omegaverse, ya girl does very much.
Now let's get into the goodies!

MY REVIEW CONTAIN SOME SPOILERS IF YOU DONT WANT TO KNOW PLEASE DONT READ.


Well the queen is dying and announced Alrick as the one to replace her. Some aren't a fan and naturally agree anyway but secretly being shady underneath.
Kezia is a witch of a character through the book from the beginning. She manipulative and deceitful in her actions. Everyone fears her, her staff and poor Jaden her human male slave is her doormate in a manner of speaking and catches all her hell and wrath.
Now once Alrick is crowned he tours the whole kingdom, which means he visits Kenzia. That's where he meets Jaden, who after being hidden in a tower his whole existence doesn't know who Alrick is. I tell you what after he find out who he is what proceeds is something so beautiful.
An alpha/omega relationship with Alrick who really sees Jaden and treats him right. On top of all this many attempts to destroy and bring down Alrick tales place.
Let me tell you this is a delicious book that envokes a lot of feelings and I love it and can't wait to see what else this amazing authors writes next.

[Debby]

Twenty-one-year-old Jade is the last remaining slave belonging to Princess Kezia. Kezia is a vicious, unpredictable person which often leaves Jaden at her mercy. Jaden was in the courtyard of his tower when a stranger arrives. He feels a connection to him but knows Kezia would never allow him the freedom to act.

General Alrick Van der Meer never imagined he would be the next king but that is what he is due to a series of unfortunate events. When he meets a young man in a secluded area, he is intrigued by his scent and the curious naivety he exhibits. Alrick does have bigger problems with assassination attempts increasing. Somehow Jaden’s past may be the key to his survival.

This was truly a slow but very hot burn sped up by circumstances. Alrick’s reactions to Jaden were precious. He truly wanted to care for him and provide for him. Jaden wanted that as well, but his circumstance left him feeling as if it was not possible. He was Kezia’s slave and it would be difficult to change that. Catching Midnight has everything you could want in a book – fantastic heroes, an intriguing plot and lots of twists and turns to keep us turning the pages. This is the first book I have read by this author and I know it will not be the last.
I voluntarily reviewed a complimentary copy of this book. All opinions are my own.

[R]

Alrick is made a king against his will. He’s a soldier and that’s all he’s ever known. While introducing himself to his kingdom he comes across Jaden. Alrick doesn’t understand his fascination Jaden but is only too willing to let it play out. Jaden has always been a slave. His owner is a master manipulator. Kezia uses Jaden to further her ambition to be queen by whatever means necessary.

This is an interesting story about vampires, fated love, secrets, and intrigue. There really isn’t much of the typical vampire lore. Vampires are the norm with humans in a lesser role.

Large cast of supporting characters, with some surprising allies. A feudal society with all that entails. Blood and swords abound.

Alrick and Jaden sizzle. I liked that their relationship was straightforward without any manufactured drama to tear their relationship apart.

The drama came from Kezia. An excellent bad guy. The word that comes to mind is malevolent.

I liked this story.

Review Copy requested and reviewed on behalf of OMGReads.

[Noelle]

I was in the mood for princes and castles, and adding in vampires seemed like the perfect mix. And it was!

This book was well-written, from rich scene descriptions to characters with life. A few times we get that familiar Cinderella flavor to the story, but it’s 100% original. Our villain was deeply despicable while still being more than a caricature, having depth of our own.

I’m not always a fan of omegaverse, but I’m glad I took a chance on this one. It felt like it complimented the story while just remaining one piece of it. Plus I love that Alrick never treats Jaden as a lesser person, regardless of being a slave, omega, or human(ish). Their relationship is always defined with starry eyes and consent. Makes me all warm and fuzzy, even if there are battles and death in the book.

Only string left disappointedly untied was what final deal Alrick worked out with the trolls. Maybe I missed it? But would have liked to see it resolved.

Easily a 5 star book for me, and I’ll happily try any new book from this author!

[Josephine Thornton]

I received an advance copy of Catching Midnight via Author and Agency. All opinions are my own.

