Lexi Ander and Embrace the Rainbow Book Promotions visit the blog with the Releasing Chaos (Sumeria Sons #6) blog tour! Today's stop is full of goodies: an excerpt, flash fiction and huge giveaway: SIGNED paperbacks of Sumeria’s Sons series, SIGNED paperbacks of Releasing Chaos, Dragon mugs and Dragon Goblets! Check it out!
Title: Releasing Chaos
Author: Lexi Ander
Series: Sumeria's Sons #6
Release Date: August 1, 2017
Categories: Gay, Paranormal, Poly, Urban Fantasy
Word Count: 132,000 words
Cover Artist: Kirby Crow
BLURB
Everything Tristan, Ushna, and Brian have fought for comes down to the moment they face Inanna and Marduk. Before then, Ushna must embrace his destiny and be transformed by Tiamat. But he returns with a fractured mind and will need the help of the new firebird or he'll be lost to the insanity of a primordial God. If he's lost, so is the balance Brian and Tristan sorely need.
Tristan has vowed to care for his ex-Flame, Theo Sullivan, who is doomed to forget more and more with each use of his new ability. When not dealing with his stubborn ex, Tristan must free the warriors stolen by the government and devise a trap for Inanna.
And that's only the start of the challenges, and everything that can still go wrong.
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EXCERPT
Prologue
~The Nameless
We Nameless had been running hard for many days. Something crawled under our ruff, beckoning us to go southeast. The part of us that was once human cowered in the back of our minds, pleading with us to stay in our dens, but we could not. The pull was strong, and we responded to the urgent need that seeped into our paws from the ground.
"Hurry," The Earth Mother whispered to us.
Months ago, our alpha freed us from the vileness of our human side, locking away the corruption so we could teach our humans the lessons they had either forgotten or were never taught. We shared the joys of running on four paws, of being family, of supporting each other through the hunt. We gave them our love for the land, the sky, the water, and for each other. We showed them how to work together and yet still be individuals. For we were wolf. Hunter. Predator. Mother. Father. Family.
Now as they proclaimed their fear, we would teach them how to stand together, to use their instincts to discern right from wrong. The Earth Mother called us to the alpha's aid. Though he made us Nameless, he had shown us mercy and set us free. He would forever be our alpha and we his tribe, his people.
As we loped, closing the distance between us and the one who needed us, the Earth Mother pushed healing through our paws, fortifying our energy and curbing our hunger. We stopped briefly alongside a stream to drink our fill before once again we hurried on. The urgency rode us as we ran across fields, through sleepy towns, over grassy plains, and entered foreign woods. We were close now and we hoped we would arrive in time.
As one, we threw our voices into the wind. "We come to stand by your side. To be your shield. To hunt with you and take down your prey. To protect our people. We come, our Alpha, we come."
*~*~*
~Jory Swaine
I didn't know what disturbed me from a sound sleep, but an itch between my shoulders forced me from my room to prowl the dark house. For a couple of days now, I'd been sensing… I pushed out the back door, barely catching the screen before it slapped noisily against the frame, waking the whole house.
Before tragedy had taken Tristan away from us for half a year, he'd entrusted into my care the wolf forms of the traitors who'd attempted to murder him. Members of Tribe Uras collaborated with the rogue, Craig Stoiler, and invaded Tristan's ranch. I would've had them killed for their treachery, but Tristan had another idea. He'd stripped the people of their human form, giving their wolf dominion. The demonstration of his power as the supreme alpha and prince of our people proved his lineage to the doubting members of the Council of Five, but there was an additional reason for his action. He'd given them a second chance, of sorts, and ordered some twenty-eight wolves to follow my commands as their handler.
Whatever type of transformation magic Tristan performed had a lasting effect. With the events that had transpired following his return, I didn't have a chance to relay to him I could still feel those wolves. He'd tied them to me that fate-filled day, not that I was upset. What I sensed of them was harmless, a simple awareness nestled in the back of my mind, telling me their state of being and general welfare… until now.
The stars shone sharp and bright overhead, the sky a virtual blanket of diamonds. The sight still made my breath catch, especially after spending so many years in California cities, where the light was muted. My eyes were drawn to the northwest. The string attaching me to them pulled with their sense of urgency. They were coming. Perhaps it was time to tell Tristan about my relationship with them. Something caused the pack to leave their dens in the Canadian tundra. I wasn't sure if this sense of urgency coming from them was a portent of good or evil. For Tristan's sake, I hoped the banished members of Tribe Uras didn't intend to attack him a second time. I'd grown quite fond of the playfulness of their wolves in the corner of my mind, and I'd hate to be the one who sent them on to their next reincarnation.
