Darkbeam Part III: Beam Series, #4

One

Most of my memories returned. It took a while, and I felt off-balance after the claim. Fighting to stay good wasn’t as hard as giving in to becoming a slave.

Two questions nagged at me: How did Elena become skilled enough to claim me? And who trained her?

I racked my brain to remember. Lucian died, and she became a dragon. After that, things were fuzzy. I guess I was so dark and lost that I went over the edge.

Why couldn’t I remember?

I was in a room I didn’t recognize, with Stan’s voice yapping in my ears.

How did I get here? The last thing I remembered, I’d taken a break from band practice and sat against the wall to sift through memories.

I wished he would shut up. I had a headache, and his voice was hitting the walls of my brain, vibrating through my skull.

He kept yapping.

You are the true royal of this world, he said with a smirk. And I will tell them that you are not fit at all. You don’t give us your cooperation to learn. You don’t want to be on the throne. They will strip you of your title and your assets will be frozen.

What the fuck was he talking about? It didn’t make sense, and he was pissing me off.

What you did last night was unacceptable. Do you know the damage you’ve done?

Fuck off! I yelled, but he didn’t seem to care. Did he know who he was dealing with? Threatening the Rubicon had consequences.

Do I make myself clear? he asked.

Silence.

Answer me! His face was beet red.

Yes, she said.

Wait, what? She?

It was Elena’s voice. They kept talking, but I didn’t listen anymore.

Blake, Isaac said, shaking my shoulder.

The entire band was in his basement.

You okay, dude? Ty asked.

Isaac chimed in. Where were you just now?

Just thinking. I rubbed my temples.

You told us to fuck off, Jamie said with a furrowed brow.

I ignored him and got up from the floor. I needed to find a newspaper. Yuri always got one early in the mornings.

I found one lying on the kitchen table, and on the front page was a picture of Elena Watkins.

The headline questioned whether she was fit to be on the throne of Paegeia.

I shook my head. Why was this happening? She’d heard my voice when Paul attended Dragonia, but I hadn’t heard a peep from her before. Why now?

I didn’t care, and I didn’t want to know what she’d done last night. I wasn’t her dragon, and I would fight with everything I had not to lose myself.

The headache pulsed.

I grunted and fell to my knees.

What the fuck?

Blake, Isaac said into my ear. He crouched beside me. He must have heard me fall and come up from the basement.

Don’t, I said through clenched teeth.

Dude, something’s wrong.

I screamed, the room tilted, and my vision went dark.

I was on a hilltop. The weather was perfect—sunny and cloudless, with a gentle breeze. The hatred, the fight, every horrible thing inside me had vanished.

She was sitting a foot away, chewing on the tip of a long weed. She seemed deep in thought, and the sun sparkled off her red hair. She was beautiful.

My Neverbreath.

I reached out and touched her face gently with the back of my hand. She didn’t even look at me.

What, you’re not talking to me?

She huffed, but the corner of her lips tugged up a tiny bit.

It doesn’t matter what I do. You don’t care, she said.

I snagged my own weed from the tall grass around us. I do care. I told you before, I’m not built that way. I couldn’t die to join her in her ghostly plane; I’d tried and failed. Whatever power Elena had over me wouldn’t allow me to harm myself, or her. I would give anything to be with you.

She gave a sarcastic laugh.

You don’t believe me?

Don’t give me that bullshit. You’re not trying. You’re… She sighed and shook her head.

I’m what?

Nothing. Like I said. It doesn’t matter what I say, and I’m tired of everything. I can’t do this anymore, Blake.

No! I yelled.

My eyes opened and Yuri, Ty, Isaac, and the rest of the band stood over me.

I was lying on the kitchen floor, and my headache was gone.

Dude, Isaac said.

I shook my head and pushed myself up onto my elbows. They all stepped away to give me some space.

Silence lingered. Yuri watched me with compassion as I got myself up onto a dining chair. I rested my arms on the table with my head cradled in my hands and took a few deep breaths.

Talk to me, Isaac said, putting his hand on my shoulder.

It’s complicated. A Rubicon thing.

Stop saying that. I want to know what is going on with you.

