Darkbeam Part II: Beam Series, #3

Part One

One

We’ve got another gig. Isaac’s enthusiasm spilled through my Cammy.

When and where?

Elena was set to come stay at our house soon. The mere thought made my insides crawl.

My parents had flung open their doors to her. My father hadn’t set eyes on her yet—she hadn’t been in a bed near me when they’d visited me in the infirmary—but one look at her and he would know. He’d beat the truth out of me.

On the one paw, I was glad we’d gotten a part of him back, but on the other, this meant that the old Sir Robert, one of the few dragons the Rubicon feared, was back. I despised fear.

And he was focused on me.

When Elena came, I’d have to keep a low profile. If that meant more gigs, so be it. It was better than brooding on my mountaintop at least.

Isaac replied—the gig was on the day George would return. He and his family had left to spend the summer on an island on the other side of the Wall to celebrate that his little sister finally received her human form.

If only I could cross the Wall… but the Ancients would refuse.

They strongly believed I wouldn’t come back—and jeopardize everything they’d done to shroud Paegeia in secrecy, unknown by the rest of the world.

Sometimes, I felt like a prisoner.

I shouldn’t feel like that. I should rule Paegeia.

If I were to show everyone the truth, they would force her to face me in the arena. She would Ascend and I would break. No matter how fucked up it was, I’d end up with her.

Sure, I would become the ruler. But fuck ruling like that. I’d rule by myself and not as a slave to that ignorant blondie.

I wanted it all for myself. One day, when the darkness overtook me and I lost my sense of self, I would seize this world. Probably the one behind the Wall, too.

That was how greedy my darkness was.

See you then?

Yeah, I’ll see you at Longbottoms.

Another gig already? Tabitha lifted her head from my chest.

Yeah, George’s welcome-home bash.

My mind wandered to George. I asked him shortly after the King of Lion mission—that was what everyone called it now—how the Dent felt. He’d shaken his head and left without a word.

From the look on his face, I had a feeling he had no idea.

George would rather die than admit the truth: that his intense connection with Becky was not genuine, that it was forced on him by a spell.

A cold shiver rushed up my spine from the thought of the Dent. Denting wasn’t something beautiful or admirable.

The Dent was a kind of slavery. It made dragons lose everything.

It reminded me of the irrepressible sensations every time I dreamed about the redhead. Were the dreams even about Elena? Blonde Elena looked nothing like the girl in my dreams.

Tabitha sighed. What’s going on with you lately? Your head’s always somewhere else.

Thinking about Brian. The lie slipped easily off my tongue. He shouldn’t have died.

I lied more and more these days. Tabitha was spot-on: my mind constantly strayed, either to the Dent or Elena.

That’s not on you. If anyone should feel guilty, it’s that dragon spawn. She never should’ve gone after that stupid sword.

I knew why Elena had done what she did. But she was wrong. She’d learn the sword wasn’t her destiny after all.

The other day, I’d gone to the museum in Etan—in disguise, of course—to look at the foretellings in the Book of Shadows.

Something had prompted Elena to fixate on the lost King of Lion sword, and I had to know what had spurred the mission.

When I saw it, not far from a couple of mine that were still black, my lungs deflated in shock.

A day will come and a day will go. A choice you’ll have to make, otherwise the truth will never be known.

Irene hadn’t told me about this foretelling.

She was adamant that Elena didn’t belong in Paegeia, wasn’t special—claiming this unremarkable nature to be the reason she didn’t have any visions about the spawn.

But after Elena survived the Sacred Cavern and helped retrieve the King of Lion sword, all that was about to change. Irene would dig deeper, and she’d realize the reason she couldn’t see anything wasn’t because Elena wasn’t special, but because she was extremely special—King Albert bloodline special. Irene had never been able to see royal futures clearly. Something about royal blood possessing magical abilities. Elena’s axes that night proved my theory of her ancestry. Her blood protected her from harm… and from Irene’s sight.

The Swords belonged to Elena. about it all led to my claiming. My slavery.

Restless, I pulled my arm out from underneath Tabitha and got up, pulling on my boxers and T-shirt.

My rumbling stomach led me to the kitchen, where I found my parents. It was weird seeing my father’s blithe face, lacking all recollection of the dark, abusive shell of a man he had been mere months ago.