Thank you for having me on the blog today! Releasing Chaos is the last book in the Sumeria's Sons series. For the final sendoff, I have put together a series of flash fiction pieces that happen near the end of Dragon's Eye or in between Dragon's Eye and Releasing Chaos. These are little on-the-side scenes that don't have an impact on the plot arc of Sumeria's Sons so you won't encounter any spoilers for the final book. This one takes place much earlier. It's a small insight into how Jynx, Devlin, and Nacht came to be together. Enjoy!
Bond Brothers
-Jynx Roth
I watched from the shadowed hallway as Devlin rocked Becca to sleep. If someone had told me three, even two, years ago that I would be a father and my bond brothers and I would be advisors to the future King of the Lycans, I would've laughed in their face. Like many Magi back then, I was only trying to survive the college and the brutality of the Triad who ruled it. I clearly remembered the first time I saw Devlin. Little did I know that meeting him would changed all our lives… or more poetically, change the paths we walked.
Nacht and I had bonded and we were searching for our third. With a complete circle of three, we would have been relatively safe from the machinations of the governing Triad, especially since we weren't strong earthmovers. Kevah, Caspian, and Barron ruled the Magi College like it was their own little fiefdom. Those who curried favor were treated well. And those who weren't as powerful in earth magic—magical brutes, the lot of them—Kevah had no interest in. He ignored students he considered weak, allowing Caspian to terrorize those beneath his notice.
Nacht was a mediocre earthmover when it came to magic. But his secondary ability he could not hide. He was a Shadow Mover and, like all shadow men, had skin and eyes dark as pitch. I was also a mediocre earthmover and since I didn't present with a secondary elemental magic such as air, water, or fire, the college demanded to know my talent. I pretended I didn't have one, which in reality, about one third of all Magi students only had one elemental talent and nothing else. If Kevah's triad knew I was a Truthseer he would have forced on us a third of his choice, thereby ensuring I was under his control.
When Nacht and I saw Devlin, he stopped us in our tracks. He was short for a Lycan which brought him unwanted attention by the more powerful bullies. The majority dismissed him for his stature alone, but there was something that drew Nacht and me to Devlin. His neon blue hair always drew my eye. When seen up close, I loved that he was covered in freckles and his eyes were almost the same shade of blue as his hair. Of all the Lycans, the Magi were more likely to do something to change their appearance. Usually it only entailed elaborate makeup or clothing and occasionally excessive piercing. But hair color, no one dyed their hair. I had orange streaks through mine that developed when I changed into my wolf the first time. Those of us with unusual coloring also had non-elemental abilities. Though many of us pretended otherwise.
As Nacht and I watched Devlin, working up a way to approach and befriend him, I wondered what his talent was. Not that I really cared. Both Nacht and I were attracted to him and needed to know him better so we could gauge if he would be a good match for our triad.
As we approached Devlin, a group of Caspian's bullies converged upon him, warning us away. It was obvious that Devlin did not wish to be in their company but they kept him separated from everyone. I remembered how he looked over his shoulder, his eyes pleading for help. We'd all been pushed around at one time or another but something felt off.
"What should we do?" Nacht asked as Devlin disappeared around the corner.
The people in the hallway had been quiet until the bullies disappeared. Whispers erupted as the students hurried away from the area. It was easy to see that many were relieved they hadn't been the one taken away. A few stared guiltily where Devlin had disappeared.
"Follow." I glanced at Nacht. "Unless you would rather stay out of it."
I sensed his hurt. "I know we don't have the power to right every wrong the Triad allows, but you don't really expect me to walk away do you?"
I bumped his shoulder with mine. "I had to put it out there. I don't want to force you to do anything you don't want. Besides, I know we can't stop them, but tripping them up, that's something else altogether."
Nacht and I jogged to catch up with the powerful earthmovers. If we challenge them head on, they would kick our ass, make an example of us. So we had to move carefully, extract Devlin without them suspecting who thwarted them. I checked my pocket for my phone. Perhaps if they did something terrible enough, and I caught it on film, I could send it anonymously to the Council of Five. I'd discovered the council member overseeing the college ignored complaints by students, handing the information over to Kevah who would call the student in and 'resolve' the issue. The next option would be to give the information to the other four council members and hope that Kevah hadn't bought them as well.
The five earthmovers took Devlin out behind the school where the manicured lawn butted up against the forest. There the Magi's could let their wolves out and run. With so little cover to hide behind on the lawn, Nacht moved us through the void to the woods.
The boys push Devlin in front of them, laughing when he stumbled and fell. In the corner of my mind that belonged to Nacht, I sensed his growing anger. We fed off each other's ire, the protectiveness we held for Devlin growing in equal amounts.
"That's far enough," said Mark. He seemed to be the leader of the bullies. "Caspian will be joining us soon."