I don’t know! I yelled. It felt like I was losing my mind. If I told them about my Neverbreath and hearing Elena in my head, they would agree. I know nothing. I’m so fucking confused and tired and angry all at the same time. I don’t want to live like this anymore, Isaac.

Isaac said, I think practice is over.

I crashed on Isaac’s bed. Yuri had put a hammock in the corner for me to sleep in, but right then, I wanted a bed.

Isaac and the shifters were the only ones who gave me space. Isaac was like my mother. He didn’t hover. But I could tell he was worried. Hell, I was worried.

Why had I seen Stan and Elena?

I was so tired. I closed my eyes until the only thing that consumed my mind was a big black pool of nothing.

A few hours later, I woke up feeling much better. By that time, it was the middle of the night and Isaac was snoring from my hammock. I went to the kitchen, ate a bowl of cereal, and went back to bed.

The next day I felt like myself and talked to Isaac. I tried to explain to him what the claim had done to me, and how I felt out of it.

The claim had left me unbalanced and played with my head. My memories were scrambled up, and I couldn’t pinpoint what I’d done for a few months before the claim. It was a blank spot. No matter how hard I tried, I couldn’t retrieve them.

Isaac looked longingly at his guitar leaned against the wall, but didn’t say anything.

You see what I mean? None of this is normal, I said, finally.

He stroked his face hard. I wish I could tell you what you did, but we didn’t talk much. We didn’t have any gigs or band practice. Why don’t you ask Tabitha?

She’ll think I’m nuts. Besides, you know we’re not a thing.

Then why are you always with her?

I have needs.

Isaac chuckled. She is hot. But seriously, I wish I could help you carry what the claim did to you.

Will you help me fight it? I can’t lose myself. I have to find a way to break this, for all dragons. I’m the Alpha, they look up to me. I need to free them from this enslavement.

He nodded.

We played a few songs to help me forget my shit, then we crashed. Isaac snored long before I drifted away. I stared at the moon through the window, thinking about the shifters. Their life was simple. They avoided technology and focused on relationships.

Suddenly, I felt a heaviness on my chest. My heart raced and my breath quickened. I felt trapped. It made no sense. Yuri kept all the windows wide open. I could leave whenever I wanted, and I didn’t want to leave. I felt welcomed, like a member of the family. But at that moment, I felt the opposite.

I wanted to scream in frustration that didn’t feel like my own.

It was annoying.

I need to get out.

Elena.

I can’t sit here.

Flashes of my sister and Becky, with expressions that looked as if they didn’t care, jumped into my mind.

She needed a Cammy. Hers had been taken away because of something she had refused to do.

It hit me. This was all her. Her feeling of being trapped. Her frustration. I hadn’t even succumbed and we already shared an unwanted bond.

The next few days I was stuck with two sets of thoughts and emotions.

Mine, and Elena’s.

I struggled to pay attention. I missed questions that Isaac and Yuri asked. They finally stopped talking to me altogether.

I got headaches when I tried to keep myself present and ignore whatever happened in Elena’s life. I didn’t want this connection, or asked for it. Why? Fuck, why?

She was forced to go to Areeth on her birthday. I didn’t care. But was forced to endure her feelings about it. It made me sick.

She demanded to see my father.

They told her that he didn’t care, her friends didn’t care, they hadn’t RSVP’d for her birthday party.

They were dumb if they thought my father would turn his back on his rider’s daughter. For him, she had taken King Albert’s place. He wanted to be her dragon, and they should let him. I wouldn’t fight it.

Elena wasn’t the Rubicon’s property, and I sure as shit wasn’t hers.

She was nothing to me. If I could kill her, I would.

That entire night I watched her exclusive party and felt her sadness. She cried a couple of times, which only riled me up more.

How had she found the guts to tame me?

She wasn’t worthy. She was weak. And yet, she had this power over me. It made me want to kill her even more.

By the end of her birthday, I felt as if I could scream.

Isaac was concerned, as he watched me pace around the room, pounding my fists against my head.

He tried to calm me. Dude, you need to Dent. You’re losing yourself. It’s not worth this anguish.

No, Isaac! I screamed. She was still yapping in the back of my head. I felt her trapped, angry, sad emotions inside me. I’m fighting as we speak. And you said you’d help.