Tropes:

Spicy MM romantsy, Half human slave x vampire king, Fated mates, Political intrigue, Guaranteed HEA, Alpha/Omega dynamics

Microtropes:

The vampire king falls first, The slave has never been out of his castle, He is secretly an omega and can get pregnant, He loves dressing in gowns and his mate loves seeing them


This book is about Alrick and Jaden. Jaden is a slave and Princess Kezia doesn't treat him well. Alrick is a general who is picked to be the next king by the queen. While touring the kingdom, Alrick met Jaden. She orchestrated events to keep them apart and snag the crown. I was so surprised by that book. There aren't many omegaverse books featuring vampires. I thought the story was fantastic. Jaden was a total sweetheart, so innocent. Alrick and Jaden's love was so beautiful.

I like how you approached this paranormal omegaverse story. This is a must-read for Omegaverse fans.

[Nina Diab]

I loved this book. I was ensnared from the very beginning when the cruel vampire princess Kezia stole Jaden away as a toddler after killing his parents, and enslaving him. The abuse, the tension, and the mixed feelings Jaden- who was both love and touch starved- felt about his slavery and the cruelty disguised as caring and generosity, all really resonated with me. Oh how I hated her! I loved Alrick; loved that he never schemed or aimed to become king, but accepted the dying queen's final wishes. A vampire king falling in love with a human slave is such an amazing fantasy, but even fairy tales fight to reach a happy ending. Despite how he's lived, Jaden was kind and sweet and I loved the bond between the two and couldn't wait to see how they would win against the threat of Kezia. Great world building and wonderful characters. I definitely recommend picking up this book! This is the first story I've read by this author and I would read more. 5 stars

[Deb Kel]

I really enjoyed this one! Alrick and Jaden have such a strong connection, and I liked that their relationship felt natural without unnecessary drama being thrown between them. Alrick may be a reluctant king, but he’s fiercely protective of Jaden, while Jaden has so much more strength than his circumstances initially suggest.

The vampire kingdom setting was interesting, especially with humans being treated as the lesser class, and there was plenty of political intrigue, secrets, danger, and unexpected allies to keep things moving. Kezia was a particularly nasty villain and definitely someone you love to hate.

The romance was sweet and intense, and I really enjoyed watching Alrick and Jaden find each other and work together against everything being thrown at them. A fun romantasy with fated mates, vampires, intrigue, and a well-earned HEA.

[Suzanne Irving]

Alrick and Jaden are fated

There are some great ways that this story is different than other vampire or omegaverse novels and that made made it an interesting read. Morgan Elektra has played around with the standard tropes and I really enjoyed the way she has written this story. Jaden is a very interesting character, but I found King Alrick to be a bit bland. The antagonist Kezia is actually more interesting and reading about the ways she manipulates everyone makes up the best parts of the story. I guess I have a soft spot for baddies.
I did find that the book wrapped up a bit abruptly.

[Johanna]

Book 1 of the series. And a wonderful start it is! Look forward to more from this world.

'Catching Midnight is a spicy omegaverse romantasy novel featuring fairytale vibes, fated mates, political intrigue, crossing swords, an unexpected heat, knotting, MPREG, and a well-earned HEA.'

The characters were very appealing and likeable and complicated and absolutely perfect together. Plot was intriguing and intense and well paced. World building was excellent and expertly drawn. Thoroughly enjoyed and highly recommend.

Grab a copy, kick back and enjoy!.

I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.

[Jo]

Review of ARC received from GRR.

This was wonderful! I loved the worldbuilding of this omegaverse world, the elements of fated mates and the reluctant king who became the best thing for their world, to the chagrin of the evil princess Kezia. Jaden is her final human slave, and he lives quietly in the palace until a chance meeting with the newly crowned king Alric leads to some interesting events. Kezia was truly evil and willing to do anything to get the throne, but luckily she's overturned in the end. Of course, Alric and Jaden being fated mates has a lot to do with that in the end. Also loved reading about Jaden's love for dresses. Wonderful.

[The Book Ssirren]

This blew me away. An amazing omegaverse with vampires and alphas. Cinderella like retelling. I fell for Jaden and Alrick. Their connection was fire. The world building was phenomenal. And the description was so well done. I always love a story that plays out so beautifully in my head. And this did exactly that. I was so obsessed with these good and everything they went through. The twists and turns, had me devouring this one. I’m so glad I got the opportunity to read an advanced copy. Totally worth it.

[Taylor Funk]

I loved this story so much. The characters were so well developed. The world was built up amazingly through the story. The plot was so interesting and there were twists and turns I wasn't expecting. There were some characters I loved and some I absolutely despised (looking at you Kezia). I absolutely ADORED the bond between Alrick and Jaden. I am also an absolute sucker for fated mates and the way that Alrick saved Jaden and showed him what it was really like to be loved just melted my heart. It was such a sweet story and I cannot wait to read more from this author!

