QSFer Archer Kay Leah has a new MM/bi fantasy romance out:
On the outside, Mayr seems to have it all: a successful career as Head of the Guard for a prominent politician, family and friends who adore him, and the attention of beautiful women. But appearances are a good way to bury secrets, including the fact that while Mayr is a romantic at heart, searching for the one person to share his life with, his lovers keep leaving him.
When his last girlfriend takes him back and suggests an intimate night with Tash, one of her lovers, Mayr reluctantly agrees. The last thing he expects is to fall hard for Tash, who is nothing like Mayr’s previous lovers—and about to undertake the Uldana Trials. If Tash fails, he’ll likely die. If he succeeds, he must give up Mayr, and become the latest to leave Mayr standing alone with a broken heart.
Book Two of The Republic
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Excerpt
“Would you stop giving me indigestion? How’s a man supposed to enjoy his breakfast when you keep bringing them up?” Mayr forced himself to glower at Aeley and Lira over the dining table. “And stop looking at me like I’m five years old. I happen to like breakfast, thank you very much.
It’s tasty. And Cook isn’t trying to kill me. I really appreciate that.”
From her seat across from him, Lira tittered, holding her hand to her lips.
Mayr wagged his piece of bread at her. “Yeah, but you just wait until Cook burns those pastries you like so much. Then we’ll see who’s laughing.” To emphasize his point, he chomped dramatically on the bread.
Aeley snorted and shifted in her seat at the head of the long table, with Mayr and Lira on either side of her. “Promises, promises.”
Face contorted playfully, Mayr stuck out his tongue at her. Five days had passed since his night with Sarene and Tash. And every day, he tried not to think about it, busying himself with his work. The fact Aeley still brought up the issue of Lira’s family meant he needed to do more to
assure her nothing would happen at the upcoming feast. Any problem or disastrous scenario he could think of would be assigned a plan of action and soldiers to enforce it. He had been up since before dawn, working on whom he would place where for the greatest effect.
Lira sipped water from her metal goblet. “I digress. You’re absolutely right.” She offered him an apologetic smile. “Friends again?”
Always.
“I suppose, if I have to.” Mayr sighed, flicking his gaze over the dark red wood panels of the walls. “Otherwise these meals of ours will get plenty rowdy. I’ll say something witty; you’ll call me stupid. Aeley will kick me in the shin; I’ll throw eggs in her hair. It’ll be bedlam. Complete chaos.” He settled into the curved back of his wooden chair and skimmed his hands over the table. “Breakfast should be civilized.”
Aeley tsked at him. “You shouldn’t use words you don’t know.”
“And you. Should. Eat.” Mayr punctuated each word with a push on her clay plate, annoyed by how little she had taken and her even fewer bites. “Don’t make me come up with a creative way to get you to, because you know I will.”
“Please. It’ll end in you eating it.” Aeley jabbed her food with her spoon. “I’m not hungry. I thought I was, but something lied.”
When she glanced at the metal decanters on the wood cart along the furthest wall, Mayr stiffened. The last thing they needed was for her to chase away her irritation with alcohol. They had been there before. Never again, he had promised her.
“Don’t you dare.” Mayr slapped Aeley’s wrist.
Aeley slapped his arm. “I wasn’t going to, mother.” She smirked. “Just thinking of some creative things of my own.” The lusty gaze she cast Lira was unmistakable.
Mayr groaned. “Just wait until I’m out of the room this time, all right? Here, I’ll grab my things and—”
“Stay put?” Aeley interrupted. “Because that’s how civilized breakfasts happen.”
Pouting, Mayr lowered his head and stared at her over the rim of his goblet. “You’re mean. And you smell funny. I should tell the Council.”
“That I smell funny?”
“I’ll say it’s a matter of regional interest.”
“And they’ll say…?”
Mayr grinned. “That I should be replaced. Then I’ll ask for one of their jobs. Ha!” He pointed at Lira. “Then I can solve the problem of your parents real quick. No problem. None.”
Author Bio
Archer Kay Leah was raised in Canada, growing up in a port town at a time when it was starting to become more diverse, both visibly and vocally. Combined with the variety of interests found in Archer’s family and the never-ending need to be creative, this diversity inspired a love for toying with characters and their relationships, exploring new experiences and difficult situations.
Archer most enjoys writing speculative fiction and is engaged in a very particular love affair with fantasy, especially when it is dark and emotionally charged. When not reading and writing for work or play, Archer is a geek with too many hobbies and keeps busy with other creative endeavors, a music addiction, and whatever else comes along. Archer lives in London, Ontario with a same-sex partner and their cat.
Website: http://archerkayleah.wordpress.com/
Facebook: http://facebook.com/archerkayleah
Twitter: https://twitter.com/archerkayleah
Goodreads: https://www.goodreads.com/ArcherKayLeah
Author Page at Amazon: https://www.amazon.com/author/archerkayleah