Fighting against what? There’s no one here to fight, he said.

I laughed, maniacally, and tapped my temple. She’s in here with me. Has been for the past week. I can’t do this anymore.

What I was saying, sunk in. His eyes widened. I wasn’t sure if it was shock or horror. You hear her?

I nodded. And I feel her emotions, as well as my own. I can’t deal with this, Isaac. I need…

No, you don’t need Fire-Cain. You can control this. Block her from your mind. Is it a two-way stream?

I don’t think so. If it was, she would’ve begged me to help her. She would’ve begged me to get my dad or anyone who could get her away from the people doing this to her.

Okay, clear your mind, he said in a soothing, yoga tone.

"I can’t. My mind isn’t the problem here."

Then ask someone for help. Whatever Elena’s going through, she needs someone to get her out of it. Something tells me this isn’t going away until help comes.

I gaped at Isaac. He was a genius!

Of course! I said, slapping my palm against my forehead. I owe you. I ran to his window and jumped out.

I morphed into my dragon form in midair, and Elena’s thoughts became ten times louder. I roared and my Pink Kiss exploded from my nostrils. Luckily, there were no birds or trees in its path.

I flew straight home to find my father. He needed to do his job better. Otherwise, I would do something I didn’t want to do or was forced to do.

The house was quiet. I only picked up one heartbeat.

Where was everyone?

They weren’t at her birthday. I would’ve seen it, and she would’ve felt different.

I descended onto the front lawn and changed back into my human form. The volume of her thoughts dropped a few notches. Better, but still not ideal.

I opened the heavy wooden front door to an empty house. The living room furniture was gone, and the walls were bare. All the pictures of Sammy and I when were little, gone.

My stomach dropped.

I felt cold.

What the?

The light switched on. Hello, son.

I spun around and found him standing in the doorway that led to the kitchen.

Dad? I looked around for my mother and sister. I thought about Samuel. What happened here? I took a few steps closer to him. The kitchen was empty, too.

We don’t live here anymore. I bought land and we’re rebuilding the manor.

The manor? How?

My eyebrows knit together as I tried to make sense of it. Then it clicked. The vault. She gave you money?

No, I had left some money in the King’s vault a long time ago. I never knew he’d transferred it to the new one."

The old Sir Robert was finally making his reappearance. A smile tugged at the corners of my lips, barely. No more scraping around, turning each Pagoleon over twice?

I learned my lesson. It will be spent wisely.

I nodded.

So, you’re back? he asked.

I wasn’t, and his question reminded me why I had come. Elena’s mental voice had lowered—maybe she was asleep—and his news about the manor had distracted me.

I came because you need to get Elena out of there. She’s feeling trapped and I can’t deal with her emotions right now.

His gaze narrowed. How did you know about her, and what do you mean she’s feeling trapped?

Seriously? My eyebrow raised. Dad, she is royalty, by blood. I chuckled. You really think they were going to take it easy on her? They’re forcing this stinking world on her. He stared at the empty spot where the table in the kitchen used to be. They took away her Cammy, she can’t even call for help. Well, except me and to be honest, I don’t care much at the moment, I just can’t deal with her right now.

My gaze fell on the floor where the table used to take up most of the kitchen. It seemed small then, but this house was huge.

Blake, you can feel Elena’s emotions? He asked, shocked.

I looked at the ceiling She was dreaming about Lucian. My neck felt stiff as I nodded.

She asked for you tonight, for Becky, Sammy, Mom, anyone that knows her, but they refused. I huffed. They even got her birthday wrong. I didn’t know why I said that. It must have come from Elena.

Yes, it’s tomorrow, not today.

Just get her out of there, before I lose my mind and who knows what I will do.

Blake, come home. We’re staying at…

I’m not coming home, Dad, I said through clenched teeth. Why couldn’t they accept it? She’s not my rider. I’m the Rubicon! I can’t be tamed. I felt darkness taking over. What the hell was this? Just get her out of there.

I stumbled out of that house. Its emptiness felt as if it was dragging me into nothingness.

I morphed, and in two flaps I was in the sky.

Two

The next day Elena felt lighter.