True to his word, Samuel had removed those memories. It was part of my prize: getting my father back and protecting my family.

My mom smiled at me. Morning, sweetheart. You hungry?

Starving.

My father grunted to get my attention. Are you being safe with the Snow Dragon?

This conversation? Now? "Daaad," I whined.

Blake, we don’t want another mouth to feed.

I’m not stupid. The last thing I want is a fucking egg.

My father picked up the newspaper and my mother hissed at my language.

Sammy bounded into the kitchen, kissed Mom’s cheek, and grabbed a piece of toast.

Where are you going? my father asked.

To Becky’s. And I’m taking Daisy, she said, turning to me.

Daisy was the cheap VW Beetle I got and fixed up with Ty and Isaac.

Sammy leaned down and brushed a kiss over his cheek. See you later. With that, she was out the door, and the Beetle roared to life.

You remember Elena is staying with us next week, right, Robert? Mom said.

He sighed. Does the girl know we’re not as wealthy as the Johnsons?

I’m sure Sammy told her. She had the guts to go after the sword when no one else did. Surely something as banal as accommodations won’t bother her.

True. He aimed a glance at me.

What? The word became a bark around my mouthful of crispy bacon, nabbed straight from the skillet Mom was still cooking with.

Word has it her mark is exceptionally dark. Is it true?

I’ve never seen it, I said. It wasn’t a lie. It had to be hidden beneath all those layers of modest clothes she tended to wear.

Ever since we’d produced the new King of Lion weapons—Elena’s axes—my father had been thirsty to know everything about the mission. I hated it. I’d tried to reveal as little as possible. King Caleb and half of the council members argued that Elena would not be added to the brass plate naming the other five women who had made it out of the Sacred Cavern. They’d consulted the Ancients , and my father attended a meeting for the first time in fucking forever.

Why now? Not good.

The Ancients ruled that Elena’s status as spawn of a dragon gave her an advantage.

The half-and-half race had been treated like runts for years. Suddenly, though, one stepped up and accomplished something admirable, and being half-blood was an advantage? Bullshit.

Elena was no runt. They all believed a farce.

I’d thought the entire debate would backfire—would they divine her true identity while delving into her status?—but luckily, that flame was dodged when she wasn’t ready to face the council. Master Longwei spoke in her defense.

After that, my father fixated on learning everything he could about her.

When he finally saw her, he would watch me like a hawk. Most of the professors at Dragonia already did. Yay me.

Mom nodded toward three plates on the counter, now piled with bacon, fried eggs, and her specialty hash browns. I set them on the table as she took her usual chair. We ate in silence. After my last garlicky bite slid down my gullet, I thanked Mom and made to leave.

Your plate won’t sprout wings and fly to the sink by itself, Blake, she called.

I grabbed my plate and plunked it into the sink with a satisfying clatter.

She cringed at the sound but offered a thin smile. Thank you. Her British accent turned whiplike when she was peevish.

I shook my head and clomped upstairs, where Tabitha was already dressed and waiting.

I pulled on jeans over my boxers, and we left for Isaac’s.

George’s party was starting about now, but Tabitha hypnotized me with her body and I was in no hurry. How I wished Irene were the woman making me late instead of Tabitha, but there was no way we could meet up during the summer.

I couldn’t wait for the next term to start so I could lie in her arms again.

Tabitha had to suffice my hunger for now. I aimed to indulge while I could, since Mom planned to send her packing the day Elena was to arrive.

Dammit, everything worked against me, tempted me to fold and tell Elena who she was.

I wondered whether Dad surmised who she really was… No, if he did, he wouldn’t be here with us; he’d have left to protect her years ago. He would’ve told us. Would’ve let me know there was hope for me after all.

Why had his rider kept Elena a secret? At the end of King Albert’s life, had he suspected my father could’ve betrayed him?

Au contraire. If only he’d known. My father would’ve died for King Albert without giving his family a second thought.

When we reached Longbottoms, my stomach started to churn.

Elena was here.

I parked the Beetle and rested my head on the steering wheel to get my nausea under control.

Nervous? Tabitha stroked my back.

Always, I lied.

She looked as gorgeous as always. Dressed to kill in a short denim skirt and high-heeled boots that showcased her long legs. A jacket barely covered her skimpy shirt, baring enough cleavage to entice anyone.

