The Shadow & the King

Creatures of Domhan na Rùin #4

by Emma Elizabeth

Lunette has never failed a contract. As one of the most sought-after vampire assassins in Ichorna, she knows what she’s doing when she accepts a contract to take out the minotaur king of Delkos. It’s not her job to ask questions, but when faced with her target, she wonders if she should be asking anyway.

Basilious tries to be a good king to his people, but his advisors have been pressuring him to secure an heir for the kingdom. He always hoped to find real love and partnership, but the reality of an arranged marriage or single parenthood looms. As the day he must announce his decision approaches, the last thing he expects is to imprint on a would-be assassin.

This spicy novelette is full of swoony romance and a touch of court intrigue.

Genres: Monster Romance, Monsters

76 pages, Kindle Edition

Published June 17, 2025

Reviews

[Eleanor · Rating 2 out of 5]

For such a gorgeous cover, I was expecting a little something from this novella, but even the smut was lacking and inconsequential...

[May (toastyreads) · Rating 5 out of 5]

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️.5
🌶️🌶️🌶️

OUT NOW!! Available on KU, eBook & Paperback!! You simply ALL MUST READ IT NOW!! I AM SO IN LOVE WITH LUNETTE AND BASIL IT HURTS!!!!

LOOK AT THIS STUNNING COVER!! So good I want to lick it … and it’s just as good as the inside !!! Ugh yum! 🙈💜. I read this in one VERY happy sitting 👉👈.

Ffffff I love this couple. I think they are my new fave couple written by Emma! Lunette and Basils chemistry was unmatched and so hot I was set aflame! Basil was such a strong but soft squishy subby boy and I would do anything for him 😭

This book felt longer than it was, in the best way, I never wanted to leave this world and soooo much happened!! And no skimping on the spice either 🥵!

I also continue loving the lore and need more of it! Thank youuu #whoreforlore

What You Can Expect:
💕Minotaur King x Vampire Assassin
🌈Pansexual MCs
😈Domme FMC
💞Mates
🥵Insta lust
🩸Pleasurable blood drinking
👑“Keep the crown on”
🤫Pierced 🍆

[Ciru · Rating 2 out of 5]

2.25 Stars.

Sigh 😔. I had higher smut expectations because a minotaur was involved. The book was too sweet then while I appreciate it was short there was a lot of set up+repetition of backstory that was unnecessary. Too much backstory, not enough high heat smut.

[Lauren · Rating 4 out of 5]

3.75/5
For a short novella, the characters were well developed and the story was really interesting. I love the cinnamon roll that Basil was and how quickly he won over Lunette. There were just a few editing issues (crow instead crowd, find instead of fine, etc).

[Kara McCrea · Rating 5 out of 5]

Short, sweet and spicy, this novella was once again a perfect addition to the world that Emma builds with her books.
Basilious was just so stinking cute and I love how even though he JUST met her, he absolutely just gave in to Lunette. It was perfect.

[Sydney · Rating 2 out of 5]

had potential but it’s too short for it to be good. if it was a full length novel, i think it would have been better.

[ThatsSomeGoodSmut · Rating 4 out of 5]

This vampire assassin/monster king romance completely delivered on its promise of heat and heart. Lunette has never missed a contract, but her newest target Basil, a cinnamon roll of a minotaur king, might just be the exception. From the moment they meet, the chemistry is instant and undeniable.

I loved how much this story packed into such a short page count: court pressure, imprinting, longing, and a dom/sub dynamic that felt both playful and emotionally sincere. Lunette is sleek, confident, and fully in control, and Basil? He’s the kind of king who’s equal parts gentle heart and eager-to-please monster. Their connection sparkles, and the spice is hot without losing the softness.

Yes, it’s a quick read, and some parts of the worldbuilding or emotional development could’ve used more space, but for what it is, it works. If you’re in the mood for a monster romance that’s heavy on tension, light on page count, and offers a big dose of “you came to kill me, but all I see is wife,” this one is absolutely worth picking up.

Thanks to the author for gifting me a copy to read early.

