Return - Морган Райс

Morgan Rice

Return. (The Invasion ChroniclesBook Four): A Science Fiction Thriller

Morgan Rice is the #1 bestselling and USA Today bestselling author of the epic fantasy series THE SORCERERS RING, comprising seventeen books; of the #1 bestselling series THE VAMPIRE JOURNALS, comprising twelve books; of the #1 bestselling series THE SURVIVAL TRILOGY, a post-apocalyptic thriller comprising three books; of the epic fantasy series KINGS AND SORCERERS, comprising six books; of the epic fantasy series OF CROWNS AND GLORY, comprising eight books; of the epic fantasy series A THRONE FOR SISTERS, comprising eight books; of the new science fiction series THE INVASION CHRONICLES, comprising four books; and of the new fantasy series OLIVER BLUE AND THE SCHOOL FOR SEERS, comprising three books (and counting). Morgans books are available in audio and print editions, and translations are available in over 25 languages.

Morgan loves to hear from you, so please feel free to visit www.morganricebooks.com to join the email list, receive a free book, receive free giveaways, download the free app, get the latest exclusive news, connect on Facebook and Twitter, and stay in touch!

If you thought that there was no reason left for living after the end of THE SORCERERS RING series, you were wrong. In RISE OF THE DRAGONS Morgan Rice has come up with what promises to be another brilliant series, immersing us in a fantasy of trolls and dragons, of valor, honor, courage, magic and faith in your destiny. Morgan has managed again to produce a strong set of characters that make us cheer for them on every page.Recommended for the permanent library of all readers that love a well-written fantasy.

An action packed fantasy sure to please fans of Morgan Rices previous novels, along with fans of works such as THE INHERITANCE CYCLE by Christopher Paolini. Fans of Young Adult Fiction will devour this latest work by Rice and beg for more.

A spirited fantasy that weaves elements of mystery and intrigue into its story line. A Quest of Heroes is all about the making of courage and about realizing a life purpose that leads to growth, maturity, and excellence.For those seeking meaty fantasy adventures, the protagonists, devices, and action provide a vigorous set of encounters that focus well on Thor's evolution from a dreamy child to a young adult facing impossible odds for survival.Only the beginning of what promises to be an epic young adult series.

THE SORCERERS RING has all the ingredients for an instant success: plots, counterplots, mystery, valiant knights, and blossoming relationships replete with broken hearts, deception and betrayal. It will keep you entertained for hours, and will satisfy all ages. Recommended for the permanent library of all fantasy readers.

In this action-packed first book in the epic fantasy Sorcerer's Ring series (which is currently 14 books strong), Rice introduces readers to 14-year-old Thorgrin "Thor" McLeod, whose dream is to join the Silver Legion, the elite knights who serve the king. Rice's writing is solid and the premise intriguing.

OLIVER BLUE AND THE SCHOOL FOR SEERS

THE MAGIC FACTORY (Book #1)

THE ORB OF KANDRA (Book #2)

THE OBSIDIANS (Book #3)

THE SCEPTOR OF FIRE (Book #4)

THE INVASION CHRONICLES

TRANSMISSION (Book #1)

ARRIVAL (Book #2)

ASCENT (Book #3)

RETURN (Book #4)

THE WAY OF STEEL

ONLY THE WORTHY (Book #1)

A THRONE FOR SISTERS

A THRONE FOR SISTERS (Book #1)

A COURT FOR THIEVES (Book #2)

A SONG FOR ORPHANS (Book #3)

A DIRGE FOR PRINCES (Book #4)

A JEWEL FOR ROYALS (BOOK #5)

A KISS FOR QUEENS (BOOK #6)

A CROWN FOR ASSASSINS (Book #7)

A CLASP FOR HEIRS (Book #8)

OF CROWNS AND GLORY

SLAVE, WARRIOR, QUEEN (Book #1)

ROGUE, PRISONER, PRINCESS (Book #2)

KNIGHT, HEIR, PRINCE (Book #3)

REBEL, PAWN, KING (Book #4)

SOLDIER, BROTHER, SORCERER (Book #5)

HERO, TRAITOR, DAUGHTER (Book #6)

RULER, RIVAL, EXILE (Book #7)

VICTOR, VANQUISHED, SON (Book #8)

KINGS AND SORCERERS

RISE OF THE DRAGONS (Book #1)