[Alias11]

I really enjoyed this story from a new-to-me author. The world-building and character development were detailed and engaging, with elements of intrigue, political maneuvering, fated mates, and VAMPIRES. I really enjoyed the relationship between human slave Jaden and vampire king Alrick. There love is sweet and uncomplicated, although they face definite challenges from the cruel, manipulative, and power-hungry Princess Kezia. This is a fantastic story that really drew me in, and I am eager to see what the author has in store for readers next.

[Ida Umphers]

A wonderfully hissable villain who has been gaslighting Jaden for years got me immediately involved in this one waiting for someone to come along and rescue him from his Rapunzel-like existence. When that person turned out to be his fated mate - the new king I cheered. Watching these two work together both to figure out and stop the person trying to ensure the king didn't get to rule and to develop their relationship made for a great read. I hope this author continues to write more in this genre.

[Mir Jak]

Enjoyable fantasy novel ....... world setting seems to be medieval with humans living alongside super-naturals. Reluctant king MC with slave MC.... I enjoyed the story and setting. There's a mix of political intrigue and action and there are some parts that are kinda glossed over and drag in other parts. Overall though, I did enjoy the story ....and it does end a tad abruptly, albeit HEA. Note - this does have Alpha/Omega (with mpreg) trope

[Mimi Lee]

I really enjoy omegaverse and was pleasantly surprised by the author’s take on the genre!
We get power imbalance, an MMC reluctant to the new position given to him, captivity and yet the romance part is what really hooked me in.
It was so nice to see our MMCs interact, the dynamic between them, how it evolved and progressed. I can definitely recommend this author and Catching Midnight.

Thank you Morgan Elektra and GRR for this review copy.

[Cynthia M Brow]

Catching Midnight is the story of Jaden a human and Alrick a vampire king. This was my first book by Morgan Elektra and I can tell you it won't be my last. I couldn't put this book down once I started it. I loved the characters and world building that went into this book. This book has everything I look for in a good story, action, drama, a mystery, and some spice. I already know that I will be rereading this book because so much happens in the story. I really enjoyed this book and look forward to seeing what Morgan Elektra writes next. I would definitely recommend this book as a 5 star read.

[P Leslie]

This is the first book I’ve ever read by this author but it definitely won’t be my last. This book was absolutely amazing and I really enjoyed it.

This book has it all from political machinations, fated mates, action packed with plenty of mystery and surprises along the way.

Highly recommend!

*I voluntarily read this book. All opinions stated are solely my own and no one else's*

[Brit ✨]

Oh my god, I could not put this book down! Everything about it was exactly what I look for in a book. The writing style was absolutely gorgeous and the storyline itself was so captivating. Jaden and Alrick were just precious!! Plus a mix of omegaverse aspects and vampires?? OBSESSED! I already want to reread.

[Beth King]

The was a good book.

I found it very interesting, even though it was a tad predictable, and ran through it really fast. Jaden and Alrick are very good characters and it is easy to become invested in what going on around them.

There were a couple parts that felt a bit chunky to me, but overall the story seemed well thought out and written.

Happy reading

[Tessa Kelly]

This book was so much fun to read. I have read so many alpha/beta/omega books. I've never one where the vampires are the alpha/beta/omega and I really enjoyed that change. Jaden has had a strange and somewhat shitty hand given to him in this life. Upon meeting Alrick things start to change. I enjoyed the build up and the growing relationship.

[Melissa]

Tags/Genres - Fiction / Fantasy / LGBTQIA+ / Fated Mates / Vampire / Spicy / Mpreg
Story -⭐⭐⭐⭐ / 5
Spice - 🌶🌶🌶/5

Morgan has done it again! I was lucky enough to read the arc of this story and enjoyed the final work!

How can an author make taking off someone else's boots so sensual?!

[The Book Farmer]

Omg, where has this book been all my life! 

I love Omegaverse, but when the story is just as hot as the romance, hell yess! 

For all those who want the OV tropes but a thick plot between spice, this is for you!

[Amanda]

I really enjoyed it and am so so so glad it was recommended to me (thanks Brit!).

I'm always on the lookout for new/unconventional omegaverse and this fit that completely. It has some cinderella-y fairytale vibes at the beginning, but it is truly unique and new and just great.