Under Ground
Under Ground, #1
by Alice
Rachel
Publication
date: October 30th 2015
Genres:
Dystopian, Romance, Young Adult
Love is a taboo, a mere
fantasy— foreign, unreachable, and dangerous.
BLURB
Raised in a society where women
have no rights, seventeen-year-old Thia Clay holds little hope for a bright
future. When her parents sell her into marriage to elite member William Fox, Thia
slowly gives in to despair. William is nothing but a cruel, selfish young man
with no other interest than to serve his own.
Born illegally and forced to hide
from the authorities his entire life, nineteen-year-old Chi Richards is an
active member of the Underground—a rebellious group seeking to overthrow the
government.
Chi only has one goal—to rescue
his parents from the work camp they were forced into.
Meeting Thia was never part of
the plan, and neither was falling in love with her.
If caught in their forbidden
relationship, Thia and Chi could face a death sentence, and when devastating
secrets surface from Chi’s past, Thia has to rely on her instincts to make a
choice that could save her or destroy her forever.
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EXCERPT:
“During the meeting, only speak when spoken to and don’t ask any
questions,” Mother snaps at me coldly.
“Yes, Mother.” I roll my eyes.
Why does she have to remind me to be quiet? I’m only allowed to
talk when someone addresses me, and questions from me are never welcome. This
situation will no different from any other circumstance in my life. I want to
grunt something back at her, but I swallow the snide remark quickly and try my
best to look obedient.
“Don’t look at William too insistently. Don’t say anything stupid
that could make him or his family feel uncomfortable.” She keeps going on and
on with her demands. Mother has been instructing me in proper manners for
years; it’s hard to focus on her words.
“Thia, I know the Foxes have accepted your engagement to William,
but remember that nothing is formalized yet. Your father and I have gone
through great lengths to prepare for this wedding. You have to be on your best
behavior during the entire dinner.”
In one week, William’s family will come to our house for our
official meeting—a crucial reunion that will finalize our engagement or break
it apart. His parents will gauge whether I’m still worthy of their son or not.
Mother is anxious, worried I might make a fool of myself.
I rest my head against the windowpane and try to block out her
words as they echo against the walls of our private compartment. The train is
moving at full speed. My mind keeps drifting while the landscape passes me by
like a blur, going too fast for me to stop or breathe.
There are just a few bullet trains in New York State, all of them
reserved for the upper-class. They ride through the mountains, between the
different towns, and into the metropolis, Eboracum City, where Mother is taking
me to try on my bridal gown.
“Your father spent a lot of money on your dowry, Thia. We offered
the highest amount we could afford to make sure the Foxes wouldn’t turn you
down.”
As if that family needs any more money. I grit my teeth and inhale
deeply. I was promised to William exactly four years ago, on the day I turned
thirteen. That’s when I became a piece of merchandise sold in a trade to
benefit my parents. My marriage to William was settled by our two families. I
had no say in it; nobody cares how I feel about the whole arrangement anyway.
“You will be standing until instructed otherwise,” she continues,
“so William and his parents can look at you while I introduce you. It is of the
utmost importance for you to impress them and give your very best, Thia. Many
girls would give everything they have to be matched with a young man like
William. It is an honor for us that his family chose you.”
Mother sends me a quick glance. A lot remains to be done before
the union is complete, and this upcoming ceremony has put her completely on
edge, turning the past few months into a real nightmare.
“Your father holds high hopes for this union, Thia. Once you are
married to William, your father will get promoted to a higher paying job. Mr.
Fox even mentioned the possibility of a whole new career. If we are lucky, he
will hire your father to work in his company.
“You know William has the right to refuse you at any given time.
Don’t give him any reason to do so. You are to obey him and his parents no
matter what they may demand of you. Getting rejected would be a disgrace upon
our entire family. I do not need to remind you what the consequences would be.
This is your only chance. No one else will agree to marry you if William
changes his mind.”
“Yes, Mother.”
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Grab your copy now
for FREE!
Author Info
Alice
Rachel is the author of the YA Forbidden Romance/ Dystopian Romance Series
"Under Ground."
Her
time is divided between teaching French, writing, reading, drawing, and
spending time with her hubby and guinea pigs.
Alice
loves talking to readers, so send her a message...
Author Links:
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