[Brittney · Rating 5 out of 5]

This one had spice, vibes, and a fun little twist on the whole assassin-meets-royalty setup.

Lunette is a no-nonsense vampire assassin who always gets the job done. She’s confident, competent, and not about to fall for some random royal... unless, of course, he happens to be a very sweet, very lonely minotaur king who kind of loves being told what to do. Oops?

I loved their dynamic right away. The tension builds fast, the chemistry is hot, and Basilious gives major cinnamon roll energy. Lunette keeps her guard up, but try resisting when your target looks at you like you hung the stars and will drop to his knees if you just say the word. I was rooting for these two way too hard for such a short story.

It’s a quick read with solid spice, a little bit of political intrigue, and a romance that had me grinning. I wouldn’t have minded a few more pages to deepen the emotional beats or explore the world a bit more—but honestly? I still had a great time.

Big thanks to Emma Elizabeth for the ARC! I’ll definitely be back for whatever spicy fantasy she’s serving up next.

[Kata · Rating 5 out of 5]

4,5 stars

Short, sweet & spicy monster romance between a vampire assassin and a minotaur king. Part of the Creatures of Domhan na Rùin series, but can be read as a standalone.

I really enjoyed this short story. The FMC, Lunette, was a vampire assassin tasked with killing the minotaur king Basilious, but instead of killing him, she ends up visiting him night after night. Basilious was such a sweet cinnamon roll and he fell for Lunette immediately. I loved the dynamic between Lunette and Basil, and they were so cute together.

I highly recommend checking out this book if you’re looking for something short and sweet to read.


"It's not considered polite to climb in people's windows while they're trying to sleep, you know."
"What is it, Lunette? Trying to resist the urge to drink my blood?"
"I never thought I'd say this to an assassin, but I hope I'll see you again someday."
"My whole body sings for you, Lunette. Why don't you have your way with me before you kill me?”

[Mrs. Pendragon Pages · Rating 5 out of 5]

This short and spicy romance might be my favorite installment of Creatures of Domhan na Rùin (though I do say that every time, don’t I? 😅).
The chemistry between Lunette and Basilious sizzles off the page. She’s a badass vampire assassin with a flawless track record; he’s a cinnamon roll of a minotaur king who knows exactly how to be a good boy. Their instant attraction is chef’s kiss. Pure “you came to kill me, but all I see is future wifey” energy. Let’s just say Lunette didn’t exactly stick to the job description, and honestly, we’re all better for it.
Sweet, spicy, and playful, with a domme vamp and a big, eager-to-please minotaur. If you’re into vampire/monster pairings, domme FMCs, and fast-paced, swoony reads with serious heat, this one’s a must-read.

[Bookfairymel · Rating 4 out of 5]

This was soooo good! I read all the books in this series and this is my second favorite one behind the first one (which will always hold a special place in my heart). It’s also no secret that I love submissive men, especially in the form of a big monster man. This was exactly what I like, a King with so much responsibility and authority, eager to please and begging to be taken control of. I loveeeed seeing Lunette take control of Basilious, she was so smooth and confident. The perfect vampire lady, with just a touch of vulnerability in the mix. I loved their dynamic, their spicy scenes were soooo good and I loved seeing their happy ever after. I 100% recommend!

[Crowley Bloom · Rating 3 out of 5]

Este último libro de la saga de Emma Elizabeth es corto y ligero, perfecto para leer en un día. La historia tiene la misma complejidad o profundidad que los anteriores libros de la saga, pero se compensa con dos protagonistas increíbles: un minotauro y un vampiro, lo que le da un toque único y muy original que me encantó.

Aunque la trama sea sencilla, es fácil de disfrutar y sumergirse en el mundo de estos personajes, y me dejó con ganas de seguir explorando el universo que la autora ha creado. Ideal para quienes buscan una lectura rápida, entretenida y con un toque sobrenatural diferente.

