House of Glass (Poisoned Houses Book 1)
By Lyn Forester
4.5/5
()
About this ebook
After Caitlyn's life falls apart, can she trust her old racing competitors to help her build a new future?
On a poisonous planet, humans and halions coexist in stacked city structures with only a high wall to push back the toxic jungle. But not all poison comes from outside. As an elite, Level 12 citizen and the daughter of a ruling family, Caitlyn has fought her entire life to not follow in her father’s footsteps.
When her secret identity as Sparks, a low-level disc-bike racer, is discovered, her father ships her off to the Academia for Planetary Alliance to turn her into a proper politician. Determined to toe the line until she can escape, Caitlyn’s plans are once again thrown off balance when she meets her new classmates, Declan and twin brothers, Felix and Connor—three men who know her and are determined to become a team.
Lyn Forester
Lyn Forester graduated with a Bachelor in English and an Associates in Graphic Design. She worked in the graphic design industry for ten years before deciding to pursue her other life long dream of becoming a writer. She grew up reading mostly fantasy books, though later in life found a love of urban fantasy and science fiction. She currently works from her home in Washington State where she squeezes in writing time around a busy schedule. When not working, she can be found experimenting with new recipes, reading, or playing video games and the occasional board game.
Related to House of Glass (Poisoned Houses Book 1)
Related ebooks
Trancehack: Magic Born, #1 Rating: 0 out of 5 stars0 ratingsCaptive Avatar: The Arkadia Saga, #2 Rating: 0 out of 5 stars0 ratingsThe Rising: The Andovia Chronicles, #2 Rating: 0 out of 5 stars0 ratingsConnected: Connected, #1 Rating: 0 out of 5 stars0 ratingsDarker Paths Rating: 0 out of 5 stars0 ratingsThe Calling: The Andovia Chronciles, #1 Rating: 0 out of 5 stars0 ratingsBloodthorn Rating: 0 out of 5 stars0 ratingsEvil Charm: Paranormal Vampire Witch Romance Book: Witch's Vampire Series, #2 Rating: 0 out of 5 stars0 ratingsUnraveling the Stars: Starstruck, #10 Rating: 0 out of 5 stars0 ratingsAugust's Bones: Haunted Halls: Rosebud Academy, #3 Rating: 3 out of 5 stars3/5Shadow Walker Complete Trilogy: Shadow Walker Trilogy Rating: 0 out of 5 stars0 ratingsDescending into Darkness: Moonlight Academy, #2 Rating: 0 out of 5 stars0 ratingsThe Seeker's Return Rating: 0 out of 5 stars0 ratingsThe Andovia Chronicles Books 1-3: The Andovia Chronciles Rating: 0 out of 5 stars0 ratingsThe Changeling Troll: Seattle Trolls, #1 Rating: 4 out of 5 stars4/5Slayer's Curse: Moonshadow Academy, #2 Rating: 5 out of 5 stars5/5Fyr: Celestial Spheres, #1 Rating: 0 out of 5 stars0 ratingsFamily Feud: Vampire Paranormal Romance, #5 Rating: 0 out of 5 stars0 ratingsDark Hauntings Rating: 0 out of 5 stars0 ratingsAnd A Meadowlark Sang: The Goddess Durga, #1 Rating: 0 out of 5 stars0 ratingsMercy for the Wicked: The Fallen, #2 Rating: 0 out of 5 stars0 ratingsSupernatural Fog: Supernatural Freak, #2 Rating: 0 out of 5 stars0 ratingsGuardians: Angel Academy, #2 Rating: 0 out of 5 stars0 ratingsAustralian Supernatural: Goldfields - The Complete Collection Rating: 0 out of 5 stars0 ratingsCalled (Gem Creek Bears, Book 4) Rating: 0 out of 5 stars0 ratingsRogue Academic Rating: 0 out of 5 stars0 ratingsEntranced: Goddess of Fate, #2 Rating: 0 out of 5 stars0 ratingsHero Status: The White Knight & Black Valentine Series, #1 Rating: 0 out of 5 stars0 ratingsFate Forsaken Rating: 3 out of 5 stars3/5Chasing Sorcery: The Last Witch Coven, #3 Rating: 0 out of 5 stars0 ratings
