Nightmares and Guilt

Blaise, a fire mage, is tormented by nightmares and overwhelming guilt after a tragic mistake: he left Bailey, a human, dying on a classroom floor. Though Bailey survived and forgave him, Blaise cannot forgive himself. Isolated and suffering from depression, PTSD, and self-loathing, he struggles to find peace. His only solace comes from watching Toby, a vampire bartender and Dom, from afar. Blaise's self-destructive spiral is interrupted when Toby offers him a lifeline—a Dom/Sub Contract that promises structure, care, and a chance at healing, but only if Blaise can accept help and submit to someone else's control.

A Vampire's Offer

Toby, a centuries-old vampire and experienced Dom, is drawn to Blaise's pain and need for guidance. Haunted by his own history of helping broken men who never stay, Toby offers Blaise a Dom/Sub Contract: a year of exclusive Dom/sub dynamic, with clear rules, boundaries, and no promise of romance. Both men are wary—Toby fears heartbreak, Blaise fears he's unworthy of care. Yet, the contract's structure and Toby's gentle dominance begin to offer Blaise the peace he craves, even as both men try to guard their hearts against deeper feelings.

The Contract Begins

Blaise's first night under Toby's care is transformative. Through praise, structure, and physical touch, Toby helps Blaise experience calm and safety for the first time in ages. The Dom/Sub Contract is not just about sex; it's about routine, self-care, and learning to trust. Toby's approach is nurturing but firm, using punishments and rewards to help Blaise break negative patterns. As Blaise submits, he finds relief from his guilt and anxiety, but the emotional intimacy between them grows, threatening the boundaries they've set.

Submission and Healing

Toby's rules—regular meals, exercise, therapy, and check-ins—force Blaise to confront his self-neglect. Therapy sessions with Dr. Tyler, a vampire therapist, help Blaise process his trauma and guilt. The Dom/sub dynamic gives Blaise a sense of belonging and purpose, while Toby finds himself increasingly invested. Their physical relationship deepens, with scenes of praise, edging, and discipline, but the emotional stakes rise as well. Both men begin to hope for more, even as they remind themselves the Dom/Sub Contract is temporary.

Rules, Punishments, Trust

Blaise struggles with negative self-talk and honesty, leading to punishments that are more psychological than physical—denial, writing lines, and enforced vulnerability. Toby's consistency and care help Blaise start to believe he deserves good things. The Dom/Sub Contract's emphasis on communication and trust becomes a lifeline, but also a source of tension when secrets, lies, and honesty arise. The threat of the supernatural threats and world-building—ghasts, demons, and old enemies—looms, testing their bond and forcing them to rely on each other.

The Weight of the Past

Blaise's past with Bailey and Harlow resurfaces, forcing confrontations and, eventually, forgiveness. Harlow and Bailey, once victims of Blaise's mistake, offer him a chance at redemption and friendship. Blaise's relationship with his twin, River, is strained but healing. The found family and forgiveness of supernatural friends—demons, angels, humans, and mages—begin to accept Blaise, integrating him into their found family. Yet, Blaise's self-worth remains fragile, and Toby's fear of being left behind by another "fixed" sub haunts him.

Building a New Routine

With Toby's support, Blaise starts to build a life: joining the gym, making friends, and participating in group activities. The Dom/Sub Contract's structure gives him stability, but the emotional intimacy with Toby deepens beyond the original agreement. Both men struggle with their feelings—Blaise wants more, Toby fears heartbreak. The threat of the ghasts and the supernatural threats and world-building intensifies, drawing the found family and forgiveness together and forcing Blaise to step up as a protector, not just a victim.

Temptation and Boundaries

As their physical relationship intensifies, so does the emotional connection. Scenes of public play, exhibitionism, and deeper submission push Blaise's boundaries and bring him joy, but also highlight the growing love between them. Toby's rule against kissing—meant to protect his heart—becomes a symbol of the emotional wall between them. Both men are tempted to break the Dom/Sub Contract's boundaries, but fear the consequences. The looming threat of the supernatural threats and world-building forces them to confront what they truly want from each other.

The Club and the Group

A new threat emerges as Lucky, a human friend, is stalked and attacked, drawing the found family and forgiveness into a battle with demons and the Uprising. Blaise and Toby fight side by side, protecting their friends and each other. The experience bonds them further, but also exposes the risks of loving in a dangerous world. The group's loyalty and willingness to forgive are tested, but ultimately, they stand together. Blaise's role shifts from broken outcast to valued protector, and Toby's care becomes more openly loving.

