Sixteen year old Aine lives in the Colony, and his whole life was decided before he was born. In two years he will marry the girl next door, Brin, who was assigned as his Other at birth. Then he will be given a position in the Colony's workforce that best suits his talents. Each night he takes four pills, like everyone else in the Colony, and he knows the pills keep them safe and their world in order. Everything is fine. Perfect, in fact. Until Aine accidentally drops one of his pills. Terrified, he tries to hide the mistake, but when he dreams for the first time in his life, he discovers all he's been missing. What scares him more than not taking the pill, though, is how alive his dreams make him feel. Because it isn't Brin he dreams of but his best friend Kyer. Another boy. Suddenly Aine's world turns upside down, and he doesn't know what to think or who to trust. All he knows for sure is he's falling in love with Kyer, which is forbidden by the Colony's Code, and he will do anything to protect their budding relationship. Even if it means defying the Overseer and leaving the Colony behind.

The Colony Book 1: Rebellion

Playfully Kyer bit at the fabric of my tunic, tugging it in his teeth. “Hear that? I’m all yours.”


As Brin passed, she grabbed my arm and hauled me to my feet. “Sorry, Kyer. This one belongs to me.”


I snagged his hand and helped him stand, too. Brin led us down the aisle, holding my arm as I held onto Kyer. Lyra walked in front, shaking her head. “Boys,” she declared, to anyone who would listen. “We should get rid of them all and start our own Colony.”


With a laugh, I countered, “That wouldn’t last long.”


“Why not?” Brin shot back. “I’ve heard there are enough genes in storage to last several generations.”


Behind me, Kyer said, “Admit it, you’d be bored without us.”


Brin gave him a smile over her shoulder. “Oh, honey, you know we take pills for that.”


Chapter 9