Devlin gulped audibly. I almost left our hiding place to go to him but Nacht had wrapped his arm around my waist, keeping me in place.
"What are we doing out here?" Devlin asked, his voice sounded strong, as if he wasn't afraid.
Mark grinned, the twist of his mouth cruel. "We're here to practice." A small red ball of flame appeared in between his palms.
"I don't understand." Devlin didn't take his eyes off the fire.
"What is there to understand?" Caspian snapped. We had all been so focused on Mark as he played with the flame that we didn't see Caspian approach. "I am instructing these boys on how to hit a target."
"Yeah, and since we can easily hit a stationary target, we brought you to help us with moving ones." Mark laughed but quickly shut up when Caspian glared at him.
"You will be given a five-minute head start. Then these five gentlemen will track you and attempt to take you down. It won't hurt… much." Caspian smirked then frowned. "Well, what are you waiting for? Tick-tock."
Devlin turned and ran into the woods, the harsh cackling of the bullies sounded of manic excitement. What Caspian was doing was illegal. Magi weren't allowed to use their magic as a weapon. Not without permission from the Lycan king, and since we were without one, still illegal. There had been rumors but I hadn't believed they were true.
Nacht hopped us through the forest, placing us ahead of Devlin. Even though Devlin had been able to run a great distance, the whoops the hunters released could still be heard when they started after him. Devlin stumbled upon us, stopping so quickly he fell. But he wasn't ready to give up and he readied to run in a different direction, scrambling to his feet even as I spoke.
"Devlin, please." I raised my hands to show him I meant him no harm. "We're here to help."
Devlin pause. The excited cries of the hunting party sounded closer. "They'll only hurt you, too."
"They have to find us first," Nacht replied, his deep voice soothing, hand outstretched, waiting.
"They will retaliate. They have Caspian's faver," Devlin argued even though I could tell he wanted what we offered.
"We're willing to take the chance."
Devlin's impossibly blue eyes caught mine and held. "You two would do that for me?"
"Yes," Nacht replied for the both of us.
I didn't realize I held my breath until Devlin took Nacht's outstretched hand. "Don't let go," Nacht instructed as he slipped us through the void, coming out across a small nearby clearing.
The area was layered with the scent of all the students, Devlin's was one of many. If they were using smell to track him than this would muddle their senses.
"The both of you climb that tree." Nacht pointed to a leafy behemoth that would be easy to hide in. "I'll return shortly."
That was the afternoon the change the course of my life. Nacht terrorized the boys, dragging them one at a time into the void and tossing them out miles away. The Triad knew that a Shadow Mover was to blame. But whenever they attempted to bring one in for questioning, the shadowmen stepped through the void and none dared to leap in after them.
As I watched from overhead, a plan had formed. There were little ways we could rebel against the tyranny of the Triad. It wasn't without peril. There would always be risk. What had been done to Gregori by Caspian proved that even those who were stronger could be defeated. But Gregori, our Sami, had still stepped up at great personal cost to himself. How could I not follow his path?
A couple months later, Devlin became our bond brother and the three of us harried Kevah's triad from the shadows. As a Pathfinder, Devlin helped us escape pursuit more than once. Years later, when Caspian's dead body had been hung in the courtyard, I knew without a doubt that was the beginning of the end of the terror the students of the college lived in.
"What are you brooding about?" Nacht slipped his arms around me and I pulled him closer.
"Just thinking about how we came to be here," I said, kissing the corner of his mouth.
Before I could pull away, Nacht turned into the kiss, taking it from chaste to deepen devouring. My body responded as if he'd flip the switch. I sensed his hunger and Devlin's awareness of us outside Becca's room. I sent tendrils out, sharing my desire, beckoning him to join us. Many didn't understand the tie bond brothers shared and we didn't often explain. We occupied each other's mind, knew each other hearts and thoughts. Usually, bond brothers fell in love. It was hard not to with how closely linked we were to each other. I couldn't imagine living any other way.
Devlin's small hands skated up my bareback and I made a noise of pleasure. He liked to hear how much we wanted him. Nacht love to tell us with rough and dirty words, making delicious, dark promises that made Devlin whimper. What did I enjoy? Anything. Everything. As long as it included the both of them, I loved it all, just as I loved them.
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About the Author
Lexi has always been an avid reader, and at a young age started reading (secretly) her mother’s romances (the ones she was told not to touch). She was the only teenager she knew of who would be grounded from reading. Later, with a pencil and a note book, she wrote her own stories and shared them with friends because she loved to see their reactions. A Texas transplant, Lexi now kicks her boots up in the Midwest with her Yankee husband and her eighty-pound puppies named after vacuum cleaners.
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