Iron and Magic -  Ilona Andrews

I did have a nit or two

 

When I finally got around to reading the Kate Daniels series, there were...quite a few books out. Actually, I think it was a little over a year ago - there's only been one book released since. At some point (likely the one where Hugh kidnapped Kate), I muttered that he needed to either be killed off or get laid. I didn't care which; just so he stopped being a thorn in Kate's side.

 

This works.

 

As has been hinted at with Kate's relationship with Julie, the binding might extend a life, but there are side effects...like being virtually a puppet if the binder so chooses. Hugh was purged and is very much aware of the absence of the binding...and increasingly feeling a conscience that Roland had subverted. In essence, he's been on nearly a year long bender because he can't deal with it. Several of his former army show up to explain to him that he needs to crawl out of the gutter and help them, because the head master of the undead is killing them off. Seems Roland was vexed to discover the Iron Dogs were loyal to Hugh; not Roland.

 

Elara...I have no idea what she is. The description of her near the end reminded me of a battle sylph. She appears human most of the time. There's a story we aren't privy to as to why she and a group of people left another group. It involves what she is *now*. The same head master of the undead is trying to gain control of her property for Roland. This sets up the two characters' lives converging.

 

They spend a lot of time bickering. And yet...it's a lot like grade school where you're attracted to someone but you don't wanna admit it so you make yourself a nuisance.

At the end, the head master of the undead managed to get his hands on Hugh, Roland appeared with a proposal to come home, Hugh refused, and Elara in whatever her other form is rescued him.

 

They're still fighting the attraction though, and it's been maybe a couple of months so no insta-love...and I'm now impatient for the last Kate Daniels to come out. Augh.

 

Nit - the first time they ran into what was later referred to as mrogs, she killed 14 and they killed the leaders. The 15th mrog followed and was killed inside the castle. Later, it's said that if you kill the leader, the mrogs just stand around unless you come near them with a weapon. They engage the mrogs several times.