'Every Carpathian male is drawn to his life mate, a Carpathian or human female able to provide the light to his darkness. Without her, the beast within slowly consumes the man until turning vampire is the only option.' Gabriel wakes deep within the ground, and the first sensation he feels is an overwhelming hunger for blood. But as he hunts the dark streets of Paris for prey, a voice calls to him, soothing, calming, giving him the strength to control his craving. Francesca Del Ponce is a healer, a woman who radiates goodness as powerfully as the sun does light. Though Gabriel can only imagine what she will feel like in his arms, he knows the taste of her will be addictive. And yet he fears for her life and his soul if he gives in to his desire...