It was her birthday. I still didn’t care, but what choice did I have?

I hadn’t even Dented. The fucking spell was trying to suck me in, forcing me into what it wanted me to become.

Maybe George hadn’t been strong enough to fight it. Maybe he’d had Becky’s yapping in his mind and gave in. Well, I wasn’t some fucking Moon-Bolt who didn’t have the balls to fight.

I would break the spell. Whoever had come up with it would learn they’d made a mistake trying to control dragons.

I’m the Alpha. I won’t go down like that.

Until then, I had to endure every fucking moment of her rescue. Luckily, my father came through. He got her away from Stan and back with friends.

Her happiness clashed with my darkness, and their reunion made me shudder. It felt as if I would throw up, and I wasn’t even near her. My body felt wrong.

I tried to push her thoughts away and get my fucking life back. With effort, and some killer headaches, her yapping became more dull, like whispers.

It was bearable.

I could still see the events taking place in Elena’s life. It was exhausting.

I wasn’t giving in though. I’d fight until the bitter end.

I woke up just after lunch. Her voice was ringing inside my head, like an alarm clock I couldn’t snooze.

At least she was having fun and not whining. She was riding jet-skis with Emanual, King Helmut’s dragon. She was sitting behind him, with her arms wrapped around his waist. She felt conflicted. She was happy, but it was more than that.

I laughed as I realized what it was.

She was attracted to Emanual’s human form.

Better him than me.

I tuned in.

It’s like flying, she said, the jet-ski speeding through the water.

What did she know about flying? As I remember, she was scared of heights when she became a dragon.

I forgot to ask you. How did it feel to be a dragon? Emanual asked.

Don’t. I miss it more than anything in this world.

Had she embraced her dragon side? When? Why couldn’t I remember?

She’d had to kill her dragon side to claim me. That I remembered. But how the fuck had she survived?

It was confusing. I needed to find out what happened in that missing gap of time.

They switched places. Elena took the driver’s seat.

She had no idea what she was doing and turned the accelerator to full throttle. Emanual fell off, and she nearly flipped the jet-ski. She was pathetic. She couldn’t even do the things I loved.

Becky and George cheered her on.

You okay? she asked. I’ll live. Next time a little less power, princess.

She pulled up next to him and helped him get on. I saw everything as if I was the one extending him a hand.

It felt wrong. Her desire for Emanual was forced on me. Her want rose in my chest as Emanual’s muscles clung to his wet shirt. I closed my eyes to try to block the image.

He’s old, Elena. He’s old, old, old. She recited in her mind.

I wanted her to forget I existed, but I also kind of wanted her to hear me. He’s not that old.

Her gasp and the shift in her emotion became mine. My eyes flew open.

Fuck! Was that a two-way stream?

Maybe I still had some power over her? I dictated what she could hear and what she couldn’t. I shuddered to think what she could do with all the things that went on in my mind.

I tuned out. I didn’t want to become part of her life.

She was a leech, a pathetic damsel in distress. The spell tried to lure me in with this one-way stream. It wanted me to want her. But I didn’t. I wouldn’t.

I would never want Elena like that.

Ever.

She owns Longbottoms was all Isaac said when I came down for breakfast, about a week later, sitting at the table reading this morning’s newspaper.

Her yapping was still there, but it was a soft murmur in the back of my mind. Bearable now that she was happy.

Yay for her, I said.

I sat down to a full spread. Yuri had made eggs, bacon, toast and jam, and what looked like freshly squeezed orange juice.

Missy stared at me from across the table.

What? I asked.

You really are that stupid? she asked.

Missy, Yuri and Isaac said at the same time.

Dad, Isaac, she said back. Someone needs to tell him.

I squinted. Tell me what?

What an idiot you are. Look, I like you, but are you going to stay here and hide indefinitely? That’s not the Blake Leaf I know. You used to fight against the darkness. Now you’re going to surrender to it? And, apparently, I’m the only one who sees it. She looked pointedly at her dad and brother and left the table. Before she made it to the stairs, she turned back and said, She’s not that bad. Stop sulking and fight, Blake. Fight to live.

I am fighting. Just not in the way you want me to. And I don’t have to explain myself to you. I got up too and pushed past her.