[Betsy · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is a short but packed tale of an assassin who is sent to kill a king, but falls in love with him instead.
Lunette is a vampire who comes from a long line of assassins. She has come to the island of Delkos to assassinate the king, a Minotaur named Basilious. On her first night on the island she manages to sneak into his room, but he is awake and she is greeted by a very naked Basil which leads to her leaving him very much alive and full of confusion.
This is an instalust, and fated mates tale, with a little femme dom on the side. The King is pierced. And generally this is just a good and spicy read. If you are an Emma Elizabeth reader (which you should be) also look out for some familiar faces. I could read so much more of these two. ❤️

[Kaitlyn · Rating 5 out of 5]

I absolutely loved this short and sweet story!

Lunette is a vampire assassin with a perfect record who has been hired to take out Basilious, a sweet Minotaur king. What neither of them expected was the chemistry between them.

I absolutely loved the dynamics between Lunette and Basil. Submissive monster men are definitely a yes from me. The way that Lunette takes control and Basil relinquishes it is so good! This was my favorite of this series.

[Emma · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is a fairly quick and spicy read which I read in one sitting. The only reason this loses a star for me is that I would’ve liked to see a little more in the development of their relationship. I do get that that can be quite hard in a novella so I think it could’ve been a little longer to include that. Other than that, I love the cover, the immediate tension and chemistry between Lunette and Basilis and the spice scenes throughout the story. This is the first book I’ve read by this author and I’d love to read more of her work in the future.

[Micki-D · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is a short Very short romance. Of a a king and an assassin the Minotaur and vampire. Lunette a vampire assassin has never failed a contract. So when she accepts a contract to take out the minotaur king of Delkos it should be a walk in the park. However all her plans start to fall apart the moment they meet.

The spice was pretty tame but still good.

[Andrea · Rating 4 out of 5]

I honestly wish this was a tad bit longer. An assassin vampire and a king becoming fated mates? *Chef's kiss* I will always be sorry that it took me this long to read this, but I will be ready for the next books in this series. It was everything! Short, sweet, spicy with a bit of action and a lot of flirting.

[Readingwith_georgie · Rating 3 out of 5]

Very short romance. Minotaur and vampire, a king and an assassin. I enjoyed the assassin plot line, but it was so short so the story felt underdeveloped. The spice was pretty vanilla. I may read too much smut (if that's possibe) 🙃

[Jen · Rating 4 out of 5]

Lunette is a vampire assassin. Basil is a Minotaur king and her target. However, all her plans start to fall apart the moment they meet.

This isn't a fated mates story, though they establish a mate bond quickly. If you like big monster men that are subs, this is the book for you!

ARC

[NeedMoreBookSpace · Rating 3 out of 5]

Book was good not great. The story was very short and some of the writing felt a bit repetitive with word choice and phrasing within paragraphs and chapters. The spice wasn't quite there for me, like it's on the page but not actually being described.

[Rachael · Rating 4 out of 5]

Cute novella that zooms along. There's an epilogue.

[Elie Quiroz · Rating 4 out of 5]

3.5 ⭐️

Short and very sweet

[Marta Sosa · Rating 3 out of 5]

Una historia entretenida, con una pareja monísima que fue lo que más me enganchó. No es mi favorita de la autora, pero igualmente se disfruta y tiene su encanto.

[Angelina · Rating 3 out of 5]

It was good for what it was. I did want more of everything; spice, drama, fighting. I knew it was a short book, I wish it would have been longer.

[Gina · Rating 4 out of 5]

What a sweet story! A vampire assassin has a hit on a cinnamon roll minotaur, but it’s a botched job when she falls for her target. Spicy with dom/sub dynamic…it’s a fun ride.

[Kamisha · Rating 3 out of 5]

What a cute little novella! I’m always happy to support indie authors and this was a cute, cozy read with spice still to make it interesting.

[BookWormYami · Rating 4 out of 5]

wish it was longer.

[Lauren · Rating 5 out of 5]

Excellent little novella. If you're inbetween series or just in a slump definitely read this spicy little number to refresh the reading palate.

[LDE 🌸 · Rating 2 out of 5]

2.5 ⭐️ not terrible but not good either.

[🦇 · Rating 5 out of 5]

this one was more spicy and still cozy!