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

Now I searched for something to say that would keep up the charade. Grasping Brin’s hand in mine, I warned Kyer, “Or I’ll make Brin get them back for me.”


Kyer’s hands tightened around my ankles. I could feel the heat of his grip through the loose fabric of my pants. It shot up my legs to coil at my crotch like an electric current. “Just you try it, missy,” he said, menacing.


“What do you need his legs for?” Brin joked between giggles. “You already have two of your own!”


Lyra joined in, blissfully unaware I felt more for her Other than I suspected she did herself. “Let him go, Ky. Don’t make me call the Officers.”


“Oh, yeah, like they’re really going to care,” Kyer said. “They’re hunting for whoever was stupid enough to throw their pills out with the trash.”


Chapter 32