Charlotte Hatton has turned her humanity off and fled Mystic Falls. She escaped death on many occasions and fooled herself into thinking self-sacrifice would be noble of her. However, when the time came for her to exchange her life so another could love, she recoiled and acted selfishly. Without sparing much thought, the girl shielded herself with the coffin of the desiccated Hybrid — this ultimately lead to his death. Klaus Mikaelson was an enemy of hers, but his lifeline was also bound to that of her friends. Due to her actions, she believed her friends to be dead and couldn't cope with an eternity of guilt. So, she turned off her emotions.

In an attempt to find herself again, she goes on a rampage through cities with Kol Mikaelson at her side. On a strictly friends basis, the two struggle to find mutual ground as the tension grows between them. Throughout arguments and irritation, Lottie decided it was time to prove her strength to the ever-mocking Original. In the heat of the moment, Lottie jumps on his bone — in the way he hadn't hoped — and bit into his neck. That little mistake might have very well cost Charlotte Hatton her life.

Often, vampires shared blood and there was nothing unusual about that, but an interfering witch from Kol's past causes an unwanted situation that leaves Lottie only able to drink from Kol. Her life force is sustained by his blood and some other side effects soon come into play when the realisation she is addicted to his blood comes to light.

With the threat of madness looming over her, Lottie accepts she is cursed. There's unimaginable reprehensions for what was only meant to be a taste of the man's own medicine. Time is ticking and the longer it takes to find a resolution, the less time she has to live — truly live — before desiccation or insanity. Upon her return to her favourite settlement, she focuses on making the most of her last months by attending high school parties and taking risks with accepting her feelings. Emotions are at a high because when everything is about to fall into place, Death ruins her romance.

Suddenly, a plot to kill Kol is in the works, but she's uncertain if her deteriorating health is fit to plan a rescue. Unable to imagine her life without him again, she goes to extreme lengths to ensure they escape unscathed. If he was saved, it would bind their time and his blood would be able to subdue her until they found a powerful witch to reverse the effects. She wouldn't desiccate or lose her mind and he wouldn't die. After all they had endured, the two could surely overcome this bump in the road.

Without her humanity and with his heart cased in stone, the two navigate their way through the trials and tribulations of a fated relationship. Their tired of the pining and are ready to surrender their hearts, but is a villain deserving of a happily ever after?

WHEN STAR-CROSSED LOVERS DEFY THE STARS, A TALE OF TRAGEDY IS INEVITABLE