Excerpt 1 from Cat’s Curse, Celtic historical romance/fantasy, Rated PG

Cat’s Curse, Book One: Dark Goddess Trilogy, Celtic historical romance/fantasy

Enter Dark Age Scotland””a mysterious, dangerous & exciting place”¦

Blurb: Cardea is cursed to live an eternity as a blood drinker. Aedan mac Gabrain, prince of Dal Riata, trusts no one after suffering a curse that keeps him from touching any females. Can two tortured souls find love while battling a dark goddess determined to destroy them?

Available in ebook formats on http://www.awe-struck.net Cat’s Curse will be available on amazon.com Kindle and fictionwise.com soon.

Cat’s Curse is my latest release from Awe-Struck. My book page at Awe-Struck

http://www.king-cart.com/Awe-Struck/category=Kelley+Heckart/exact_match=exact

This is my first book featuring a vampire. In this case she is a Greek vampire, half-woman, half-serpent who was cursed by the Levite priests. This is also the first time I have based my hero on an actual historical figure. Aedan mac Gabrain was a sixth century Irish warlord/king who had a shadowy past and may have fathered a Pict king. He is mentioned in various ancient texts including the Life of St. Columba and the Welsh poems where he is referred to as ‘Aedan the Treacherous.’ I came across him while I was researching the Picts and decided to make him my hero. I had fun making a man called one of the most feared warlords of his time into a likeable hero. And while I was writing the first book I had the idea for a trilogy. The first excerpt is when my two characters first meet. Kelley

Excerpt:

The man started at her sudden words, turning toward her with the sword blade stopping just before the blade cut into Cardea’s neck, the coldness of the iron striking a shudder in her. That was the second time in one night she almost lost her head to his sword blade.

“Why are ye following me?” Irritation filled his voice.

“You look like you need some help starting that fire.”

“I do not need yer help.” He stared at her. His brows knitted together, his eyes scrutinizing her. “A good Christian lass would not be out here all alone in the forest at night,” he remarked with a sneer.

Cardea’s mocking laughter filled the air.

“Do I amuse ye?” He peered at her, eyes narrowed in annoyance.

She found her courage again. “You presume much of me, but what about you? I can only imagine what dreadful act you committed to be banished into these dark-winged woods. Though I can assume your misdeeds had nothing to do with fire,” she smirked, crossing her arms and planting her feet firm to the ground.

“Ye lass, are a rude minion of the Devil himself.” His handsome face rippled with indignation.

“That I may be indeed.” She stared hard at him. His ranting recalled images of the hated Levite priests. A shudder tore through her body and rage fumed inside of her, threatening to rise. She flirted with the temptation to rip his neck open and drink him dry. No one would find his rotting corpse out this far in the forest. The beasts would clean the bones of all flesh. She did not understand why she held back, but her hesitation had something to do with the odd way this man stirred her senses.

He turned around and strode with great arrogance back to his fire pit, striking the blade with the flint rock in angry thrusts. After watching him for a few moments, she approached him.

“Do ye have more insults for me?”

“No. I just cannot stand to watch you make a mockery of fire starting.”

“I can start the fire,” he insisted, turning back to the fire pit.

She watched him struggle again with the stone and blade, trying not to laugh.

“Please, allow me to assist you. It is much too cold tonight to be without a warm fire.” She did not understand why she felt compelled to help him and reached for the dagger she carried on her belt. His cold blade touched her throat before she could blink. Three times now his blade touched her throat and she wondered if it were a portent. “I need my dagger to start your fire.”

He eyed her with suspicion, but withdrew his blade from her throat.

“Ye live alone?” he asked, giving her room to start the fire, but he did not sheath his sword.

“Yes.” She noticed how he bit back a derisive retort.

Cardea held the stone with the sharp edge facing the blade and struck the blade in one swift movement. A spark shot out and the dry peat began to smolder. She struck the blade one more time and a flame rose from the peat, sending out warmth.

“You have to strike the blade in one swift movement with the stone to create a spark. Rubbing it like you were doing only wears the stone down. And it is best to strike the blade with the sharpest edge of the stone.”

“I have a capable pair of eyes. I saw how ye did it.” The bitter tone of his voice revealed his irritation toward her.

“I did not intend to offend you.”

“Good night to ye.” He waited for her to leave the fire before sheathing his sword. Keeping his eyes on her, he stoked the flames.

She stepped toward him and he jumped up, moving away from her. “Do not touch me.” His eyes turned an angry shade of dark blue and an aura of torment surrounded him. “I wish to be left alone.”

Cardea bristled at his surliness, thinking him to be the most arrogant man she’d ever met.

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Four books! This is true dark ages stuff””the aftermath of Rome’s occupation of Britain, and the growing influence of Christianity vs. the old pagan ways and gods. I love epic historical/high fantasy. Fae, Celt, vampire, curses””all rolled into one book. You truly are transported to a magical time and place”¦it’s a wonderful escape book for anyone wanting to get away from it all and I would definitely recommend it.

Reviewed by Heather from The Long and the Short of It

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Kelley Heckart

‘Timeless tales of romance, conflict & magic’

http://www.kelleyheckart.com

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My book page at Awe-Struck

http://www.king-cart.com/Awe-Struck/category=Kelley+Heckart/exact_match=exact