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3 Words to Describe Chrysander Notos (and the excerpts to prove it!)

I’m very excited to be at Under the Covers to celebrate the release of South of Surrender, the third book in my Greek-mythology-inspired Hearts of the Anemoi series. This book tells the story of Chrysander Notos, Supreme God of the South Wind and Summer, who literally falls into the life of human woman Laney Summerlyn. I’m not sure why, but heroes are the characters who always come to me first when writing a book. They talk to me the loudest and explain themselves to me the clearest. So I really love writing my heroes, and thought I’d introduce Chrys to you today by sharing three words that describe him, with the excerpts to back them up! Here we go:

Tortured

Laney had very likely saved his life tonight, and it wasn’t the first time she’d risked herself for him. Tending to him when he’d fallen through her roof, terrified of the storm that raged around her but determined to help a creature in need. Hell, she’d even stepped in front of him when Zephyros had appeared in her room that day. Why did she keep doing it?

And how could he let her continue?

The question had a ready answer: he couldn’t. He needed to leave. He needed to find another way to protect her. Immediately, every part of him rebelled at the idea. His brain ruled out the possibility that anyone else was better suited. His body demanded more of hers—her heart, her tight slickness, her touch. And Almighty Zeus if that last one wasn’t a head-spinner.

His heart… Aw, damnit all to Hades. His heart fucking ached at the idea of leaving her.

Had he…? No. No. What he felt was guilt that he’d caused her harm, over and over, and regret that he’d intruded upon the quiet, ordered life she led. Disgust with himself for endangering her when he should’ve just stayed the hell away in the first place.

It wasn’t the first time he’d fucked everything up for someone, and it probably wouldn’t be the last. And wasn’t that a real slap in the ass.

Laney shivered, refocusing Chrys’s attention on her. She hummed, a sound full of relaxed pleasure, and a little smile played around the corner of her lips. Her obvious trust and faith in him was like a knife impaling his chest. He was greedy for it, but that didn’t mean he deserved it. And he didn’t.

Dominant

Chrys tugged her wrists hard enough to force her up onto her knees and back against his chest. The position had her nearly sitting on his damp thighs, which hammered up into her in slower, harder, precise strokes that felt so much deeper. His breath rasped in her ear, mixed in with a series of low grunts and curses. She reveled in the sound of his desire, in the press of more of his skin against more of hers, and thrilled at how amazingly hot he felt. Feverish, even.

In a hot hand, he cupped one of her breasts, jutting out because of how she was arched against him. He squeezed and massaged one, then the other. As she watched, he rolled her nipples between his fingers, tight enough that she caught her breath before releasing a long moan, but not so tight that it hurt. Then he skimmed his palm down her belly, leaving a trail of heat in his wake. She quivered in anticipation. His fingers curled between her legs.

“You’re going to come for me,” he growled.

“Yes,” she rasped, the command helping to ensure it would happen sooner rather than later.

Sacrificing

Zeph glared. “But that doesn’t explain why you didn’t say something before the situation went critical.”

Chrys tugged his shirt back on. “I didn’t want any of the rest of you getting your asses kicked—or worse. Not with new families counting on you. Me? I have a whole lotta nothing to lose.”

The words were out of his mouth before he’d thought to say them, and he immediately wanted to reel them back in. He didn’t need to be baring his pathetic sob story on top of everything else.

A long pause left the declaration hanging there, one the thunderous cacophony all around them did little to fill. Boreas tilted his head. “Chrysander.”

The reproach in the way he’d said his name made it damn difficult to hold his brother’s sad silver gaze.

Tentative fingers landed on his back and arm. He flinched, but calm followed as Laney slipped her fingers into his, then just stood there. Silently. Her forehead leaning slightly against

his bicep.

She was standing by his side.

Awe settled into every cell in his body. That she’d taken a stand with him, for him. That she cared enough to…what? To show that she cared? Yes, at least that. And that her touch, far from eliciting the usual anxiety-filled downward spiral, released some of the tension in his muscles, some of the ache crushing his heart.

When had that ever before happened? Foreign emotion swelled uncomfortably in his chest.

He gave her hand a squeeze and swallowed hard. “I thought I could handle it,” he said in a low voice. “I should have been able to handle him. He should’ve let me make this right so he didn’t have to die.” Voicing the word lodged a knot in his throat. His brother was going to die. Almost unavoidable now. And he was going to own a part of that, any way you sliced it.

So, did I make my case?

And thanks so much for reading! ~Laura Kaye

Visit all the stops on the South of Surrender Blog Tour for more ways to win!

“A fast-paced thrill ride.” ~New York Journal of Books

“Sexy, emotional stories, powerful, evocative writing, a vivid and unique vision, and enough magic and mysticism to keep the most demanding reader satisfied, Laura Kaye delivers it all. I love this series!” ~Maggie Shayne, NYT Bestselling Author

About South of Surrender:

 

She’s the only one who can see through his golden boy façade to the broken god within…

Chrysander Notos, Supreme God of the South Wind and Summer, is on a mission: save Eurus from his death sentence and prove his troubled brother can be redeemed. But Eurus fights back, triggering vicious storms that threaten the mortal realm and dangerously drain Chrys.

Laney Summerlyn refuses to give up her grandfather’s horse farm, despite her deteriorating vision. More than ever, she needs the organized routine of her life at Summerlyn Stables, until a ferocious storm brings an impossible—and beautiful—creature crashing down from the heavens.

Injured while fighting Eurus, Chrys finds himself at the mercy of a mortal woman whose compassion and acceptance he can’t resist. As they surrender to the passion flaring between them, immortal enemies close in, forcing Chrys to choose between his brother and the only woman who’s ever loved the real him.

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About Laura Kaye:

Laura is the New York Times and USA Today bestselling author of a dozen books in contemporary and paranormal romance. Growing up, Laura’s large extended family believed in the supernatural, and family lore involving angels, ghosts, and evil-eye curses cemented in Laura a life-long fascination with storytelling and all things paranormal. She lives in Maryland with her husband, two daughters, and cute-but-bad dog, and appreciates her view of the Chesapeake Bay every day.

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One person will win a signed South of Surrender tote bag and swag. Open to international! Good luck!

To win answer Laura Kaye’s question: tell me which of the three pieces of evidence you most enjoyed and why!

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