Was that necessary? Yuri asked her, as I made my way back to Isaac’s room.

Dad, he’s the Rubicon.

And that’s why he’s fighting, Missy, Isaac yelled.

He didn’t follow me to my room, and I slammed the door behind me.

She’d bought Longbottoms?

It was one of my favorite hangouts, and she knew that. Maybe she’d done it as a luring technique.

I had to up my game. This was far from over.

A few hours later, Isaac’s phone rang.

Jimmy wanted us to play at the opening of the new Longbottoms.

I shook my head.

He smiled and mentioned something to Jimmy about him trying to change my mind.

No, I said.

It’s good money.

I don’t care about the fucking pay. No!

He sighed. Sorry, Jimmy. It’s a no.

I wouldn’t step my foot on enemy ground.

The next day, I felt miserable. All the tabloids raved about the new Longbottoms and how the princess had swooped in to save the day. They said she didn’t need her dragon, for anything.

I shouldn’t have cared, but they made me sound like a coward. I wasn’t a coward. I would prove to everyone that the Dent wasn’t a sacred thing like they thought it was. It was slavery. I would break it and free all the dragons who’d fallen under its spell.

George would come back.

I was the Alpha and I had to look out for them. Free them.

I didn’t care if it would lead to another stupid war.

They didn’t stand a chance against the Pink Kiss.

Not even her.

Yuri and Missy went on a fishing trip with another shifter family. They planned to be gone the whole weekend, so Isaac got the band over.

We jammed, and drank, and had fun.

You’re not going back to Dragonia? Isaac asked.

He was in his bed, and I was in the hammock. Everyone but Ty and Matthew had gone home, and we’d done our best to clean up.

It’s enemy turf. So, no, I said with a grin.

Enemy turf, he said.

I smelled weed and noticed Ty was lighting one of his joints.

Dude! Isaac yelled at him.

What? Ty asked. You serious? It’s just weed.

Isaac glared at him.

Ty raised his eyebrows at me, and I laughed. Isaac had become a teetotaler since I was a recovered junkie.

C’mon, Isaac, I said. For old times’ sake?

You two are pains in my ass, he said, as Ty handed me the joint.

It’ll be the end of you two. I swear it, Isaac mumbled.

It’s just weed, I said, mimicking Ty.

Weed never killed anyone. Mathew chipped in.

We all laughed at Isaac’s expression.

It calms everything, Isaac, I said, as I blew the smoke in his direction.

Yeah, keep telling yourself that. He waved away my smoke.

I laughed as the hammock swung gently from side to side.

The weed numbed my mind and quieted Elena’s tension. For the first time in a long time, I tuned in.

She was at Becky’s house. Becky and Lucille, her mother, were there. I was surprised to see my mother there, too.

They were sitting in the living room. I recognized it from the one time I’d been there. It had been after a Warbel game. Goran had taken control of all the dragons and attacked Elena. I had been petrified because I thought that Elena could’ve ascended when a Sun-Blast blew his fire on us. I’d had to save her that night. If I hadn’t, she would’ve ascended.

They painted their toenails and slathered their faces with some shit that looked like guacamole.

Urgh, this was not my department.

I’d almost tuned out when Elena thought about what it would’ve been like if her mom was there. She felt left out.

I loved it.

Even surrounded by friends, she still felt like she didn’t belong. It didn’t feel like home.

She thought about George and Becky and how easy it was between them.

He has no fucking choice. Bitch.

At least he wants to be with her. She thought.

You got that right, I said, hoping she heard me.

My voice echoed through her mind, and she froze. She shook her head and carried on painting her toes.

Anger boiled in my gut.

She must have felt my anger, because she said, Get out of my head. I’m not forcing you to do anything. I will not be bullied by you, idiot.

I chuckled. Glad you haven’t changed.

She was still her. Not some idiot who thought she had me and was waiting for time to run out. I liked that, but my possessive part didn’t.

Bite me, she said.

Elena, you okay? Becky asked.

Yes, she snapped.

Becky’s eyebrows rose. Tell him to fuck off.

She knew. Of course. They all knew. Elena told them everything.

Becky! Lucille scolded.