Facing Old Wounds

During a supernatural battle, Blaise is stabbed with a cursed sword. Toby, acting on instinct, pulls the blade out, cursing himself in the process. Unbeknownst to Blaise, Toby hides the truth, fearing Blaise's guilt and the risk of losing him. The lie festers, threatening the trust they've built. When the truth comes out, Blaise is devastated—not just by Toby's impending death, but by the betrayal of their Dom/Sub Contract's core values. Both men are forced to confront their deepest fears: abandonment, unworthiness, and the pain of loving someone you might lose.

Therapy and Forgiveness

With the help of friends, therapy, and each other, Blaise and Toby begin to rebuild trust. They confront the reasons behind Toby's secrecy—his fear of being left, his history of helping but never being chosen. Blaise insists on being part of Toby's fight for survival, refusing to be protected at the cost of honesty. Their reconciliation is hard-won, built on new promises of transparency and mutual support. The found family and forgiveness rallies to find a cure for Toby's curse, and Blaise's determination to save his mate becomes a new source of strength.

The Threat Returns

The supernatural threats and world-building escalates as the group faces battles with demons, the Uprising, and even Lucifer himself. Blaise and Toby fight together, risking everything to protect their found family and forgiveness. In a climactic confrontation, Toby's curse worsens, and he collapses. Blaise, desperate to save him, seeks help from the Seraphim—angelic warriors with the knowledge to break curses. The solution is risky: Blaise must let Toby feed on his blood, risking his own immortality to save his mate.

The Fault Lines Close

Blaise's sacrifice and risk works—Toby is saved, but Blaise's heart stops. In a desperate act, Toby mates with Blaise, using the bond to pull him back from the brink of death. Their love, trust, and willingness to risk everything for each other break the curse and forge an unbreakable bond. The found family and forgiveness celebrates their survival, and Blaise and Toby finally allow themselves to hope for a future together, free from the shadows of guilt and fear.

Love, Lies, and Curses

With the curse broken and their bond sealed, Blaise and Toby return to their friends and family. They confront the aftermath of their choices—apologizing, forgiving, and recommitting to honesty and communication. Their relationship evolves from Dom/Sub Contract to true partnership, blending Dom/sub dynamics with romance, friendship, and mutual support. They learn that love is not about fixing each other, but about choosing each other, flaws and all, every day.

Breaking and Rebuilding

Blaise and Toby settle into a new life together, moving in, supporting each other, and deepening their connection. They propose marriage, blending their supernatural bond with human tradition. Their found family and forgiveness grows stronger, and even old enemies find redemption and love. The lessons of their journey—honesty, communication, trust, and the courage to try—become the foundation of their future. Their love story, once marked by pain and fear, becomes a testament to healing, hope, and the power of choosing each other.

Sacrifice and Salvation

The final test of their relationship is not a battle with demons, but the willingness to risk everything for each other. Both Blaise and Toby learn that true love is not about protection or perfection, but about vulnerability, sacrifice and risk, and the daily choice to stay. Their journey from brokenness to wholeness is mirrored in their community, as friends and family find healing, forgiveness, and new beginnings. The story ends not with a happily ever after, but with the promise to keep trying, together, no matter what comes.

Mates, Marriage, and Mastery

Blaise and Toby's story concludes with their marriage, a celebration of love, trust, and chosen family. Their Dom/sub dynamic continues, now rooted in mutual respect and joy. They fulfill each other's fantasies, support each other's growth, and face the future as true partners. The lessons of their journey—honesty, communication, trust, and the courage to try—become the foundation of their life together. Surrounded by friends, family, and the supernatural threats and world-building they've helped save, Blaise and Toby embrace their new beginning, knowing that whatever comes, they will face it together.

Characters

Blaise

Blaise is a fire mage haunted by guilt, trauma, and self-loathing after a tragic mistake nearly cost a friend's life. His twin, River, is his only remaining family after their clan's destruction. Blaise's psychological journey is one of moving from self-destruction and isolation to healing, self-acceptance, and love. His relationship with Toby, first as a Dom/Sub Contract and later as mates and husbands, is the catalyst for his transformation. Blaise's arc is about learning to trust, to accept care, and to believe he is worthy of happiness. His greatest fear is hurting others; his greatest strength is his willingness to try, even when he feels unworthy.

Toby

Toby is a centuries-old vampire, bartender, and nurturing Dom with a history of helping broken men who never stay. He is drawn to Blaise's pain and need for guidance, but fears falling in love and being left behind again. Toby's psychological struggle is with vulnerability, trust, and the fear of not being chosen. His journey is about learning to let someone in, to accept love, and to risk his heart. His care for Blaise is both professional and deeply personal, and his willingness to sacrifice and risk himself for Blaise is the ultimate proof of his love. Toby's arc is about moving from control and self-protection to openness and true partnership.

