The Dark Queen

the long version

The Legend... Long ago there lived a group of women known as the Daughters of the Earth, revered for their wisdom and knowledge, skilled in healing and white magic. But as time passed, they came to be known by a far more sinister term... witches. Ariane Cheney, the Lady of Faire Isle is famed for her mystical skills and keeping her island secure from danger. A difficult task during a time of strife when Catherine de Medici is known and feared by other Daughters of the Earth as the Dark Queen. One night a wounded stranger arrives on Faire Isle and whispers to Ariane a secret that the Dark Queen would kill to possess. Desperate to keep her home and family safe, Ariane is forced to turn to the one man she dreads. Justice Deauville, the comte de Renard is a mysterious nobleman, his past as secretive as his supernatural gifts. The price of seeking his help may prove to be a higher cost than Ariane is willing to pay. Nothing less than the surrender of her heart and freedom, for Renard is ruthlessly determined to claim her for his bride.