Mom! Becky said, mimicking her tone. You have no idea how annoying he can be.

Tell him to come home before I lose my temper and drag his ass back, my mother said in her British accent.

Everyone laughed. He’s gone, I think, Elena said.

Do you know where he’s hiding out? Mom asked.

No, I’m not, like, connected to his brain twenty-four-seven, thank goodness.

I didn’t like this. I thought she’d be different. She’d always had a thing for me, and wanted to claim me the way Becky had George.

You know that’s not true, Elena. I toyed with her.

Shut up. You’re annoying.

Come on, princess, you can’t hide things from me.

Princess? What’s wrong with you? she quipped. She was feisty.

"He’s still talking to you, isn’t he?" Becky asked.

"Yes, and I wish he would stop." It wasn’t the truth. It couldn’t be. But her words rang true.

I chuckled. You don’t mean that. Tell you what, why don’t you come find me, and we can play a little game of hide and seek, I said seductively.

She laughed out loud. You’re drunk, aren’t you?

Shit. I was stoned and wanted her, and she could tell. Isaac was right. Weed would be the end of me.

Maybe, I responded.

I should lay off the weed.

Well, idiot, Elena is not in right now, so leave a message at the beep.

I laughed out loud. The guys stopped chatting and stared at me.

Dude, you okay? Isaac asked.

Yeah, let’s jam some more.

Three

The next morning, I felt like shit. I shouldn’t have given in to the spell. That, and maybe the weed, was the only explanation for trying to seduce her. I was getting darker. Isaac’s theory hadn’t worked. I’d helped her. She was happy, but I was still tied to her thoughts.

I needed Fire-Cain. It was the only thing that helped before. I needed to tame the beast and a way to break this spell.

Phil had been bugging me to fight. A new tournament was about to start.

Irene had said that I would only become darker faster, but I didn’t care anymore. She wasn’t there to keep the darkness calm.

I wouldn’t succumb to being anybody’s lamb.

The next night, I had a breakdown. Isaac couldn’t calm me, and I went to the one place I shouldn’t go.

Back to Samuel.

I was ready to make another deal. I needed a spell that could break the Dent. I needed to stop hearing her thoughts and the luring to vanish.

The only thing strong enough was dark magic.

I never thought that I’d lower myself to those depths, but I had no choice. I wouldn’t give in the way George had.

Ruby, Samuel said. I never thought I would see you again. Not since the princess claimed you…

She’s not my rider, I said through clenched teeth.

Samuel laughed.

Why are you here? he asked.

You want me to fight, right? Here are my terms. If you don’t agree, I leave. You can use me only when I need it—no calling me in to fight on your schedule. I will tell you before each fight what I want. It’s either that or no deal.

He squinted at me.

He clearly didn’t like it, but I was more the beast than the human he last dealt with. I would incinerate his ass if he tried to negotiate any other terms. I wasn’t anyone’s bitch.

Fine. We can do it your way, Ruby.

I felt as if he had a hidden agenda.

Oh, and if you double-cross me. The human is gone. There’s only the beast, I said.

He didn’t like that. All the plans he was concocting in his mind disappeared.

He held his hands up in surrender. Like I said, your way. Let me know when you’re ready. I headed to the entrance.

There’s a fight in two weeks. You can go as Grey.

I frowned. I’d fought as Grey once, right after school ended, before Elena came to stay with us. I’d only done it for the Fire-Cain. At least I thought it’d only been once. That could be part of my memories that were lost. Grey was careless. You sure that’s wise?

The crowd loves him, they want more of him, Blake.

Fine. Grey it is.

I didn’t go back to Isaac’s. He would know something was up. How would I explain that his way hadn’t worked, and I’d had to find another solution? He’d never understand.

The new semester started, but I had no intention of going back. I wouldn’t have stupid class with her. My schedule would change, and I would have to start all over until she finished.

That was not in my plans for the future.

Five years at the Academy was more than enough.

King Albert had been wrong about his naïve optimism that the right influence was important. All the previous Rubicons had gone dark, and I would be no different.

Back by popular demand! the emcee yelled.

I sat on the bench in the locker room, my knee nervously bouncing up and down.