I bit my lower lip as my eyes roved over her body. She narrowed her eyes playfully and leaned close.

If you’re nervous, just remember that I’m right in the crowd, cheering the loudest. She kissed me lightly.

With the way you’re dressed tonight, I’m pretty sure I’ll forget the words to every song on the setlist.

She giggled. I can’t let you forget that you are with the most beautiful girl in Paegeia.

So confident! I like. I kissed her collarbone.

Isaac and Ty banged on the windshield.

C’mon, Romeo, plenty of time to flirt your ass off later, Isaac said.

I groaned.

Tabitha slid out of the car. You boys are evil.

I’m not the one with Beelzebub’s face, Isaac quipped.

With coy chuckle, Tabitha swayed that booty all the way up the stairs.

Isaac frowned at me. You okay?

Telling the guys that I was nervous wouldn’t fly—I was way too cocky and they knew it. Neither would claiming to be sick, because I had the ability to heal myself. I couldn’t lie, but I had to.

Yeah, just a bad feeling, I guess. I forced my face to brighten with a flashy grin. An omen that we’re gonna rock.

A feeling?

It could be the Moon-Bolt arriving.

Dude, we are going to hit the casinos so hard when that happens, Ty crowed as we headed to the backstage entrance.

Longbottoms was packed to the rafters.

When we sauntered onstage and started tuning our instruments, my stomach knotted. I hadn’t seen Elena for three blissful weeks. Now, though, the full dose rushed through me. No room to doubt who she was.

I hated it.

Two

Everything was great until Elena and Arianna started their crap. They went outside but their shouts floated in to my sensitive ears. I tried to ignore it.

If Elena was in danger, there was a chance I’d do something stupid again, an involuntary instinct to help her, which would risk giving everything away.

With Arianna, any fight had the potential to get dangerous. Arianna believed Elena had stolen the boy she was meant to be with and wasn’t timid about attacking anyone she considered a threat. Those two disliked each other with venom, my lie about a bad feeling might turn out to be true.

Elena came back inside, but not before someone outside recognized her. The Prince of Tith’s new girlfriend.

Ever since they had gone to the gallery, everyone wanted to photograph the mystery girl, Elena. Front-page tabloid stuff, and every media outlet puzzled over the identity of the girl who had poached Princess Arianna’s betrothed.

It must’ve been a nasty shock when Elena learned about the marriage arrangement King Helmut and King Caleb had forged.

Things didn’t look good for Lucian.

Becky and George took her elbows as I glanced over and discreetly led her away. My stomach started to settle; Sammy must have decided to drive Elena home in my Beetle.

My sister, a miracle-worker.

After that, the night flew by. We partied with George until about two in the morning when Becky announced via a huge yawn that she was too tired to carry on.

When Isaac said he was leaving too, we took our cue. Tabitha and I shifted into our dragon forms and flew back to my house.

I growled as my stomach started turning again, pissed that Sammy had brought Elena here.

Blake, you okay? Jeez, the chick was way too observant.

I’m fine, I bit out as I touched down. We shifted back into our human forms and headed inside. At the stairs, Tabitha pounced on me, her hands roaming over my skin and lips burning a trail down my neck.

I let out a rough snigger and pushed her into my room. I slammed her against the wall, my mouth crashing into hers. I lifted her easily and her legs wrapped around my waist, hiking up that tiny skirt. I drove into her.

A banging sounded on the wall. I groaned and Tabitha giggled into my shoulder.

Shut the hell up. We’re trying to sleep! Sammy yelled.

I mouthed, Let’s tone it down a notch.

Tabitha moved against me, undeterred by my sister.

I pulled her to my bed and gave it my all. I never did anything half-assed. To hell with my sister—she should’ve known by now that she couldn’t tell me what to do. Screw that—I wouldn’t tone down for anyone.

The next morning, I let Tabitha sleep in and went in search of something to eat.

I froze on the bottom step when I heard my father say my name.

—if Blake is lying?

For heaven’s sake. He doesn’t want to be dark. He would’ve confided in us.

No reply followed.

He’d seen Elena. Man, his paranoia was about to start.

At length he said, He saved her life, Issy.

Which is a sign that he’s fighting the darkness, nothing more. Mom’s accent punctuated every word.

