Darkbeam V, page 1
Darkbeam V
Adrienne Woods
Contents
Acknowledgments
The Dragonian Series Reading Order
Part I
Chapter 1
Chapter 2
Chapter 3
Chapter 4
Chapter 5
Chapter 6
Chapter 7
Chapter 8
Chapter 9
Chapter 10
Chapter 11
Chapter 12
Chapter 13
Chapter 14
Chapter 15
Chapter 16
Chapter 17
Chapter 18
Part II
Chapter 19
Chapter 20
Chapter 21
Chapter 22
Chapter 23
Chapter 24
Chapter 25
Chapter 26
Chapter 27
Chapter 28
Chapter 29
Chapter 30
Chapter 31
Chapter 32
Chapter 33
Chapter 34
Chapter 35
Chapter 36
Chapter 37
Chapter 38
Chromatic Dragons
Metallic Dragons
Rubicon Dragon
Moonbeam
Starbeam
Also by Adrienne Woods
About the Author
Darkbeam V: The Rubicon’s story
Copyright © 2021 Adrienne Woods
Illustration: Joemel Requeza
If you purchased this book from anyone other than Fire Quill Publishing or a licensed FQP reseller, you should be aware this e-book is stolen property.
This book is a work of fiction. Any references to historical events, real people, or real locales are used fictitiously. Other names, characters, places, and incidents are the products of the author’s imagination, and any resemblance to actual events or locales or persons, living or dead, is entirely coincidental.
* * *
Fire Quill Publishing
www.firequillpublishing.com
All rights reserved, including the right of reproduction in whole or in part in any form.
All graphics and text associated with Fire Quill Publishing.
Formatting by FQ Design
Manufactured in South Africa.
First Fire Quill publishing edition May 2021
All rights reserved.
ISBN-13: 978-1-947649-74-3
To all my fans….
What a wonderful journey and you all made it complete and so worth while.
I learned that courage was not the absence for fear, but the triumph over it. The Brave man is not he who does not feel afraid, but he who conquers the fear.
* * *
Nelson Mandela
Acknowledgments
I cried while writing this book, as it is the end of a long, emotional journey, even though the story had been out there for eight years already.
My first thanks, as always, is to the Greatest King of all times. He is still alive and watches over all His children. Thank you for blessing me with this story that I was chosen to tell it. It has given me such great pleasure and knowledge that it was something I could do with You at my side. The times that I didn't know which way to take it, You guided me and showed me a solution. I would always believe in You till the end of time.
To my family for giving up their precious time with me to write and keep writing all of the others that are yet to come. I love and treasure you forever and ever.
To the cover designer. Joemel. Joemel, Joemel, Joemel. Your talent is beyond words. Your compassion, not just to me but to the fans, has really proved that I made the right decision in choosing you as one of my life-long working partners. You are above and beyond and always go the extra mile. You made the image in my head come to life and still found a way to knock my socks off. You are just so incredibly talented, and I'm happy I have found you. We will meet one day, that is a promise.
To Fire Quill Publishing, my home for all my novels. You will grow into a beautiful company, as all the people at Fire Quill publishing go above and beyond with everything they do. Their passion for novels is what drives them, and passion always conquers experience.
I couldn't have done this without the love and support of any of the above people. It takes a team to make a book comes to life, and if anyone out there thinks they can make a success without the help of others, they are seriously are mistaken. Thank you all for being in my life. I am one of the luckiest people alive.
A huge acknowledgment goes out to the winners of the Battle of the poets' contest: Leandri, Ursula, and Abby. Your poems gave voice to Blake's soul. Thank you so much for them. I would never be able to do what the three of you had done. It is a gift, a talent all by itself.
Last but definitely not least. My fans. Your kind words, comments on my website, the overflow of interaction on the Facebook page, and your love for these characters have put me where I am today. I couldn't make this without you, as word of mouth starts with you. Thank you for loving this story as much as I do, and I hope you will treasure it for years to come.
It's a sad moment in my life as it is the ending of one journey. A journey that is so close to my heart. Now I have to find another to fill this space created by the Rubicon and his friends.
Thank you so much for treasuring this. I can't say thank you enough, and it will never be enough, and I hope we can see this coming to life in visual form one day.
* * *
Adrienne.
(DARKBEAM BOOKS THROUGH ELENA’S POINT OF VIEW)
* * *
Firebolt
Venon (novelette)
Thunderlight
Frostbite
Poison (Novella)
Moonbreeze
Starlight
* * *
THE SPIN OFF SERIES
Moonbeam
Starbeam
Firebeam
The Forgotten Queen
Dragon Blood
The Journal of Blake Leaf
Part One
One
I’d listened to my father breaking down with the news of his rider still being alive.