I listened to the crowd cheering and tried to block out the emcee.

I’d told Sam I wanted one of Dimi’s spells and a small bag of Fire-Cain for that night’s fight. He didn’t like that I wanted dark magic. I told him I needed it to stop Elena from reading my mind. I made it clear with that ability she could put a stop to all his criminal enterprises. He came around to my demands.

I’d hoped I would only have to fight once, but Samuel had decided to get his money’s worth. There were three fights to be won.

You ready? Phil asked.

Ready as I’ll ever be, I said, as I walked out of the locker room.

I was already disguised as Grey, so my voice was deep and my accent held rolling music like some Caribbean accents. Had I fought as Grey more than once? I tried to remember, but it was locked with the rest of my memories from that time.

I followed Phil to the ring, and the crowd went wild when they saw me.

We stopped outside the cage. Electricity hummed through the framework, and the smell of burnt flesh wafted off it.

Good luck, Grey, Phil said and slapped me hard on the back.

The emcee’s voice boomed over the microphone. I give you. The one. And only. Grey!

Cheerful screams filled the arena. Spotlights shone in my eyes, and I had to squint as I took my spot on the Dragonian side.

The emcee rattled off my stats. I hadn’t fought much from the sound of it. Then he announced that I would be facing a Sun-Blast.

It didn’t matter what they were anymore.

None of them could kill me, no matter how hard a fight they put up.

I was walking into a fight for my freedom. Freedom from Elena’s yapping and the Dent, once and for all.

The fight didn’t last long.

He was a wingless lump, who took his last breath in under thirty minutes.

Sam pocketed a huge take from this fight. All I wanted was the spell.

There was a forty-five-minute break before my second fight, which was against a Green-Vapor.

All the props were thrown to me the minute I needed them. I did things differently, so they wouldn’t find similarities between Grey and Hansel. I was more ruthless. I tore his mane and broke the Green-Vapor’s neck. That fight, too, was over quickly.

Dimi’s nose bled as I fought. He had to work hard to keep my true identity at bay. Grey was a big guy—even bigger than my human form—and he was strong.

I didn’t black out like I had with Hansel. The part of me that fought against the darkness was gone. I watched and took pleasure with every kill.

If only the Dent weren’t there to protect Elena, I would snap her neck like I had that Green-Vapor.

The third fight was against a Night Villain, and his flesh was strong. I finally found a way to hurt him badly with Grey’s ability, and I tore as much flesh off him as I could. He went down, but not before he snapped my femur. I screamed out in pain, but the match was won.

The onlookers lost it.

Sam and Dimitri ran alongside the medics who took me to the infirmary. I fought against the doctor who tried to heal me, so they wouldn’t discover my true identity. I couldn’t have a scandal over a dragon killing his own kind distract me from the spell I needed Dimi to do. After a struggle and plenty of disruption, Samuel and Phil were able to get me out of there.

When Dimi’s glamour finally wore off, I woke to find myself on Samuel’s couch. My leg was healing, and Dimi was asleep. He slept for a few days after that.

Samuel was worried. Why didn’t you tell me that you were protected? The fight to keep the glamour in place almost killed my best fucking ally, he yelled.

That’s why I need him to break it, Sam. This isn’t just for me anymore. If you want me to fight, you need to get Dimitri to break this fucking spell.

On the fourth day, Dimi finally woke up.

It was time.

Dimitri’s spell would break the Dent’s magic.

Everyone would realize that the Rubicon cannot be tamed.

I woke up in a hotel.

I couldn’t recall the past few days. But one thing was certain, whatever Dimi had done left me with a horrible headache. My healing ability couldn’t even dull it.

I swung my legs off the bed and groaned.

Elena’s voice was gone, and that made me laugh even through the pain in my head.

I was finally free. If I had to walk around with this mother-fucking headache, then so be it. Nothing came for free.

My father came into the hotel room with a look of disgust.

I didn’t care.

You reek of dark magic, Blake. What the fuck did you do?

I squinted at him. He didn’t know? How the fuck had I gotten here, then?

What happened? I croaked out.

What happened? Isaac found you on the side of the road. Yeah, I know that’s where you stayed. He told me everything. He said two weeks ago you vanished. They have been searching everywhere for you, and this is what you were doing? Experimenting with dark magic. Why?