Bracing myself, I stepped into the kitchen. Morning. I grimaced at the stern expression on Mom’s face.

I could feel Dad’s eyes penetrating my soul, trying to divine my secret. I took care not to meet his gaze.

This came for you. She flung my monthly bike magazine on the table. Just the distraction I needed.

My father’s chair screeched as he pushed away from the table just as Sammy pranced into the kitchen. He kissed her forehead , then he left.

Sammy glared at me.

What? I snapped.

You are unbelievable.

Mind your own business, Samantha, I hissed. Mom handed me a steaming mug and I sipped coffee as if it was the only interesting thing in the world.

"I would if you didn’t make me suffer through it. Three hours, Blake!"

Becky waltzed in the front door with George in tow.

Great, the Brady Bunch was all here.

Good morning, Becky said in a singsong tone.

My mother kissed both of her cheeks and asked after Becky’s mother, who had become a close friend of hers over time.

George took a seat beside me while the three women chatted.

You boys hungry? Mom asked.

George grinned. Are those fish giblets I smell?

Sure is. She brandished a spoon with flair.

He licked his lips wolfishly. Count me in.

Becky sat down on the chair my father had just vacated and opened his newspaper.

Oh, Elena’s gonna flip when she sees this, Becky muttered.

As if on cue, the churning in my stomach returned and Elena walked into the kitchen and squeezed Becky’s neck.

Oh, crap. She snatched the newspaper from Becky’s hand.

It’s just a picture of a hand, Elena. Becky’s voice was placating.

I know, but look at this headline. They make me sound as evil as Goran.

Drama queen. She’d only glimpsed a tiny dose of his malevolence back on that mountain.

Goran must have realized who she was the moment he set his eyes on her.

Breakfast, Elena? Mom asked.

Yes, please, she said, still skimming the article. This is such— she stopped. She even avoided swear words. Pathetic good girl. This was supposed to be my rider?

Right? Becky’s tone dripped with annoyance. I can’t wait to hear her explain herself at the revealing. How could she swipe Lucian like that and endanger the kingdoms?

I would’ve given anything to escape this conversation, but if I left now, Mom would definitely know something was up, and maybe Sammy too. I couldn’t uncharacteristically skip a meal with no reason, so I stayed put.

Pale as a Snow Dragon, Elena chucked the paper to the table. "Ex! Ex! She didn’t do anything. She was just as helpless as all of us! If it had been up to her, she would’ve left me there to bleed out."

I never should have helped her that day. I should’ve let her die.

Her eyes burned holes into me but I stared resolutely at the bike; my nausea intensified under her direct attention. I concentrated on my magazine and the magnificent bike spread out on the page. It was sex on wheels. A replica of the one in Andie’s shop.

Thanks, Elena said when my mother handed her a mug of coffee.

You’re welcome. Mom’s voice dropped to a whisper. Don’t let the article bother you.

Mom leveled that stern look I hated at me again.

What?

She huffed but without offering an answer, and returned to her cooking.

My eyes caught Elena’s. It felt like King Albert looking at me, one of his famed warning glares.

Déjà vu tingled through me.

I looked back down, refusing her the attention she so obviously wanted.

Finally, breakfast was ready, and we dug in. I pretended to ignore the conversation going on.

Aw, man, can you imagine all that horsepower between your legs? George asked, pointing at the bike I’d shoved to the side for my breakfast plate.

Yeah, there are only a few in the world. I bet it’s like riding a dragon.

George laughed. Depending on what type of riding you’re referring to.

I snorted. Even though he had been tamed, he was Chromatic through and through.

I got up the second my plate was clean, thanked my mother, who answered with that unchanged glare, and went back upstairs.

Elena left with Becky, George, and Sammy a few minutes later, and the weight crushing my lungs vanished. I could take a proper breath again. Tabitha and I got ready to meet up with Isaac, but a voice from below interrupted us.

Son, a word. Dad’s tone brooked no argument.

I groaned.

Tabitha raised one eyebrow; somehow, she even made that sexy. I’ll wait in the car. Tabitha walked out.

I trudged back to the kitchen, where my parents both wore unreadable expressions.

I have to know, Issy. Despite the comment being directed at Mom, his stare never wavered from me. Hers didn’t either. It hardened—though it was unclear whether this was caused by me or him.

I returned the frown with interest. Know what?

