Reece Herring

 Erato's Tears is part of the Song of the Muses anthology. It is available Now in digital and will soon be available in print format at The Wild Rose Press. 

                                                          Blurb

     A powerful love is cut tragically short. Beyond Hades domain their destiny burns eternally bright. Two lost souls search through time to discover their hidden passion.

     In Delphi, Mathias, an outcast Spartan finds a reason at last to abandon his wanderlust in the vulnerable Ambrosia. With the unseen aid of Erato, he tries desperately to conquer her hatred of warriors and bring peace to his unsettled soul. A tenuous hold on love develops, but will their untried bond endure? Can the Muse of Love overcome the destructive power of one Gods revenge, and right the wrongs of history? Only ERATO'S TEARS will determine.  

        Fellow Muse Authors

                    Book 1

         Skhye Moncrief - Writing
                   Sky Purington - Tragedy 

               Robyn Wren - Music

                              Book 2

           Masha Holl - Astronomy
               *Reece Herring - Love
                        Hywela Lyn - Dance

                         Book 3

                                                 Alisha Paige - History
                                                 Michele Hart - Comedy
                                                         Valerie Everhart - Hymns

                               Available Now ... at The Wild Rose Press

                              Blurb 

Beautiful and headstrong priestess, Rheasan, is honor bound to fulfill the virgin sacrifice her temple offers to their Goddess.  That sacrifice and her honor are placed in serious jeopardy when Elisaph, a glorious winged man, falls into her life. Despite conflicting obligations to enemy Goddesses, their attraction to one another is undeniable. Yet their fiery passion seems destined to remain unquenched as Rheasan and Elisaph struggle with their growing love for one another and their obligation to their individual Goddesses. The jealous Goddess, Euphrosyn decides to test Elisaph's loyalty by putting Rheasan in harms way. Elisaph must then decide what is paramount; his newfound love of Rheasan or his love for his Goddess. His life and her future hang in the balance.

                                                      Excerpt

“Where am I, Rheasan?” Elisaph asked in a low careful voice, his posture rigid.

  “My room,” she replied just as carefully, not quite meeting his eyes.

  “I meant, where are your rooms located?”

  “Oh, well just past the dining hall and several corridors from the servant’s entrance,” she replied, biting the corner of her lip.

  “Do not test me, woman! What place is this you have brought me to?”

  “The Woodland Temple,” she answered, her voice wavering.

  “Of which God or Goddess?” He demanded.

  “Teavana.” She murmured.

  In a flash of wings and molten limbs, she was pinned forcefully against the wall, preventing any escape from his fury. Her fear and excitement was instantly fueled by his sudden violence.

  “You brought me inside the temple of the Goddess Teavana?” He shoved her against the wall.

  “Me, the anointed of Euphrsyn, inside the temple of another Goddess? Have you any idea what you’ve done?”

  “I saved your life, which you seem not to appreciate.” She flared, a surge of anger burning up all fear. “You are hurting me.  Release me.  Now.” She tried to push him away, and was alarmed to see that, even in his weakened state, she moved him not at all.

  “You do not command me, woman. No one commands me now, for I no longer have any honor.  So as you have taken my honor, perhaps I shall take yours.” 

                                       http://www.thewildrosepress.com/

Other works in progress include A Chaste Wager, Tender Mercies, Wake of Deception, Magically Delicious, A Maternal Journey, and Hell Hath No Fury.

     Unedited Excerpt from A Chaste Wager

     Acacia shifted her weight and crossed her legs as she observed the trial before her. The iridescent sheet of the Cascade of Vision wavered and the image of a bedraggled young woman sharpened. She knelt to receive judgment. Her dark brown hair hung over her tear streaked face as she pleaded for mercy through ragged sobs. Although heart breaking, her words fell on the deaf ears of her judges. The three aged men with stern dispositions pronounced death.

     Acacia glanced at Iaokim, observing the firm set of the God of Justices’ mouth. A glimmer of sympathy shone in his eyes though. She wondered at the emotion. Indeed pity for the maid did fill her, but no measure of sympathy. For the laws were clear. As Goddess of Virginity she could hardly condone fornication. Death was just punishment for those who broke or spurned the sanctity of the marriage bed.

     The young woman screamed with outrage and distress as she was dragged away to meet her sentence. At that, Cadhla, Goddess of Fertility, rose and shot a venomous stare at all in attendance. The images dissipated from the Cascade of Vision, the unnatural curtain of water continued its eternal course falling into the pool beneath it.

     The raven haired beauty balled her fists and narrowed her eyes as she zeroed in on The God of Justice. “This is ridiculous Iaokim! You know it as well as I do. I have stated on numerous occasions I believe this punishment to be cruel and unjust.”

     “The laws have been in place since the beginning of time. I too have felt on occasion this law to be a particularly harsh but without harsh punishment what would deter ones from engaging in wanton behavior? Morality would be lost and marriage would mean nothing. We Gods must hold to these high standards of ethics and pass these on to our subjects.”

     “Why must the punishment be death? Could not there be a lesser consequence?”

     Acacia stood and rubbed her temple, having heard Cadhla’s arguments many times before. “Why should the law be altered? There are good reasons behind them and I for one do not think it too much to ask. I do not believe it to be difficult to remain chaste. If ones succumb they must be making a deliberate decision or disbelieve the laws apply to them.”

     “Who would choose death? No they succumb from weakness not wickedness.” Cadhla crossed to stand before Acacia, her lovely face flush with emotion. “I would wager even the Goddess of Virginity could be tempted away from her purity were she human!”

     “That is absurd. Never would I break those laws no matter the temptation.”

     “I propose we put that statement to the test.”

     “What are you suggesting exactly?” Acacia furrowed her brow with suspicion as she locked eyes with the goddess of fertility.

     “If it is as easy as you say to be human and chaste then prove your words. Shed your godhood for ninety days and live among mankind.”