One With the Shadows (40 page)
“More!” she shrieked into the hum that cycled up the scale, and lifted her arms in supplication. Her Companion was at its limit. Was that enough?
Nothing more was happening. The machine was faint behind the white glow. Her body stretched itself taut with effort. What next? She couldn’t hold this level of power forever.
Ahhhh. The destination.
She thought of the moment she had almost decided to make Jergan vampire. Emotion poured through her as she stared at his wounds. She could feel the machine move even faster. It was just a blur beyond the corona of her power. And then it slowed. She saw herself from somewhere outside herself standing, glowing, in front of the great machine, as it seemed to creak almost to a halt, it moved so slowly. Had she failed? The power still poured from her body into the room. A feeling of incredible
tristesse
came over her. She would not win through. Her only hope of happiness, or of giving Jergan his own forever, faded.
She thought of the moment he came into her life.…
Everything snapped back to motion and she felt herself being flung like a stone in a slingshot into more and more and more speed. The jewels lit up. They magnified the power into colored beams that crisscrossed, swinging in arcs across the stone ceiling. Pain surged into every fiber of her body.
Then, blackness.
Praise for
New York Times
Bestselling Author
Susan Squires
THE BURNING
“A terrific tale … the story line is action-packed.”
—Midwest Book Review
“Blazingly hot and erotic.”
—Romantic Times BOOKreviews
“Marvelously rich, emotionally charged, imaginative, and beautifully written.”
—BookLoons
“A fantastic erotic vampire thriller.”
—Fresh Fiction
THE COMPANION
“A darkly compelling vampire romance … the plot keeps the reader turning the pages long into the night.”
—Affaire de Coeur
“Bestseller Squires charts a new direction with this exotic, extremely erotic, and darkly dangerous Regency-set paranormal tale. With her ability to create powerful and tormented characters, Squires has developed a novel that is graphic, gripping, and unforgettable.”
—Romantic Times
(4½ starred review)
“Travel through Egypt’s deserts and London’s society with two of the most intriguing characters you will ever read about. You will encounter a dark world that is intense, scary, and sexy, and a love that will brighten it … powerful and passionate … captivating … Squires has a wonderful ability to keep her readers glued to the edge of their seats.”
—Romance Junkies
“A vibrant, riveting, and sometimes just plain scary novel that should satisfy anyone—including the man in your life—who enjoys paranormal tales … Squires’s saga is off to an intriguing start.”
—All About Romance
“Squires does a fantastic job of taking old-tale vampirism, and spinning it into a new and fresh tale with characters who intrigue and captivate.”
—Fallen Angel Reviews
“An unforgettable, sensual, and erotic novel that takes you places you’ve never gone before … will make you believe in the power of true love.”
—Romance Reader at Heart
“[
The Companion
] delivers sensual love scenes, and an intriguing plot fraught with danger, adventure, and the unexpected which will leave readers anxiously awaiting the next enthralling tale from this immensely talented author.”
—
Rendezvous
“Squires has just taken the traditional vampire novel to a whole new level with
The Companion
. With her riveting and compelling writing, she has woven a tale of love amidst the most desperate of circumstances and created unforgettable characters… fans of the genre will be fascinated …
The Companion
will capture your interest from the first scene until the last … readers who like a strong historical novel as well as one with a definite bite should add
The Companion
to their wish list. It will be a keeper for sure!”
“Squires has demonstrated a talent that few can surpass. Her descriptions and historical details are flawless. Her characters exceed their potential and the plot keeps you quickly turning the pages. Squires has joined the company of authors whose books are classics. Look for this book to become a classic in its genre too.
The Companion
is a gem. Obviously, everyone needs it.”
—Coffee Time Romance
“A totally absorbing novel … the characters are brilliantly conceived and perfect for the gripping plotline. The author gives the reader a unique twist on what vampires really are, a tortured hero to adore, the only heroine who could possibly be right for him, a truly horrific villain—and a fascinating story that carries the reader through one exciting adventure after another … Squires’s prose grabs you from the beginning and gives you a relentless ride through this complex, beautifully written book.”
—New and Used Books
“A riveting story, the first of what I expect to become a fresh, unforgettable new vampire series.”
—BookLoons
“A book to be savored, not torn through at breakneck speed … Squires is a talented author and
The Companion
offers the promise of more beautifully dark vampire novels to follow.”
—The Romance Reader
St. Martin’s Paperbacks Titles By
Susan Squires
One with the Night
The Burning
The Hunger
The Companion
This is a work of fiction. All of the characters, organizations, and events portrayed in this novel are either products of the author’s imagination or are used fictitiously.
ONE WITH THE SHADOWS
Copyright © 2007 by Susan Squires.
Excerpt from
One with the Darkness
copyright © 2007 by Susan Squires.
All rights reserved. No part of this book may be used or reproduced in any manner whatsoever without written permission except in the case of brief quotations embodied in critical articles or reviews. For information address St. Martin’s Press, 175 Fifth Avenue, New York, NY 10010.
ISBN: 0-312-94103-X
EAN: 978-0-312-94103-1
St. Martin’s Paperbacks edition / December 2007
St. Martin’s Paperbacks are published by St. Martin’s Press, 175 Fifth Avenue, New York, NY 10010.
eISBN 9781466830400
First eBook Edition: September 2012
