COVER REVEAL: Axios: A Spartan Tale by Jaclyn Osborn #Excerpt

Author: Jaclyn Osborn
Book: Axios: A Spartan Tale
Release date: Summer 2017
Photograph: Paul Henry Serres Photography
Cover Art: Simply Defined Art
Genre: Historical M/M Romance

Synopsis

My name is Axios Leontius of Sparta, and I was born to kill. At age seven, I was torn from my mother’s arms and left home to train with a group of other boys. We were taught obedience, solidarity, military strategy, and how to withstand pain. My harsh upbringing stripped me of my weaknesses and forced me to become strong. Ruthless.

But, I craved something greater—a life I could never have.

Against all odds, and the toughest training a warrior could endure, I found an unexpected love in the arms of a fellow Spartan. He was the very air I breathed and the water that sustained me. Fighting side by side with him, we were invincible.

However, there’s no place for love in Sparta, especially between two men. In times of war, all men are put to the test, but the greatest challenge for us was not one of swords and spears, but of the heart.

Excerpt

“These boys have shown their cowardice,” Gaius said, stepping between me and the boy and putting his large hands on our shoulders. “What do we do with cowards here in Sparta?”

Boys all started yelling at once. Maim them. Punish. Whip. It seemed they all grew in confidence once the focus was turned on someone else instead of them. They smiled as they shouted their answer, and another boy picked up a rock and threw it at me.

I ducked just in time.

“Enough!” Gaius stopped their chants and walked forward, pivoting on his heels to stare at me and the boy beside me. “As of this moment, you two are a disgrace. But here is your chance to prove your worth.”

Please, no, I inwardly prayed to whatever god would listen, knowing what Gaius had planned.

Many times, I had witnessed the instructors and some of the older men instigate fights between the trainees. It was a way to tease and humiliate the weak. And sometimes it was a way to dispose of them.

“What are you called?” Gaius asked the boy. The boy’s answer wasn’t loud enough, so Gaius punched his arm. “Speak up!”

“Darius!” he answered.

“And you?” Gaius pinned a glare at me.

“Axios.”

He nodded. “Darius and Axios. You are to fight until one of you is unable to continue.” Shifting his stare between me and Darius, he gave a chilling grin. “And if either of you thinks to forfeit, think again. If I see you surrender, I will kill you where you stand.”

About Jaclyn Osborn

Jaclyn Osborn was born and raised in the state of Arkansas. When not working her day job, her days mostly consist of writing, reading, and having epic Lord of the Rings watching marathons.

All types of topics in the M/M genre interests her, in both reading and writing, and she hopes to delve into a few of them in her writing career.

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