Sunday Snippet: Styxx by Sherrilyn Kenyon + giveaway

  One of the character’s I’ve always wondered about was Styxx, Acheron’s brother. There had to be more to what was going on then we knew between those two. So when it was announced that she was writing Styxx’s story I KNEW it was going to be good. What I didn’t expect was to spend most of the book with my heart breaking for Styxx. And Ash, man if I wasn’t already completely in love with him, and able to see how he could be blinded by what happened when he was a child to Styxx I would hate him. But in the end of this book man, the end of this book is probably one of my absolute favorite endings in this entire series. So here’s one of my favorite scenes from the book. This one takes place after Urian has given Ash some hard truths about his brother. He’s gone to talk to him, and observes him without knowing. What he sees forever changes him. We’re giving away a copy of the last Dark-Hunter book Time Untime to one person. Open to US and Canada only. 

Putting an apple in his mouth and holding it there with his teeth, Styxx stood up with two bottles of warm water, and a sketchbook and pencils. He sat down on a bedroll and without disturbing the dog, then opened the water to sip at. While he ate the apple, he turned to a page in the book where a sketch of a woman who sat in a beautiful meadow, holding an infant in her arms. The baby’s hand was on her lips as she smiled down at him. Even though it was only a drawing, the love in her expression was haunting.

Ash’s gaze went to Styxx’s left hand that held his apple and then down to the names of his wife and son that Styxx had meticulously carved into his own flesh.

An ultimate tribute. Not something a man would have done lightly.

The full magnitude of what Styxx had lost and how much his brother had loved his family slammed into him with such force that for a moment he thought he’d be sick.

Styxx set the apple aside and wiped his hand against his thigh, then leaned over so that he could draw. Ash winced as he watched the way Styxx had to use his left hand to wedge the pencil into the grip of his damaged right had so that he could use it. The way Styxx did it said that he was so used to making accommodations for his partially paralyzed hand that he didn’t even think about it anymore.

Tears misted Styxx’s blue eyes as eh lovingly brushed his fiercely scarred right hand across the page. “Miss you, Beth,” he breathed before he began filling in the more details. He pushed the book back a bit as he worked, and it was only then Ash realized why.

He was protecting it.

Every so often, a random tear would fall as Styxx worked. Silent and focused, he would wipe it away on his shoulder and keep drawing.

Awed by his brother’s hear and talent, Ash sank to his knees to watch Styxx’s precise, expert strokes. He’d had no idea that his brother could do such.

Once it was finished, Styxx sniffed back his quiet tears and flipped through the book that was filled with pictures of the same woman and the baby boy at various ages that ranged from newborn to adulthood. It was as if Styxx had created the memories of his wife and child that he’d want to have.

Memories that had been stolen from him.

By Acheron’s mother.

Just when you thought doomsday was over…

Centuries ago Acheron saved the human race by imprisoning an ancient evil bent on absolute destruction. Now that evil has been unleashed and it is out for revenge.

As the twin to Acheron, Styxx hasn’t always been on his brother’s side. They’ve spent more centuries going at each other’s throats than protecting their backs. Now Styxx has a chance to prove his loyalty to his brother, but only if he’s willing to trade his life and future for Acheron’s.

The Atlantean goddess of Wrath and Misery, Bethany was born to right wrongs. But it was never a task she relished. Until now. She owes Acheron a debt that she vows to repay, no matter what it takes. He will join their fellow gods in hell and nothing is going to stop her. But things are never what they seem, and Acheron is no longer the last of his line. Styxx and Acheron must put aside their past and learn to trust each other or more will suffer.

Yet it’s hard to risk your own life for someone who once tried to take yours, even when it’s your own twin, and when loyalties are skewed and no one can be trusted, not even yourself, how do you find a way back from the darkness that wants to consume the entire world? One that wants to start by devouring your very soul?

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