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Austin Macauley Publishers - Tara Ingham

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192 pages

English

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Mina knows who she was, who she is, and it's time she learned who she'll become.Over two years have passed since Mina Hurley awoke as a revenant to discover she'd been murdered. Two years during which she'd been pursued, tortured and ultimately forced to become a hunter herself, tracking and apprehending the woman who had murdered her. She had hoped that would be the end of it, but now she knows better.When Maat's founder, Kesi, dismisses the Millennial council, ordering their capture and Mina's, Mina is left with no choice but to run, no one to turn to but a rebellion she never wanted to be a part of. With Kesi's fear threatening to tear apart the fragile stability of the supernatural world, Mina's friends flock to her aid as they're forced to fight a battle none might survive. With her friends' lives at stake, how much is she willing to give to avoid falling into Kesi's hands?What will become of her if she fails?

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Fantasy (canción de Mariah Carey)

Fantasy

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Publié par	Austin Macauley Publishers
Date de parution	30 novembre 2020
Nombre de lectures	0
EAN13	9781398420687
Langue	English
Poids de l'ouvrage	1 Mo

Informations légales : prix de location à la page 0,0175€. Cette information est donnée uniquement à titre indicatif conformément à la législation en vigueur.

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Once I Rebel
Tara Ingham
Austin Macauley Publishers
2020-11-30
Once I Rebel About the Author Dedication Copyright Information © Acknowledgment Prologue Chapter 1 Chapter 2 Chapter 3 Chapter 4 Chapter 5 Chapter 6 Chapter 7 Chapter 8 Chapter 9 Chapter 10 Chapter 11 Chapter 12 Chapter 13 Chapter 14 Chapter 15 Chapter 16 Chapter 17 Chapter 18 Chapter 19 Chapter 20 Chapter 21 Chapter 22 Chapter 23 Chapter 24 Chapter 25 Chapter 26 Chapter 27 Chapter 28 Chapter 29 Chapter 30 Chapter 31 Chapter 32 Chapter 33 Chapter 34 Chapter 35 Chapter 36 Chapter 37 Chapter 38 Epilogue
About the Author
The Australian author, Tara Ingham, began writing at 14, quickly developing a love for the written word. She went on to undertake a tertiary writing course in 2010 and then studied creative writing and literature at university. Since graduating in 2014, Tara has done casual work as a fiction editor and published her debut Once I series.
Dedication
For my friends, whose loyalty and antics never cease to inspire me.
Copyright Information ©
Tara Ingham (2020)
The right of Tara Ingham to be identified as author of this work has been asserted by the author in accordance with section 77 and 78 of the Copyright, Designs and Patents Act 1988.
All rights reserved. No part of this publication may be reproduced, stored in a retrieval system, or transmitted in any form or by any means, electronic, mechanical, photocopying, recording, or otherwise, without the prior permission of the publishers.
Any person who commits any unauthorised act in relation to this publication may be liable to criminal prosecution and civil claims for damages.
A CIP catalogue record for this title is available from the British Library.
ISBN 9781528950282 (Paperback)
ISBN 9781398420687 (ePub e-book)
www.austinmacauley.com
First Published (2020)
Austin Macauley Publishers Ltd
25 Canada Square
Canary Wharf
London
E14 5LQ
Acknowledgment
Firstly, I’d just like to say WOW! Here we are, Book 3 – the finale for the Once I series. There have been times I didn’t believe I’d actually manage it, but I know I never would have if it wasn’t for those who’ve helped me along the way, so thank you to everyone who’s had even the slightest influence. I couldn’t have done it without you.
Thank you to the team at Austin Macauley, it’s easy to act like the author makes all the effort but I know how much work goes on behind the scenes. I appreciate all the effort you’ve put in over the course of producing this series.
Thank you to my family and friends, who, as always, have been eagerly supporting me (when they’re not nagging me for release dates) and proving a constant source of entertainment and inspiration through their antics.
And of course, my readers. I love hearing your feedback and seeing the excitement you exude for my novels and I hope you love Once I Rebel as you have Rise and Remember .
A final shout-out to my pets, Illium and Khyro, who have no capacity to read whatsoever. Your constant nagging and attention-seeking while I’m trying to work remind me to get up so I don’t end up with cramps or a numb butt, which is always important for an author.
Happy reading and I hope you’ve enjoyed the journey!
Prologue
Nine years ago…
His breath hovered in the air ahead of him for a moment before he passed through it, pulling his hood lower over his head. Jet had always hated hunting in the winter, the biting air cutting straight through his lean muscles. He wondered if his brothers felt the cold, enormous as they were, then pushed the thought aside. He wouldn’t have to worry about cold nights hunting anymore, not after tonight. Cold as he was, his lean build did have some advantages; the ability to move like a shadow, disappear into the small gaps his brothers couldn’t dream of fitting into, walk by unnoticed. These things were valuable assets for a hunter and he used them to full advantage tonight.
Glancing back over his shoulder discreetly, he checked once more for pursuit before taking the final turn for the rendezvous.
