The Crow Maiden is a story about revenge and overcoming
adversity, but it is also about a romance between two very different people.
Nahla is an Arcadian priestess, and Balin is an Achaean
lord. In her world, the Achaeans are the conquerors who forced their
patriarchal views on her people. In Balin’s eyes, the Arcadians are barbarians
who still practice human sacrifice. There are physical differences, too. She is
smaller in stature than his people, with brown skin and black hair. He is tall,
blonde, and fair skinned.
Sheltered in her forest temple, Nahla has only viewed the
grand seaside Achaean cities from afar. To Balin, the priestesses of Artemis
were a complete mystery. And now their very different worlds have collided.
Despite their cultural differences, they share a common
enemy. In the ancient Greek world, the Dorians were much more of a threat than
the Achaeans who at least allowed the native Arcadians to continue worshipping
their own gods. The Dorians didn’t want to compromise with anyone. This unrest
in the region began the downfall of the once-mighty Achaeans.
With nothing left to lose and only revenge in his thoughts,
Balin forms an alliance with the mysterious priestess. Nahla’s only hope to be
free of her cruel master is the champion chosen by Artemis—an Achaean. Gods
work in strange ways, it seems.
Despite his dominate ways, Balin shows Nahla respect. She
begins to trust him. Nahla’s boldness both enrages and excites Balin. He’s
never known such a woman who would dare speak so impudently to him. They may be
from very different worlds, but their attraction for one another grows.
It must be true that opposites attract.
(The Crow Maiden is a standalone story in the Arcadia Series)
Excerpt (PG-13)
“Now you know all you need to about
me and about Aramon. He destroyed and captured your cities, killed and enslaved
your people.” Her lovely mouth tightened into a grave smile. “Do we have an
alliance or not?”
Could he trust her? “You can form
an alliance with me, someone you know nothing about?”
“I know enough about you, Achaean.”
She offered him that same
mysterious smile she’d given him earlier, one that enhanced her remarkable,
unusual beauty, even if it was too serious. Aramon had mistreated and tormented
her. Perhaps, that was all he needed to know. For now.
“Besides, what have either of us to
lose? Arcadia is being destroyed.” Her tone turned bitter. “And everything and
everyone we knew and loved is gone because of one man. What more is there to
know or think about?”
Her words were so profound and
filled with truth. He had his doubts about his ability to do what needed to be
done, but he wanted revenge more than anything. Revenge was the only thing
keeping him alive.
“We have an alliance.”
She nodded. “Then we must get to
work. Aramon could summon me at any time.”
“What do I call you? Do you prefer
the ‘Crow Maiden,’ or can I call you ‘Crow’?” He cast her a playful grin,
wanting to change her rigid, cold nature. Playfulness was something he hadn’t
felt since his crippling injury. He couldn’t explain it. Perhaps it was because
she was a challenge, unlike any other woman he’d known.
She didn’t smile. Her eyes took on
a reflective light. “Call me Nahla.”
Her name sounded soothing and fit
her calm manner that lingered beneath the coldness.
“Nahla, you may call me Balin.” He
reached for a clay pitcher of wine that sat on a natural shelf. Some wine might
loosen the maiden up. He’d never met such a rigid and cold female. “We should
celebrate our alliance.”
She put her hand on his arm to stop
him from lifting the pitcher to his lips. “The first thing we must do is get
you clearheaded.”
He looked down at the pitcher, his
body filled with craving for the numbing drink. “But…”
She reached for the handle. “Give
it to me.”
With reluctance, he handed her the
pitcher. He watched with rising panic as she poured out the precious wine.
She turned toward him and pursed
her lips. “The next thing is a bath, a very long one.”
Impertinent harpy! Bristling, he
scowled at her. His changing emotions in regards to this female confused him.
One moment, she made him want to smile, and the next, she raised his ire like
no other.
Nahla may be the only one who could
help him get revenge on Aramon, but Poseidon’s blasted balls! She was
infuriating. He clenched his fist and glanced upward. Almighty Poseidon, please give me the strength to not strangle this
insolent female.
Blurb:
She betrayed her goddess for him…
He betrayed her.
Plotting her revenge is her only
solace. Until now.
Nahla is the Crow Maiden, an
Arcadian, and once a priestess of Artemis. Now she is a captive, a being who
lives in the shadows until her vile master the sorcerer-king Aramon summons
her. Another releases her from the Shadowlands, and while he might be the
champion she has waited for, the gods must be playing a cruel joke. Her
champion is crippled.
An Achaean lord who once ruled a
great city, Balin is a broken man. He has lost everything—his kingdom and his
family. Revenge consumes him. Although wary of the mysterious, cold-eyed female
who appears and claims he summoned her, she may be his only hope to exact
vengeance on the king who ruined him, the same man Nahla seeks to destroy.
They are bound by revenge, and
soon, both learn they are bound by much more, but the secrets she hides might
tear them apart and ruin their only opportunity for vengeance—and their chance
to love again.
“Ms. Heckart draws the reader
into the pages and enchants them with her words.”
Karen McGill, Coffee Time Romance
Kelley Heckart
Otherworldly tales steeped in myth, magic & romance.
