Wherever the Stars Call by S. Jean

Living within the Galactic Federation of the Solar System isn't all it's cracked up to be.

Laurel got sold into strict federation schooling where if she doesn't shape up, they'll scramble her mind until she's no longer herself and build the perfect citizen out of her.

Juniper got fitted with invasive cybernetics to augment the human experience at the tender age of eight and if they act up, the feds can turn them off--effectively killing them.

So, the two of them decide to run away together. All they need is to get past Jupiter where the fed's hold isn't as tight. There, Laurel can figure out what she wants in life free from fed control and Juniper can figure out how to stop their cybernetics from ruining their life.

Easy, right?

Not when they find a busted federation ship on the way with a vampire on board who might need their help with a severed head the federation is after, or perhaps, he just wants their blood. One of the two.