The alleyway was dark but not enough to hide her. No, nothing could ever hide her, not from him. Not from the first moment he’d spotted her. He stopped at the end of the alleyway to watch her for just a moment as she stomped the cold out of her feet and rubbed her gloved hands together to warm them. Her cheeks and the tip of her nose were pink with cold, the bow of her mouth pursed as she blew puffs of steam into the air, her hair was half hidden below a dark beanie but the equally dark tresses left out gleamed even in the dimness. Her eyes turned to him and they glinted with mischief.
He could feel the dumb smile on his face, unashamed at being caught and waited, appraising her just a moment longer as her lips curved into a smile, then he ran, catching her mid-stride to a delighted squeal.
“Did you have any trouble?” she asked when they finally came to a stand-still, still held tight against his chest as he now tried to still her shivers with what little body heat he had.
Jet shook his head. “Nope. Someone tried to mug me – bet ‘e’s regrettin’ that ‘right ’bout now, but otherwise we should ’ave a clean get away. I bled myself a ’lil, tossed it ’round so it’ll look like someone got the better’a me. Momma ain’t gonn’ bother lookin’ more’n a few days if she thinks I’m dead.”
Nodding, Sifa said, “Let’s hope that works.” The mischief lingered in her eyes and she tipped back, forcing him to set her back on her feet. “Are you ready to admit defeat and run away with me?”
“Sifa, girl,” he said, slowly walking her backwards, caging her in with his arms when she hit the wall. “I was ready to ‘mit defeat ’moment ya put that axe in my shoulder. Though, I’m still holdin’ out for an apology,” he teased.
“Apology?” she asked, trying and failing to keep her expression serious. “You mean, like this?” She pushed away from the wall enough to inch up on her toes, kissing him ever so softly.
“That’s a start,” he chuckled, letting his hands drop to her waist as he dipped to her level, nipping at her lip lightly before kissing her again, letting himself get lost in that moment as her fingers tangled in his hair and his hands moved to her face, thumbs brushing against soft, cold cheeks and he pushed her up against the wall once more, completely lost in her taste, her smell, her.
She gasped, a sharp, jagged sound and Jet opened his eyes to meet hers. They were wide, pained and he was confused.
“Sif—” he felt it, warmth trickling over his hand, down his wrist. His stomach knotted as he felt the call, realised what was in his hand. He didn’t want to look, didn’t want to see what the warmth running over his skin was.
“It’s okay,” Sifa’s voice was a gasped whisper as Jet shook his head in denial.
“It’s… No…I didn’t do this…” he looked down, a strangled scream of denial working its way up his throat as he saw his hand, still wrapped around the shaft of an innocents’ bone arrow. “I didn’t…I don’t understand,” he sobbed in confusion. He knew he hadn’t brought any bone with him, had avoided having any near him since he’d started chasing her.
“You didn’t do this,” her eyes were distant, looking off over his shoulder. He didn’t look to see why.
She was in pain, he could see it, hear it in her ragged breaths and then her legs gave out beneath her. He caught her, lowering her slowly and cradled her in his lap once they hit the ground.
“Sifa, don’t go. Don’t go, please,” he begged hopelessly, the veins already spreading up her neck.
“This was inevitable, Jet,” she murmured, voice pained as she reached a trembling hand to press against his cheek. He imagined he could feel the cold of them through her gloves as his tears splattered against her skin. “Remember, they will try to snuff your light…because you are more…you are more powerful than they can accept…they will try to use you. Fight… Never stop fighting f-for what is right. Don’t let them destroy you,” she said, forcing the words out as the darkness started seeping into her eyes.
Jet shook his head in denial, shook it so fiercely he thought his brain might be crushed against the inside of his skull. “No, no no no no. Sifa girl, I love you. Stay, I’m beggin’ ya jus’ stay with me,” he sobbed as the darkness reached her pupils.
“I love you, forever,” she murmured and the glimmer of her life faded, her body turning limp in his arms.
The pain hit him hard and fast, wrapping around his throat like a fist, crushing his heart like a bullet. He couldn’t breathe. Then he roared. It was the sound of a beast, his agony, his pain spearing him through and finding its way out into the night until it had emptied from him, left him hollow and so cold he couldn’t feel the bite of the wind anymore. He rocked her, gently, murmuring nonsense, gently rubbing her cold cheek with his bloody thumb until the world didn’t seem to exist anymore. His world lay still in his arms, cold, her veins turned black; a gaping maw carved into his chest where his heart was meant to be.
“Well, this is…tragic,” a high pitched, childish voice with an accent Jet couldn’t place sounded from behind him and he pulled Sifa’s body closer, a threatening growl revibrating up his throat as he let his gaze move over his shoulder.
The child that stood behind him looked no more than ten, but her demeanour gave her away, along with the tailored suit, slicked back hair, olive skin and bald Egyptian man flanking her. Any hunter worth a damn knew exactly who she was.
“Kesi,” he growled, still clutching Sifa protectively.
Kesi rolled her eyes, primly folding her arms over her chest as she looked down on him. “You’re not an animal, so stop behaving like one,” she scolded and Jet was momentarily taken aback. “It seems we have an unfortunate situation here but fortunately for you, if you accept my proposition, I won’t have to have you killed for it.”
“What?” Jet hissed in confusion, refusing to face her full on, refusing to let Sifa go.
“Since your liaison wi