First came the ramblings. Dad kept telling Emanual and me how he always knew that the king was still alive. Then he bombarded us with questions about whether we’d seen any proof of life on our missions in Etan. I had to relive every single minute of my time in Etan. He wanted to know how I’d discovered it and who had told me that the king was still alive. Dad wanted to know everything.
“I haven’t seen him,” I sighed as my father asked me for the umpteenth time.
My dad looked at Emanual, who still recovered from the news that I’d sprung on him before Kevin’s show started.
“I haven’t seen him, Robert. Believe me, if I have,”—Emanual took a huge breath, and his gaze found mine—“I wouldn’t have told anyone either. To be honest, I do not know what I would’ve done.”
My father nodded, with tears glistening in his eyes. I wished Elena could get here. Emanual looked at my father with concern and worry.
Dad leaned with his palms against the table, his body bending forward. “For eighteen years, he’s trapped in that hell hole—for eighteen years. No hope, nothing.”
“Dad, he had hope. He knew Elena would find her way to Paegeia when the right time comes.”
“But she didn’t, Blake.” My dad slammed his fist on his desk and hissed, “Because of that wretched Green-Vapor Bitch.”
My father had never kept it a secret that he didn’t like the queen’s dragon, and neither did she. The two couldn’t sit around the same table, from what I’d remembered.
“I don’t think that she wanted to leave Elena, Dad.” I had to sound like I was speculating.
“You hadn’t even shed your baby scales yet. Believe me, Tanya was exactly what everyone always said about Green Vapors—a liar and a backstabber. She is the main reason Albert didn’t tell me about Elena.” His hand waved wildly, slapping the air. “She is like the lot of them.”
I hated it when he spoke about breeds that way. “Easy, I am part Green-Vapor, too. Not all of them are like that.”
My father didn’t reply, but his shoulders shook from his silent sobs as he plopped into his chair.
My gaze met Emanual’s as he leaned against the wall, arms folded.
I’d never seen my father like this. The regret that he must have felt at the moment. I got up from my chair and went to his side.
I sat against the edge of his desk and touched his shoulder.
“Robert, it will not help to think about the past,” Emanual spoke, “We need to focus on the future and get everyone out of Etan. You know Helmut will help, and you know it’s a matter of time before Caleb will start contributing to this mission. It’s Albert we are talking about here.”
My father sniffed and nodded. “And it’s Goran, Emanual. He killed Kate. The Monster tied her to the bed and burned her because she rejected his feelings. He did that to someone he loved. What do you think Goran will do to the man he despises with everything that he owns?”
“You don’t know that’s the reason Kate got killed. None of us do.”
Silence lingered for a moment.
I looked over my shoulder at Emanual, begging him for a few minutes alone with my dad, and he nodded. The door opened and closed behind him.
“Dad, Emanual’s right. You need to pull yourself together. I need my father, the Sir Robert, on this one—The Night- Villain that’s as big as a ship. The dragon who fears nothing if you want this mission to succeed.”
My father’s chin wobbled.
I hated it when he cried.
“I knew he was alive, Blake. Don’t ask me how,”—he tapped his chest—"I always knew. It never felt final."
“I know,” I whispered.
Dad couldn’t remember the time when he gave up.
I would not make him remember either.
I let him cry. He needed the release to become the dragon that I required.
The door opened, and Elena’s soft oriental scent fluttered into the office. Warmth spread through my body when she was in my presence.
Our gazes met and locked for a few brief moments before I looked back at my father.
“I’m so sorry about this,” Elena said with compassion, lacing every word.
Dad sniffed, then looked up at her for a moment, closed his eyes, and shook his head. He inhaled deeply and exhaled loudly before he spoke. “A part of me always knew that he was alive. The worst part of it now is that I can’t get the last time I saw him out of my head.” He pushed himself from the chair and paced.
“Dad,” I begged—not again.
“No, son. I should’ve been there, but he forced me away from him. He used the binding spell against me!” he yelled. He stopped as he remembered something else, and his lips twitched upward, ending in a grin.
It was one of those smiles you gave when you realized how stupid you were.
“I taught him that spell, and he used it to order me away, because of you, because of what we all promised. To keep you safe, no matter how hard it was going to be.” He looked at me.
“What?” I frowned. I didn’t know that at all.
“I thought about that night a million times. He knew you would get claimed one day, and all we had to do was to keep you safe until that time.” His face hardened. He walked over to his bookshelf and threw the contents to the floor. Books scattered everywhere.