River

River is Blaise's twin and only surviving family. Grumpy, loyal, and fiercely protective, River's relationship with Blaise is strained by trauma but ultimately healing. His own journey with his mate, Mori, mirrors Blaise's, showing the power of found family and forgiveness and forgiveness. River is a grounding force, pushing Blaise to accept help and to fight for happiness.

Harlow

Harlow, once Blaise's enemy, is the mate of Bailey and a powerful demon. His journey is one of moving from anger and vengeance to forgiveness and acceptance. Harlow's willingness to let go of the past and welcome Blaise into the group is a key moment of healing for both men.

Bailey

Bailey, the human Blaise once left for dead, is now mated to Harlow and a central figure in the found family and forgiveness. His forgiveness of Blaise is genuine and transformative, offering Blaise a path to redemption and friendship. Bailey's kindness and humor help Blaise reconnect with the world.

Mori

Mori, River's mate, is a demon and former sub of Toby. His relationship with River is a model of healthy Dom/sub dynamics and mutual support. Mori's presence helps Blaise see that love and kink can coexist, and that happiness is possible after trauma.

Dr. Tyler

Dr. Tyler is a vampire therapist who helps both Blaise and Toby confront their trauma, guilt, and fears. He is a voice of reason, compassion, and tough love, pushing both men to be honest and to fight for what they want.

Sebastian

Sebastian is a vampire assassin, Toby's only remaining family, and a symbol of what happens when trauma goes unhealed. His story is a cautionary tale, but also one of hope, as he eventually finds love and redemption. His relationship with Toby is strained but ultimately healing.

Ferry

Ferry, the Grim Reaper, is a powerful demon who becomes a friend to both Toby and Blaise. His own struggles with love, loss, and vulnerability mirror theirs, offering perspective and support.

The Found Family (Lucky, Dagon, Dimitri, Oscar, Cal, etc.)

The wider group of demons, angels, humans, and mages forms the found family and forgiveness that supports Blaise and Toby. Each has their own arc of healing, forgiveness, and love, reinforcing the book's themes of chosen family, redemption, and the power of community.

Plot Devices

Dom/Sub Contract

The Dom/Sub Contract is the central narrative device, providing structure, rules, and a framework for healing. It allows Blaise to surrender control and find peace, while forcing Toby to confront his own fears of vulnerability and heartbreak. The contract's emphasis on honesty, communication, and trust becomes both a lifeline and a source of conflict when those values are tested.

Supernatural Threats and World-Building

The supernatural threats and world-building—ghasts, demons, angels, curses—serves as both backdrop and metaphor for the characters' internal battles. The threat of violence, loss, and apocalypse forces the group to come together, testing their loyalty and willingness to forgive. The magical elements (curses, mating bonds, healing) are used to explore themes of sacrifice and risk, redemption, and the limits of love.

Found Family and Forgiveness

The group of supernatural friends is a key plot device, offering both conflict and support. Their willingness to forgive, to accept Blaise, and to fight for each other is a model of chosen family. The group's dynamics—rivalries, romances, and reconciliations—mirror the central relationship and reinforce the book's themes.

Secrets, Lies, and Honesty

The tension between honesty and secrecy drives much of the plot. Toby's decision to hide his curse, Blaise's struggle to be honest about his needs, and the group's history of secrets all test the bonds of trust. The resolution comes only when the characters risk vulnerability and choose to be fully seen.

Sacrifice and Risk

The willingness to risk everything for love—Blaise's sacrifice and risk to save Toby, Toby's willingness to die for Blaise—is the ultimate test of their relationship. The plot repeatedly asks: what are you willing to risk for happiness? The answer is always: everything.

Analysis

Temperance is a powerful exploration of trauma, healing, and the transformative power of love—both romantic and communal. Through the lens of a Dom/Sub Contract, Lark Taylor examines how structure, care, and vulnerability can help survivors of guilt and loss reclaim their lives. The book's supernatural threats and world-building amplifies the stakes, but the real battles are internal: learning to trust, to forgive, and to risk being loved. The narrative insists that healing is not about being "fixed" by someone else, but about choosing, every day, to try—to communicate, to be honest, to accept care, and to fight for happiness. The found family and forgiveness, with its emphasis on forgiveness and chosen bonds, offers a model of community that is as vital as the central romance. Ultimately, Temperance is a story about the courage to love and be loved, to risk heartbreak for the chance at joy, and to believe that even the most broken among us are worthy of peace and belonging.

Last updated: July 12, 2025