We're back with an excerpt from Defy by Raine Thomas. Can't wait to read this one!
Seventeen-year-old Tate is about to make her parents’ dreams come true. Unfortunately for her, their dreams foretell her death.
Eager to explore more of the Estilorian plane and prove her abilities, Tate goes against her parents’ wishes and leaves the area of protection surrounding her home. Her choice puts her on a deadly path…one that leaves her alone, severely injured and battling for her life.
Her possible savior arrives in the form of Zachariah, a male who has removed himself from Estilorian society for more than fifty years. Fighting an unexpected connection to Tate, he must decide whether saving her life is worth destroying his.
As Tate struggles to find a way home, she ends up drawn into a dark Mercesti plot involving multiple murders and a powerful ancient artifact. With the unpredictable Zachariah as her only source for aid, she’ll soon find out if her abilities are strong enough to help her defy her Fate.
Excerpt from DEFY (Book One of the
Firstborn Trilogy)
by Raine Thomas
Tate was sick and tired of the lack of faith in her
abilities. How on the entire Estilorian plane could anyone know she would fail to protect herself if she’d never been given
the chance to prove it?
Just as she opened her mouth to retort, she noticed her
parents as well as her aunts and uncles stop their activities and look alertly
toward the path leading from Uncle Gabriel and Aunt Amber’s house. They all
instinctively moved into defensive positions and exchanged glances, and she
knew they were sharing thoughts. Tiege also moved into a defensive position,
standing in front of her as everyone gathered near them.
Tate watched as the class elders, Jabari, Uriel, Zayna,
Malukali, Sebastian and Knorbis appeared on the path. Only the elders could
find the enchanted location of the three homes without assistance, as they had
been involved in creating the powerful protections. Tate wondered about the
meaning behind their arrival. Because it hadn’t been announced, it surely meant
something significant.
As curious as she was, though, she couldn’t help but notice
that everyone’s attention centered on them and not on her.
Her parents and her aunts and uncles left the training
paddock to approach the elders. Her cousin, Joshua, walked up to Tiege and
nudged him with his elbow, and the two of them exchanged theories while they
watched the adults converse. Tate saw her father look back at them briefly
before turning his attention back to the elders.
Seeing her chance, Tate took a couple of tentative steps
backward, closer to the forest where Quincy and Sophia had left. She glanced
around to see if anyone noticed. When she confirmed that everyone was looking
elsewhere, she took a few more steps away from them.
Was she really going to do this?
Her heart pounded. She looked to the forest. Then she
glanced again at her family. She could prove to them with one little trip away
from the protected area that she really was capable of taking care of herself.
She made her decision.
Making as little noise as she could and moving as carefully
as she dared to avoid detection, she eased away from the group and slipped into
the forest. With a silent farewell to her family, she hurried off to find
Quincy and Sophia, her smile wide in anticipation of the adventure that lay
ahead.
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Brief
bio:
Raine Thomas is the author of a
bestselling series of YA fantasy romance novels about the Estilorian plane,
including the Daughters of Saraqael trilogy and the upcoming Firstborn trilogy.
She is a proud member of Romance Writers of America and is a contributing
blogger to The Writer's Voice. When she isn’t planning weddings, writing or
glued to social networking sites, she can usually be found on one of Florida’s
beautiful beaches with her husband and daughter or crossing the border to visit
with her Canadian friends and relatives.