Romance For You
Ugly Love: A Novel Rating: 4 out of 5 stars4/5Confess: A Novel Rating: 4 out of 5 stars4/5All Your Perfects: A Novel Rating: 4 out of 5 stars4/5Heart Bones: A Novel Rating: 4 out of 5 stars4/5Hopeless Rating: 4 out of 5 stars4/5November 9: A Novel Rating: 4 out of 5 stars4/5It Starts with Us: A Novel Rating: 4 out of 5 stars4/5Maybe Now: A Novel Rating: 4 out of 5 stars4/5Without Merit: A Novel Rating: 4 out of 5 stars4/5Before We Were Strangers: A Love Story Rating: 4 out of 5 stars4/5Something Borrowed: A Novel Rating: 4 out of 5 stars4/5Chased by Moonlight Rating: 4 out of 5 stars4/5My Favorite Half-Night Stand Rating: 4 out of 5 stars4/5Wuthering Heights Rating: 5 out of 5 stars5/5Finding Perfect: A Novella Rating: 4 out of 5 stars4/5Swear on This Life: A Novel Rating: 4 out of 5 stars4/5Under the Roses Rating: 3 out of 5 stars3/5Roomies Rating: 4 out of 5 stars4/5Maybe Not: A Novella Rating: 4 out of 5 stars4/5Stone Heart Rating: 4 out of 5 stars4/5Josh and Hazel's Guide to Not Dating Rating: 4 out of 5 stars4/5Dating You / Hating You Rating: 4 out of 5 stars4/5The Seven Sisters: Book One Rating: 5 out of 5 stars5/5Buzz Books 2023: Spring/Summer Rating: 4 out of 5 stars4/5Adults Only Volume 3: Seven Erotica Shorts Rating: 4 out of 5 stars4/5Bossy: An Erotic Workplace Diary Rating: 3 out of 5 stars3/5Wish You Were Here: A Novel Rating: 4 out of 5 stars4/5Second Glance: A Novel Rating: 4 out of 5 stars4/5The Visitors Rating: 5 out of 5 stars5/5Tess of the d'Urbervilles Rating: 4 out of 5 stars4/5
Reviews for House of Glass (Poisoned Houses Book 1)
3 ratings0 reviews
Book preview
House of Glass (Poisoned Houses Book 1) - Lyn Forester
HOUSE OF GLASS
POISONED HOUSES | BOOK 1
LYN FORESTER
COVEY PUBLISHING, LLC
HOUSE OF GLASS: POISONED HOUSES | BOOK 1
COVEY PUBLISHING, LLC
Published by Covey Publishing, LLC
PO Box 550219, Gastonia, NC 28055-0219
Copyright © 2016 by Lyn Forester
All rights reserved. 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 writer, except in the case of brief quotations embodied in critical reviews and certain other noncommercial uses permitted by copyright law.
This is a work of fiction. Names, characters, businesses, places, events and incidents are either the products of the author's imagination or used in a fictitious manner. Any resemblance to actual persons, living or dead, or actual events is purely coincidental.
Cover Illustration Copyright © 2017 Lyn Forester
Cover design by Lyn Forester
Book design by Lyn Forester, www.lynforester.com
Chapter opening illustrations © 2017 Lyn Forester
Copy Editing by Rebecca Martin
Printed in the United States of America.
First Printing, 2016
Reprint, 2017
www.lynforester.com
ALSO BY LYN FORESTER
Poison World Universe
Poison World
Beneath a Holo-Sky
Ash in the Blood
A Darker Shade of Gray (Coming Next)
Poisoned Houses
House of Glass
House of Artifice (Coming Next)
Tails x Horns Universe
You to Me
Just Not You (Coming Next)
Thread Reader
Bound to Be
Tied by Fate
In the Loop (Coming Next)
To the wonderful group of writers who invited me to join them in the Falling for Them Anthology. This book would not have been written without your love and encouragement.
Table of Contents
Glitter on the Asphalt
No Handrails, No Security
Trapped Inside
Where's the Cake?