She shook her head. It’s not what you think, Robert.

My father ignored her. Blake, why did you save Elena’s life?

I forced a casual chuckle. She was bleeding out, Dad. Do you prefer me to let people die? Including my sister’s friends? And okay, I admit, she impressed me for facing the Sacred Cavern and surviving. That’s reason enough, no? You know damn well we’re gonna need brave people like her when I turn dark.

He looked away, but not before I saw the guilt on his face.

What the fuck is going in on that mind of yours, Dad?

She reminds me of…

Who? I pushed.

He let out a heavy sigh. It doesn’t matter.

Then why even call me down here? All my professors are abuzz about Elena. They say her father was a dragon but she wears the mark of the Dragonians. Pushing him might just work.

I don’t know, he snapped.

I entreated Mom, Do you know who he’s talking about?

It doesn’t matter! Dad yelled. He got up with such force that his chair toppled over.

I raised an eyebrow at my mother, and she waited until his footsteps receded and a door slammed upstairs.

My mother tucked hair behind her ears, though not a single strand had been out of place. She reminds us of Albert, okay?

My eyes widened. King Albert? I repeated, layering shock into my voice.

She pursed her lips. At length, she nodded.

I scoffed. And he thinks… what? She is my nonexistent rider? And that I somehow already know? Does he genuinely think I would put myself—

I know, Blake. I told him. You wouldn’t. You don’t want to be dark.

I slammed my fist on the table.

Sweetheart, we’re worried about you. But you won’t turn dark. I firmly believe Lucian will claim you.

Yeah, right, I muttered. I turned on my heel and stormed out.

I’d never thought that it would be so easy to fool my clever father, to lie without an ounce of regret. Hopefully, this would end his worries for good.

No one could ever learn who Elena was. No one.

Three

Tabitha winked as I walked onstage at Longbottoms. She had tamped down her bitchiness from being kicked out of my house in a few days for Elena.

I wasn’t happy about it either, but I was relieved she’d dropped her surly mood.

It was almost enough to think that this was some ploy of my father’s. That he suspected she was my rider and wanted Tabitha out of the picture, not distracting me, so Elena and I… But no, I’d fixed that.

I was still stressing the fuck out .

I braced myself for the churning nausea when I spotted Sammy and Becky in the crowd, but it didn’t come.

I nodded at Isaac, and we launched into Neverbreath.

As always, my sister sang along.

Arianna took Tabitha up to the VIP section as the set started, and I hadn’t seen either since. George and Dean joined Becky and Sammy’s table.

Where the hell was Elena?

Lucian couldn’t be back yet. He would’ve called. And I would’ve seen it on the news if he had come back from the hunting trip his father had dragged him on.

I almost felt sorry for Lucian. King Helmut was doing everything in his power to keep Lucian and Elena apart—to ensure he married Arianna.

But Irene had a vision of Elena with Lucian. Lucian deserved a happy ending. Even if it cost my freedom, he deserved to be happy.

The last crunchy guitar chord faded to silence and the audience screamed and applauded. I wiped sweat from my brow and dodged crazed fans on my way to the VIP lounge.

Tabitha was passed out on a couch, and she didn’t stir when I shook her shoulder.

Nicole, Lucian’s cousin, was there with a few of her friends. Ty was flirting with them all at once while Isaac chatted with Nicole. They were celebrating Nicole finally getting into Dragonia Academy. They’d discovered a tiny mark on her.

All of a sudden. Sure.

I would’ve bet anything that her father had burned her in a way that resembled the mark of the riders. Their desperation ran deep.

Ty had a stash of Fire-Cain and I snorted a couple lines before I started drowning myself in booze. Anything to take the edge off.

Arianna flirted shamelessly with me, grazing my arm or my leg, tittering at everything I said. She got up and headed to the bathroom, winking at me over her shoulder.

Hell, if that wasn’t an invitation, I didn’t know my ass from my elbow. She slipped through the door and I followed her.

I’d barely set foot inside the door before she grabbed me, sucking my neck like I was a drug and she was addicted.

I backed her up against the wall and pounded into her hard and fast. When we were done, a blissful peace fell over me. Arianna sat dazed as I got rid of the condom she offered.

She teetered on the edge of passing out. I stumbled out of the room.

Unaware of what I was doing, I found myself in the