Rebel Preview, Volume One

By Theresa Kay, Stormy Smith, Regan Claire and 3 more

This book is a compilation of chapters from the authors who make up The Rebel Writers. The excerpts are not full-length novels and are only intended to provide samples of multiple stories to expose you to new works. Included are contemporary romance, fantasy, science fiction, dystopian and paranormal stories.

Stormy Smith – Bound by Duty

Amelia Bradbury is the last living Elder. She has power she can’t control and has been forced to hide, while a prophecy dictates her fate even as she fights for a normal life. She faces a betrothal she can’t stop and, on top of it all, she’s lost her heart to a human. When the whole truth comes to light, will Amelia choose her duty or her heart?

Caylie Marcoe – Choose Us

Riley Logan and Travis Grayson have been best friends for fifteen years. Riley never imagined that working as Travis’s personal assistant would land her the job of undercover spy on a televised dating show meant to find him love. Travis forced her into it and now the last girl she expected is the one she wants him to choose – her.

Theresa Kay – Dark Expanse

In a world of military space stations, planetary jumps and alien offensives, nineteen-year-old Eva Braebel's life has never been easy. She's small. She's female. And she earned the ire of a powerful General at a young age. With hard work and the support of her friends, she achieves more than she ever dreamed possible: A position as flight squadron leader and the man who she loves by her side. Eva just got everything she's ever wanted, but how long can she keep it?

Kat Nichols – Family Secrets

Sophia Morganthal is an orphan that not only found herself flung halfway across the country to live with relatives she never knew existed, but that those relatives came from a long line of witches that require her to be initiated into their coven within the year to prevent a battle for leadership. As Sophia learns more about herself, and what being initiated into Blackthorne coven really means, she must answer the ultimate question – would she give up everything for her family?

Regan Claire – Gathering Water

Della was handed a slim folder the day she turned eighteen. Inside it was the name of her mother and the identity of a family that never tried to pull her from the foster system she hates. When Della moves across the country to claim the only pieces of her mother that still remain, she finds herself pulled into an unimaginable world —one on the brink of war — and it takes everything Della has not to drown in a destiny she didn't choose. Can she move past her anger and pain to save the people she’s come to love, or will her enemies strike before Della has the chance to become the only weapon capable of destroying them?

Elizabeth Tuttle – Spark of Light

Nearly a century ago the world was decimated by a magical war. In their defeat, elves were captured by humans, cut off from their magic, and broken down into lifeless, drone-like slaves. Avery is different. Never completely broken, she must pretend in order to survive. But when love sparks the light inside Avery, her magic blooms to full force. It’s only once she is ripped away from this love that Avery finds herself at The Farm, facing truths she never expected and the possibility that she could be the spark her people need to reignite.

• Language: English
• Publisher: Theresa Kay
• Release date: May 1, 2015
• ISBN: 9781513065656

Book preview

Rebel Reads

Volume One

The Rebel Writers

Copyright © 2014 by The Rebel Writers.

All rights reserved worldwide.

No part of this publication may be reproduced, distributed or transmitted in any form or by any means, including photocopying, recording, or other electronic or mechanical methods, without the prior written permission of the author, except in the case of brief quotations embodied in critical reviews and certain other noncommercial uses permitted by copyright law. For permission requests, send a message to the author at the e-mail below.

[e-mail]

www.TheRebelWriters.com

Author’s Note: This is a work of fiction. Names, characters, places, and incidents are a product of the author’s imagination. Locales and public names are sometimes used for atmospheric purposes. Any resemblance to actual people, living or dead, or to businesses, companies, events, institutions, or locales is completely coincidental.

Cover by Caylie Marcoe

Book Layout ©2013 BookDesignTemplates.com

Contents

1 Gathering Water by Regan Claire

2 Dark Expanse by Theresa Kay

3 Choose Us by Caylie Marcoe

4 Bound by Duty by Stormy Smith

5 Spark of Light by Elizabeth Tuttle

6 Family Secrets by Kat Nichols

1 Gathering Water by Regan Claire

Book One in the Gathering Water Trilogy, a YA Fantasy Series.

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Della was handed a slim folder the day she turned eighteen. Inside it was the name of her mother and the identity of a family that never tried to pull her from the foster system she hates. When Della moves across the country to claim the only pieces of her mother that still remain, she finds herself pulled into an unimaginable world —one on the brink of war — and it takes everything Della has not to drown in a destiny she didn't choose. Can she move past her anger and pain to save the people she’s come to love, or will her enemies strike before Della has the chance to become the only weapon capable of destroying them?

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CHAPTER FOUR

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Della, do you need a ride somewhere? Are you staying at a B&B? John said while following me towards the door.

Well, no. I mean, I could use a ride, but I was just going to stay at Ga-my mother’s house.

I’ll take you on over then. And before I could give my assent, he grabbed up my bags, walked out of the bank, and loaded up his sedan with me trailing lamely behind him.

How far away is it? I asked when he turned on the engine and rolled down the windows to let the heat out.