RISE OF THE VALIANT (Book #2)

THE WEIGHT OF HONOR (Book #3)

A FORGE OF VALOR (Book #4)

A REALM OF SHADOWS (Book #5)

NIGHT OF THE BOLD (Book #6)

THE SORCERERS RING

A QUEST OF HEROES (Book #1)

A MARCH OF KINGS (Book #2)

A FATE OF DRAGONS (Book #3)

A CRY OF HONOR (Book #4)

A VOW OF GLORY (Book #5)

A CHARGE OF VALOR (Book #6)

A RITE OF SWORDS (Book #7)

A GRANT OF ARMS (Book #8)

A SKY OF SPELLS (Book #9)

A SEA OF SHIELDS (Book #10)

A REIGN OF STEEL (Book #11)

A LAND OF FIRE (Book #12)

A RULE OF QUEENS (Book #13)

AN OATH OF BROTHERS (Book #14)

A DREAM OF MORTALS (Book #15)

A JOUST OF KNIGHTS (Book #16)

THE GIFT OF BATTLE (Book #17)

THE SURVIVAL TRILOGY

ARENA ONE: SLAVERSUNNERS (Book #1)

ARENA TWO (Book #2)

ARENA THREE (Book #3)

VAMPIRE, FALLEN

BEFORE DAWN (Book #1)

THE VAMPIRE JOURNALS

TURNED (Book #1)

LOVED (Book #2)

BETRAYED (Book #3)

DESTINED (Book #4)

DESIRED (Book #5)

BETROTHED (Book #6)

VOWED (Book #7)

FOUND (Book #8)

RESURRECTED (Book #9)

CRAVED (Book #10)

FATED (Book #11)

OBSESSED (Book #12)

Did you know that I've written multiple series? If you haven't read all my series, click the image below to download a series starter!

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Copyright © 2019 by Morgan Rice. All rights reserved. Except as permitted under the U.S. Copyright Act of 1976, no part of this publication may be reproduced, distributed or transmitted in any form or by any means, or stored in a database or retrieval system, without the prior permission of the author.  This ebook is licensed for your personal enjoyment only. This ebook may not be re-sold or given away to other people. If you would like to share this book with another person, please purchase an additional copy for each recipient. If youre reading this book and did not purchase it, or it was not purchased for your use only, then please return it and purchase your own copy. Thank you for respecting the hard work of this author.  This is a work of fiction. Names, characters, businesses, organizations, places, events, and incidents either are the product of the authors imagination or are used fictionally. Any resemblance to actual persons, living or dead, is entirely coincidental.

Jacket image Copyright By Sergey Nivens, used under license from Shutterstock.com.

CHAPTER ONE

For the longest time in the darkness that surrounded him, Kevin was convinced that he had died. It felt right somehow. Everyone had told him that he didnt have long to live anyway, and then there had been the spacecraft drifting in the emptiness, the air running out little by little. After all that, shouldnt this be the end of things?

Kevin, Chloes voice called from somewhere in the space beyond that blackness. Open your eyes.

Gway. Im dead, Kevin mumbled, because a part of him just wanted to go back to sleep. It wanted to drift off and relax, letting the blackness overwhelm everything. He was so comfortable that He winced as something pinched his arm. Ow!

His eyes shot open to reveal a room that definitely wasnt the ship theyd been floating helplessly in. This wasnt a stolen Hive craft, where they were slowly dying after being winged by an Ilari craft and the wreckage of their world. This space was larger than that had been, and it looked almost like

This is a hospital, Kevin guessed. He knew what hospitals looked like by now. Hed spent so much time in hospitals, and labs, and other places that it was impossible not to recognize it for what it was, even though it only looked like a hospital in an alien way, with none of the devices looking like the ones he was used to.

Youre awake then, Chloe said, from the spot where she stood beside Kevins bed. She looked faintly satisfied with her efforts to wake him up, smiling to herself in a way that suggested that she would be more than happy to do it again.

That hurt, Kevin complained, and then a thought came to him. Are you hurt? Are you okay?

Im fine, Chloe assured him, sounding serious now. They patched up the worst bruises when they brought us here.

Kevin looked her over anyway, wanting to be sure, and worried that she might be trying to hide how hurt she really was. Someone had given her a kind of silvery uniform to wear in place of her usual clothes, which looked a little like the silvery scales of a fish, reflecting the light in different ways as she moved. As Kevin looked down he saw that he was wearing the same thing.