The Price of Manners
Moody Monday
Show Me Yours, I'll Show You Mine
The Heist
Know When to Brake
Defending My Honor
Perfect Circuit
About the Author
DEAR READER
Thank you so much for reading House of Glass (Poisoned Houses | Book 1).
House of Glass was originally released in the limited run anthology Falling for Them, the proceeds of which were donated to St. Jude Children's Hospital. This is a rerelease of the book as a standalone. No changes have been made to the content.
For those who have read my other books, you might wonder if this is related to the Poison World series. And the answer to that is yes, and no. Poisoned Houses is set in Poison World, in a different stacked city, with a new cast of characters. The series are written so that each stands on its own. You do not have to read one to enjoy the other. But if you decide to, it will make the world that much more awesome.
If you have read Beneath a Holo-Sky (Poison World | Book 1), House of Glass is set four years prior.
Happy reading,
Lyn Forester
Last Fall-Cycle
Location: Leton
Season: Fall Cycle: Day 46
Year: 894 PL (Post Landing)
GLITTER ON THE ASPHALT
Your friend is on her way to the hospital. I called your parents to come collect you.
The blue guard frowns down at the four of us, the azure of her uniform a green haze through the night goggles. Overhead, the holo-sky remains shut off. Our accident won't interfere with Lights-Out. When called, the Time Wardens decided lighting the octagonal panel over our current location would draw unwanted attention, no matter how much it might help the investigators wrap up the scene. Behind the blue guard, the shattered remains of a disc-bike litter the street. You're under our protection until they arrive.
Yes, ma'am.
The agreement comes in varying levels of discontent from the three boys who sit next to me.
Blue Guard squats down in front of me. You okay, Ms.—
Sparks.
I interrupt, eyes forward. No one down here needs to know my real name. The only reason she knows it is because she'd scanned my dat-band. I should have left the damn thing at home. The finger-wide, purple circle of rubber has my entire life loaded onto it, easy exposure for anyone with the right scanner.
Of course, Ms. Sparks.
In the background, holo-recorders scan the street, documenting the accident site. The narrow beams of light flash off her three-winged badge as she stands and moves away. As a low-ranking traffic patroller, she was only on the scene to make sure our disc-bike race didn't interfere with the Level 3 citizens. Now in charge of an investigation with a potential fatality, she's out of her league.
Two other blue guards inspect the wreckage, night goggles winking like stars. With the Time Wardens' refusal to illuminate the street, their job will be way more difficult. The night goggles work off heat signatures, the world washed out to shades of green. By the time they arrived, most of the pieces had cooled to the same chilly temperature as the rest of the level. No reason to keep the heaters running, since they wanted to encourage the lower class citizens to stay inside at night. Only Ratchet's body registered as a distinct shape by the time the rest of the blue guards arrived. They'll have to rely on the holo-vid to figure out what went wrong.
Not that there's much left to go off as far as evidence is concerned. The disc shattered on impact, leaving tiny gears and coils to litter the street. Blood during Lights-Out looks beautiful. At first, it shimmers, like glitter on the road. But, as it cools, the sparkles fade. Now the black streaks are almost indecipherable from the asphalt.
Those deadstreams took the prize credits.
Rush pounds a fist against his thigh.
I've never seen any of them without their night goggles on, but rumor says he and Vice are identical twins. Plenty of gossip around those two, but I don't care. I'm here to win races and not getting paid pisses me off, too.
The Night Pirates disappeared the moment Ratchet's energy coil burst, our entry fees with them. They host the races, but the only messes they clean up are ones of their own design. This? Well, this was a shoddy bike modification, therefore not their problem. None of us crossed the finish line—two blocks over—so no winner. All credits forfeited.
Blaze turns toward me. Sparks, you were closest, what happened?
I straighten my spine, not enjoying how he towers over me even in a sitting position. My small frame makes me a faster racer, but I get tired of being loomed over. Don't know. Ratchet was bragging about some new boosters she installed. She was on my ass the whole race, so they seemed good. I didn't see what actually happened though.
Rush leans forward. I was behind her, but all I saw was a pop of white from the disc, then her light ring cut off. Shoddy mods might have fried her energy core.
