Although Adrian is rough around the edges, she knows exactly what she wants and how to get it. She hunts to scratch her itch, but sometimes she needs more. Ruby fulfills that need. Adrian’s love for Ruby is brutal, abusive and obsessive. It’s also necessary for Adrian to be whole. While she wouldn’t describe herself as vulnerable, Adrian’s fear of losing control — of both her craving and her partner — is her deepest secret.

No innocent herself, Ruby is truly devoted to Adrian in every way. Whether taking her partner’s abuse or hunting by her side, Ruby does whatever is needed to satisfy her Adrian’s desires. Strong, faithful and psychotic in a way that’s her own, Ruby is not one to be toyed with.

Taylor is the master of his realm, but the victim of his arrogance. A strong, prideful man, he believes it’s reasonable to fear a man, but laughable to fear a woman. Taylor barely registers his encounter with Adrian as more than a bad situation to be handled and forgotten. Never really afraid until the end, even then he feels escape is possible.

The opposite of Taylor, Mitchell understands he’s in trouble the minute he regains consciousness. Strong physically and mentally, his fear overtakes him as his pleas for release fall on deaf ears—his life’s breath the gift from one murderer to another.