How about you? Chloe asked with obvious concern. Are you hurt?

No, Kevin said. I dont think so.

He definitely didnt feel any worse than he usually did, or at least, than he usually had before the Hive had chosen to make him one of them. He had pain running through his body, and dizziness threatening to rise up inside him when he moved too fast, but Kevin knew those feelings. They were so familiar that they were almost like old friends by this point. He couldnt feel any of the sharper pains of anything broken over the top of it.

Chloe came forward and hugged him tight. Im so glad youre safe.

Kevin held onto her, even though he didnt feel like he deserved it right then. It was his fault that it had come to this. If it hadnt been for him, Chloe wouldnt have been stuck in a cell, undergoing experiments. She wouldnt have the strange, alive-looking thing bonded to her arm, tight as a second skin, its bony, insect-like surface seeming completely out of place against the smoothness of her skin.

It felt so good that she was safe that for a moment or two, Kevin didnt even think about who was missing.

Wheres Ro? he asked, looking around for the former member of the Hive. Is he

Good, youre awake, a new voice said. Kevin turned to where a door had opened to reveal a blue-skinned Ilari woman in a dark uniform with military insignia. Kevin recognized General sLara from the com-cast hed made trying to trick her and the rest of her kind. Just the thought of it made him sure that this must all be some horrible dream.

General, you saved us? Kevin said. But I I tried to trick you. That wasnt the worst part of it though. I I played a part in blowing up your world.

Guilt flashed through him at the thought of all he had done, while he saw the generals expression flicker to one of anger.

You also helped to warn us, she said. That gets you some consideration from us, and well, we dont want to abandon people in need. We are not like the Hive.

Thats Kevin didnt have the words. Thank you.

Dont thank me yet, General sLara said. She glanced up, and she seemed to listen to something only she could hear. My AI tells me that the others are ready to decide what to do with you. You and that so-called Purest you brought with you. Follow me, please.

Kevins still weak, Chloe argued. He needs rest.

He can rest all he wants once the trial is done. Now come with me. The general was clearly used to having her orders obeyed, already walking without waiting to see if they would do it.

Kevin looked over at Chloe, who shrugged. They knew that neither one of them truly had a choice. Hurrying to keep up, they followed the general out of the hospital room, into a set of twisting corridors whose walls had shimmering images that gave them the illusion of broad, open spaces. Here and there, Kevin and Chloe passed windows that held a view out into open space.

Were on a ship, arent we? Kevin guessed. It didnt feel the same as the Hives ships. This one didnt have the perfect stability of gravity drives, but it was still definitely a ship of some kind.

This is the flagship of the escape fleet, General sLara said. My AI is integrated with it.

So every inch of this place is you? Chloe asked.

I guess you could say that, the general replied. My AI will connect to the others for your trial.

Like the Hive? Kevin asked, and instantly knew from the generals expression that it was the wrong thing to say.

We are nothing like the Hive, General sLara said, in a sharp tone. They force themselves upon the worlds they destroy, upon the people they make a part of them, upon each other. The misery, the choices, of others mean nothing to them. We join with our AIs, but we still choose what we will do, and we seek no conquest. We sat behind shields because we did not wish to slaughter others, even though it cost us worlds.

Kevin could feel another wave of guilt rising up in him at that. Hed been the one to help bring down those shields and make their planet vulnerable to what came next. Hed been the one to help the Hive destroy their world, and take his. To his surprise, though, Chloe was more direct.

You could have fought them and you didnt? she said. You hid away from them when you could have stopped them?

Chloe Kevin began, but it seemed that Chloe wasnt done.

No, Kevin, she said. If shes saying that they could have done more, that they could have beaten them before they got to Earth, then they could have spared all of us this. They could have saved us.

We couldnt even save ourselves, General sLara said, looking mournful now. We dont have the tools to stop the Hive. We can kill them, we have the technology to beat their ships, and they just keep coming. She seemed to listen to something again. No, I know. Anyway, were here.

She gestured to a set of doors. Kevin and Chloe stepped through, into a large space filled with people. As with the corridors, images spread over the walls, but these seemed more abstract, and Kevin could see the patterns in them. Somehow he knew that this was the AIs communicating with one another.