Doesn't she work with that halfbreed guy? Where was he tonight?
Blaze leans backward onto his hands, the thick material of his jacket creaking. His shirt rides up to reveal a thin line of skin. It shines a warmer green through the goggles. Where you looking, Sparks?
Blaze sounds smug as his head lolls in my direction, goggles flashing. His friends snicker, and I flip them all off. You've got blood on you.
What? Where?
He straightens, hands brushing at his clothes. The blood sparkles on the sleeve of his coat, kept warm by his own body heat. He can find it on his own; I'm not telling him where it is.
How long do we have to wait?
Vice shifts on the curb with a grimace. My ass is numb.
Depends on how far your parents need to come, I guess.
Legs pulled to my chest, I prop my arms across my knees to give my head a place to rest. Father has a ways to travel. I might be here when the holo-sky switches to Quarter-Light before someone arrives.
On the ground between my feet rests my disc-bike. A metal wheel the size of my hand, stuffed full of tech I still struggle to understand. When activated, a seat fans out, just big enough for me to sit on, with a telescoping pole that bends at the end into a control lever. Thin wire poles drop to form stirrups. Streamlined and serviceable, the true beauty comes from the dual green energy rings that spin out to surround me.
When I ride, the pulses of light stream through my bones. Weightless and free. I'm going to build my own in the future. I've been stockpiling the prize credits from these races for over two years to send myself to the halion-run tech school.
Hey Sparks, you asleep?
A warm hand nudges me in the shoulder, tips me over.
I fling out an arm to catch myself and glare at Blaze. Shove off.
Aww, are you glaring at me? It feels like you're glaring.
She's definitely glaring,
Vice chimes in. He sprawls out on the sidewalk, arms behind his head and knees bent.
Why are you always angry at me?
Blaze pokes me in the shoulder again. We should all be friends.
I don't like you.
I rub at my cheeks. The tight press of goggles hurts my face; a headache forms at my temples.
Because I kick your ass in the races?
Hey, I win sometimes, too.
Rush rolls his disc-bike between his fingers.
We all win sometimes.
Vice flings an arm out to punch his brother.
You guys don't win for shit,
Blaze and I snap in unison.
He smiles at me. Aww, see? Total friend material.
Careful, Sparks. We're his friends too, and he treats us like shit.
Vice pouts.
Bro, you need a hug?
Rush puts his disc-bike in his pocket and sprawls on the ground next to the other man.
Vice's head turns toward his brother. Blaze is so mean.
Yeah, he's so unfeeling. A real deadstream.
Rush waves an arm in my direction in invitation. You can be our friend, Sparks. We're way nicer.
I don't want to be any of your friends.
So harsh,
the twins whisper to each other. Not nice at all.
I don't want to be nice. Before the three of them joined the racing circuit, I had a seventy-five percent win stat. If I'd been able to maintain that streak, I would have been in school starting this Spring Cycle. But, Blaze is real competition, and now, I'll be lucky to make tuition in time for next year.
Make way, make way,
the blue guard from earlier shouts. We all straighten up, craning our necks toward the commotion.
A town car pulls onto the street, lights off, its sleek lines dark green through goggle vision. It hovers two feet off the ground, silent propulsion skimming it into the accident site.
My stomach sinks as sweat breaks out beneath my arms. I take measured, controlled breaths, trying not to panic. The others weren't supposed to be here when my ride arrived.
At my side, the guys stiffen, the twins sitting back up, spines straight. We look at each other. The goggles make it hard to read emotions. No one stands.
The car slides to a stop, and the driver steps out. Black uniformed, hair coiffed to perfection. He glances in our direction, goggles shining like stars. Then he approaches the waiting blue guard, hand extended. While they talk, I fight the urge to vomit as I stare at the rear of the vehicle. The blackout windows make it impossible to see if there's someone inside, but I know. I feel the censure emanating from the car, a hot burn against my skin.
Chauffeur shakes the blue guard's hand again, then walks to the curb side door and opens it. From my seated position, I can see the straight line of pressed slacks, the polished toe of a dress shoe.
"Ms.