Why? I laughed. Because none of this is right. The Dent is not right. We lose ourselves as dragons. How can I be the only fucking one who sees that?

Blake. My mother’s voice was stern. I hadn’t even seen her come in. It’s not a spell. You have to Dent.

No, I don’t. I have to fight. The only thing that can break a spell like this is dark magic.

"Don’t be stupid. It will consume you, and it will kill you," my father said.

Kill me? I laughed. You want to lecture me about my choices when you didn’t think twice about putting this fucking darkness on me.

My father and mother furrowed their brows in confusion.

Oh, I forgot. None of you can remember it, because of me. I did more for this family than you ever have.

Blake, don’t tempt…

Stop. I don’t yield to anyone. Not you, and certainly not that little fucking bitch.

Faster than I would have imagined, my father was on top of me. He was strong and big, and the headache made me slow.

My mother screamed for us to stop, but I didn’t want to stop.

I wanted to rip his head off like I’d done to that Night Villain in the ring.

My head throbbed and my power waned. My father got hold of me, clamped my arms behind my back, and pushed me to the ground. He could thank his lucky stars that I wasn’t strong enough for this fight.

His blows connected hard with my back. I felt his belt slice into my skin over and over.

My mother still screamed in the background. Enough, Robert!

My father didn’t agree, and I wouldn’t yield.

The phone rang, and it felt as if my brain would explode with the noise.

Stop! You’re killing Elena! my mother yelled.

My father froze mid-swing, panting from the exertion. He left me on the ground and took the phone from my mother.

What do you mean, I’m killing Elena? he said to whoever was on the other end.

I didn’t listen. For the first time, I was glad that I was connected to that spawn.

My father felt helpless, and that was enough for me to enjoy this little display.

I pushed myself up to a sitting position, as my dad finished his conversation.

I laughed at the look on his face. Sucks for you. Your precious princess gets hurt if you beat me. How will you have your fun now?

Don’t tempt me. Elena can be healed. If a beating is what it takes to keep you from killing yourself, I’ll do what I have to do.

Whatever helps you sleep, old man.

He raised his fist as if to punch me.

Robert, enough! my mother yelled.

Listen to your wife, because the next time you touch me, I will incinerate your ass.

You’re messing with dark magic. Don’t be a fucking idiot.

I’d rather be a fucking idiot making my own decisions, than doing her bidding. I’m no one’s slave. I don’t care what bloodline flows through her. If I have to use dark magic to break this, I will. Leave me the fuck alone. I spat out the words.

It was time for me to leave. I wouldn’t waste another second on that asshole.

What did he mean by me pushing the darkness on him? I heard my father ask, as I was out the window, and headed for the sky.

Don’t listen to him. It’s the darkness talking, and he would do anything to break you. He needs to Dent. My mother’s words were cold and hard.

That hurt. Did she want me to Dent? To lose myself? I thought she would always be in my corner. She made it clear with that statement that she wasn’t anymore.

It seemed that I no longer had a father or a mother.

Four

I flew straight to Sam’s place.

Where had Isaac found me? Had Sam and Dimi dumped me on the side of the road? I wasn’t happy with Isaac either. He’d called my dad? After I told him how I felt about him. Isaac was a traitor in my eyes.

Robert Leaf only cared about her now. She wasn’t even his daughter.

I landed hard and kicked Sam’s door open.

Their eyes bulged in horror as I collapsed onto the plush carpet.

Whatever Dimi had put on me may have quieted Elena, but it was debilitating. He needed to take it away or ease the pain.

Blake? Their voices were muffled.

I couldn’t respond.

I was furious. No one deserts me, not even them.

I must have passed out. When I came to, I was in one of Sam’s guest rooms. The pain in my head was gone, as well as Elena’s yapping, but my body was weak. I figured the spell had weakened me.

I ambled from the room and found Sam outside flipping burgers on the grill. There were girls in tiny bikinis and plenty of booze and drugs. I didn’t see Dimitri, but Phil was to my right, talking animatedly to a girl.

I grabbed him by the collar and pushed him against the wall. In my weakened