The First Roses: The Drath Series, #15

By Meyari McFarland

Jie's new life with xyr adopted parents Kunzang and Dumisani was hard work. Lots of hard work. More hard work than xe'd expected.

Gardening and hauling dirt and, most importantly, making sure that Kunzang didn't overdue it while xe was pregnant.

Why Kunzang was so calm about lifting things and doing stuff, Jie would never know.

Until the baby came and everything changed.

The First Roses tells the tale of queer people of color finding not just new homes but hard-won hope in the far distant future around a near-lethal star. Don't miss it!

• Language: English
• Publisher: Meyari McFarland
• Release date: Mar 9, 2018
• ISBN: 9781386047520

Meyari McFarland

Meyari McFarland has been telling stories since she was a small child. Her stories range from SF and Fantasy adventures to Romances but they always feature strong characters who do what they think is right no matter what gets in their way. Her series range from Space Opera Romance in the Drath series to Epic Fantasy in the Mages of Tindiere world. Other series include Matriarchies of Muirin, the Clockwork Rift Steampunk mysteries, and the Tales of Unification urban fantasy stories, plus many more. You can find all of her work on MDR Publishing's website at www.MDR-Publishing.com.

Book preview

The First Roses

The First Roses

A Drath SF Short Story

Meyari McFarland

MDR Publishing

Cover of Joining of Lines showing an attractive black man staring into the camera against a star-filled background.

Looking for more amazing queer people of color on great adventures and falling in love? Not only is Clash of Lines, the first novel in the Drath series, free on all major sites, you can get a free copy of the sequel Joining of Lines by signing up for our mailing list: Get your copy here!

Duty defined Jing Althus' life.

Duty to Nthanda, his cousin. To the Ceelen who expected him to lead if Nthanda fell.

Someone had targeted the Ceelen for destruction.

Only one person could help Jing discover them: Iman Hogarth, conman, genius and the most beautiful man Jing had ever met.

If Iman would help.

Jing's only hope was to convince Iman that he was worth risking Iman's life.

Contents

Special Offer

The First Roses

Other Drath Romance Books by Meyari McFarland:

Author's Note: Cradle of the Day

1. Eager Eyes

2. Quiet Tongues

Afterword

Special Offer

Author Bio

Other Drath Romance Books by Meyari McFarland:

Clash of Lines

Joining of Lines

Consort of the Crystal Palace

Fragments of a Chain

Stranded With You

Reunited Hearts

A Simple Life

Cradle of the Day

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You can find these and many other books at www.MDR-Publishing.com. We are a small independent publisher focusing on LGBT content. Please sign up for our mailing list to get regular updates on the latest preorders and new releases and a free ebook!

Copyright ©2017 by Mary Raichle

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Print ISBN: 978-1-944269-97-5

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Cover image

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All rights reserved. No part of this publication may be reproduced or transmitted in any form or by any means, electronic or mechanical, including photocopy, recording or any information storage and retrieval system, without permission in writing from the publisher.

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Requests for permission to make copies of any part of the work should be emailed to [e-mail].

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This book is also available in TPB format from all major retailers.

Created with Vellum Created with Vellum

This story is dedicated to Liz, Hearts and JC.

The First Roses

Jie grunted as xe hauled the fifty-jillion pound bucket up another step. Stupidly heavy bucket. Stupid stairs. Who put stairs in the middle of a garden? Couldn't put in a proper ramp or a hill or something, oh no! Couldn't do that. It might damage the roots of the growing apple trees or oh, heavens, encouraged runoff or something .

Stupid Kunzang and xyr stupid plans for xyr stupid damned garden. Jie grunted and hauled the bucket up another step. Three more to go. Xe panted and glowered around at the slowly blooming