I jumped up, and at once, I was at his side, trying to calm him down before he aimed for the creepers again. He slapped my comforting hand away and swiped the content on top of his desk across the floor.
I closed my eyes. When was this going to end?
“What pissed me off the most was that he’d told nobody about her.” He pointed at Elena. “I’ve lived fifteen years thinking he thought I was behind his betrayal. That was why he forced me away from him that night—for fifteen years—
“He didn’t.” Elena interrupted.
“—I know,” my dad roared, “You told me that, but it doesn’t change the fact that I left him when he needed me the most.”
“Dad, he used the binding spell. You told us that a few seconds ago.” My voice rose as I got pissed off with him lashing out at my rider.
“I could’ve fought harder. When I saw the Creepers jumping out of the ground, I knew it was something out of this world. I could’ve controlled the spell, use it against my rider. I gave him my oath that I would keep him safe—”
“And he broke it when he bound you, Dad.” I interrupted him. “He is alive. You will see him again. I promise. When the right time comes—”
“—One month, Blake!”
My mind went to King Albert’s men. “Dad, we told them two months from now.”
“One month. I know King Albert’s men. I fought wars with these men for a long time. These are men that know the signs of war. They will be ready no matter what you told them—four weeks. Whether you are ready. In four weeks, she will take me in.” He pointed at Elena again.
I pushed his pointed finger away from her. “Okay, calm down. In four weeks, we will take you in. We will take everyone in. I promise.”
My dad nodded and then dropped back into his chair.
“He didn’t want us to free Etan,” Elena said with tears glistening in her eyes. “I’m sorry that I didn’t tell you.”
Not you too, please. I left my dad and went over to Elena and wrapped my arms around her. “It’s not your fault, okay. My dad doesn’t blame you. He’s hard on himself.”
Her arms wrapped around my waist, and it felt good to be near her like this.
The door opened, and my sister rushed in with Dean.
“Oh, Daddy,” Sammy said, and went to my father. She stood in front of him, comforting him as he cried. “Hey, he is alive. He’s not dead. You will see him again.”
I begged Dean with my eyes to stay with my sister. I needed a break. He surveyed Elena, who was still teary.
“Go,” he mouthed, and I smiled. My father was in great hands. My sister would get through to him. It wouldn’t surprise me if my mother would waltz in here any minute and yell at him to buff up and get a grip.
Four weeks, how the hell were we going to push up this mission in four weeks.
* * *
I took Elena to the cafeteria. I prepared us two coffees as she took a seat at the closest table.
She looked distraught when I put her cup in front of her.
“Thank you,” she whispered.
I smiled as I pulled out the opposite chair and sat down.
“So, how was it at Just Kev’s show, Elena?”
She shook her head, staring at the cup of coffee in front of her. “Becky will never speak to me again.” She covered her face with her hands, elbows on the table.
Seconds ticked by as I took a sip of my coffee.
Elena sniffed as she uncovered her face. “So I understand your father’s little breakdown, better than you know.”
“To make it clear, it wasn’t little breakdown. You missed it all.”
She scoffed.
The corner of my lips twitched upward.
“It’s not funny, Blake. I’m serious. I saw it in Becky’s eyes. She is so mad at me.”
“Okay, where are they?”
“George took her home. She wanted to be with her mom and Rosa—poor Rosa. She doesn’t even know that her son is dead.”
“I’m sure a lot of them know dragons didn’t make it, Elena. From what my cousin told my aunt, news trend to spread fast with my aunt.”
Elena squinted. “Your aunt, Constance?”
“Yeah, she likes to gossip a lot.”
“Now you are talking crap.”
I chuckle, taking a sip of my coffee. “Becky will speak to you again. Believe me, she will.”
She stopped twirling her cup in circles and looked at me. “What is that supposed to mean?”
I sighed. I didn’t want to think about that time, but I hated seeing Elena like this.
“When you were in Etan, and I couldn’t find you, she and George searched like crazy with me. Believe me, she will be first in line to sign up to be part of your private council. She refused to give up. The times that there was no hope was the only time that she questioned whether you weren’t six feet under the ground.” I put the cup to my lips and took a sip of the rich aroma. “But I could already feel your heartbeat, so she didn’t question it that long. But she was as frustrated as me when she couldn’t find you.”
She nodded, with a huff escaping her lips.
“She might never say it, Elena. But Becky cares about you a lot. My sister does, too.”
Her lips finally curved, but the worry pulled at her eyes. “I should’ve told them, Blake. They are my best friends.”
“Believe me, you did the right thing. Sammy sucks at keeping secrets.”
Elena barked a chuckle.