Not too far off. Nobody has lived there for a really long time, not since your Grandma Anise was alive and she moved out when she married your granddaddy, only spending a weekend here or there until she died and they closed it up for good. It was left in trust to Gabby, and now to you. He paused a moment to grab a toothpick from his breast-pocket, then stuck it in his mouth. It isn’t in the worst shape since it’s a well built house, but it hasn’t had even minimal maintenance done since your momma moved away. Definitely not move-in ready. I’d actually be more comfortable if you stayed somewhere else for a few days. I’m sure if you called Connor, he’d be happy to have you.

I’m not sure I’m ready for that yet, I said quickly.  Could you take me there anyway? I really want to see the house, and it’s still early so I have plenty of time to get to a hotel or something if it’s really bad off.

Della, I-

Mr. McCay, I appreciate you giving me a ride and everything, but I’ve spent my entire life without anything at all. Everything I own is in the trunk of your car; I finally have something and I need to see it. I’m really not trying to be rude, but it’s important. To my everlasting shock and embarrassment, my voice hitched a little on the last word.

John McCay kept his eyes on the road and after a few minutes of awkward silence he gave a big sigh and pulled out his phone to tell whoever he called that he was going to be a little late. I figured that meant we were on our way to my house, but when he finally stopped the car it was in front of a small store labeled Lukes General.

Mr. McCay-

John, he insisted.

Um, this isn’t the right address.

Of course it’s not the right address. You’re here to get supplies. We both know that you plan on spending the night in that place. You’ll need stuff, candles and food and whatever else. Let’s go on in, and I’ll introduce you to Luke so he can set you up.

Luke turned out to be an imposing older man. He was built like a football player, but when he came out to greet us his crinkly stormy-grey eyes were full of humor. His hair was white, and he was wearing a blue bowling shirt and a pair of jean shorts that probably started life out as pants.

John, nice to see ya, old man. What can I do for you?

I’d watch who you call old man, if I were you, Luke. I’d like to introduce you to Della Deare. Della, Luke here runs the finest general store on the island. Anything you need, you can find within these walls.

Deare? Did I hear you right, John? His brows raised quizzically.

Yes, she’s Gabby’s little girl, come home to set up in the old house. Unfortunately her momma passed away a while back, but Della’s come home all the same. John put a reassuring hand on my shoulder, which I quickly shook off.

Gabby’s gone? I always thought she’d come back. Where did she run off too all tho... his voice trailed off and he had a distant look in his eyes for a moment. Well, I am truly sorry to hear about your loss, Della. I knew your grandma Anise very well, she was a good woman and I heard that her daughter was too, though I was away when she was growing up. He leaned in a little, eyes roaming my face. You have her look about you, around the mouth and the same color eyes, a blue as deep as the sea itself. Luke seemed to withdraw into some inner place for a couple of minutes, as if he were adjusting to the news of Gabriella’s death, or maybe remembering my grandmother, who was obviously a friend of his.

It was kind of weird to see a stranger mourn more for my mother than I did, though I guess I never knew her and I’d always known she was gone. I didn’t really know what it was like to lose someone since I’d never had anyone to lose.

Thank you, I guess. Um, I actually just found out about all this, I mean I knew that my mother was dead, she died when I was born... but, uh, all the rest is new. Like, she was a Jane Doe, I stuttered out.

"Della was raised out in California in the foster system, Luke. Says that some police officer tracked down Gabby’s family

and let them know everything that had happened a few years back. It’s funny that that kind of information didn’t seem to get passed along, isn’t it?" John and Luke seemed to forget I was there for a minute; it was almost like they were talking about something different. Either way, for an instant I saw Luke get mad, really mad, like oh-my-god-don’t-let-the-giant-kill-me type of mad. He seemed to swell in size, fists balled, with narrowed eyes and a red face, but it lasted for only an instant, then he was back to the laid-back old shopkeeper.

Well, I’m even sorrier to hear that. Where are you planning on staying, Della? There’s a great bed and breakfast down the street. Actually, there are several great ones.

Well, Luke, that’s why we’re here. Della is insisting on staying at the old house. She’s gonna need some stuff, candles and whatnot. Maybe you can talk her into staying somewhere else. Maybe call up her uncle. I’m sure he doesn’t know, and you still keep in touch with him, don’t you? John was clearly hoping I’d change my mind.

Mr. McCay, I’d told you I’d really rather stay at the house. It can’t be worse than camping. I’d never actually been camping before. I’d almost gone once, but the family I was with sent me away again before the trip since I freaked out their other kids or something. I can’t remember too well since I was only about 7 or 8 at the time.

It’ll be a sight better than camping, and you know it John. There’s nothing seriously wrong with that house, other than its needing a good paint job and maybe a few new shingles. There’s no water or electricity or anything like that, but that can be fixed in the next few days, no problem. John, you can go ahead and get out of here if you want. I can fix Della up with what she’ll need and take her on over to the house. I know the way, if that’s okay with you, Della. Since having one stranger take me