Novels by YATES

The late afternoon sun filtered through the tall windows of the headquarters, casting long shadows across the room where Marcus and Evelyn had spent countless hours strategizing and planning. The atmosphere was heavy with the weight of their responsibilities, but beneath that weight lay a burgeoning relationship that neither had fully acknowledged yet.As the last of the team filtered out for the day, Evelyn lingered behind, her heart racing. Marcus sat at the edge of the table, going over the day’s plans, but he could feel her presence—the electric tension in the air that seemed to draw them together. He looked up, meeting her gaze.“Are you staying late again?” he asked, a teasing smile tugging at his lips. “Maybe,” she replied, her voice soft but steady. “I have a few things I want to finish up before tomorrow.”Marcus tilted his head, a playful glint in his eyes. “Or maybe you just want an excuse to spend more time with me?”Evelyn laughed lightly, the sound warm and inviting. “G

The sun dipped low over Washington, casting a warm golden glow across the city. Inside the bustling headquarters of the newly formed elite unit, there was a palpable energy. The team had completed several successful training sessions, and the air was thick with anticipation. As they wrapped up the day’s drills, Marcus and Evelyn exchanged a glance that spoke volumes. They had both been feeling the weight of leadership, and the time had come to address it.Later that evening, Marcus found himself in his office, going through the reports from their recent missions. He could hear the chatter of the team outside, the sounds of laughter and camaraderie filling the air. It brought a smile to his face, reminding him of the family they had built over the past weeks. As he was lost in thought, Evelyn knocked on the door and stepped inside, her expression serious yet warm.“Hey,” she said, closing the door behind her. “Got a minute?”“Always for you,” Marcus replied, gesturing for her to sit. H

The week following the award ceremony was a whirlwind of recognition, media attention, and strategic meetings. The nation buzzed with the story of Marcus and his team, and their courage became a symbol of hope in a time of uncertainty. Yet amidst the accolades, a new mission began to take shape.In a high-security government building, Marcus sat across from high-ranking officials, including the Secretary of Defense and the National Security Advisor. The atmosphere was charged with urgency as they discussed the rising threats facing the nation.“Marcus,” the Secretary began, leaning forward with intensity, “in light of your team’s heroic actions, we’ve decided to form a new elite unit, specifically designed to address emerging threats before they escalate. We want you to lead this team.”Marcus exchanged glances with Evelyn and Felicity, who sat beside him, their expressions a mixture of surprise and determination. The weight of the proposition hung in the air. This was no longer just

The following week, anticipation buzzed through the air as Marcus and his team prepared for a ceremony unlike any they had experienced before. The Medal of Honor was the nation’s highest military accolade, and their impending award was a testament to their extraordinary bravery and sacrifice. The day dawned bright and clear, sunlight streaming through the tall windows of the White House where the ceremony would take place. As Marcus adjusted his dress uniform in the mirror, he couldn’t shake the mix of excitement and apprehension swirling within him. He had come so far from the dishonored soldier he once was; today symbolized not just recognition, but redemption.“Hey, you ready?” Evelyn called from the other room, her voice pulling him from his thoughts. “Almost. Just a last-minute check,” Marcus replied, taking one final look in the mirror. He adjusted the shiny medals on his chest, including the one he would soon be adding. “Don’t overthink it,” she said, stepping into the room.

The air was electric with anticipation as Marcus and his team stood outside the grand Capitol building, its dome towering majestically against the clear blue sky. The day had finally arrived: a special award ceremony honoring their bravery and dedication in the fight against terrorism. A mix of pride and nerves coursed through Marcus as he adjusted his tie, glancing at Evelyn, Felicity, and the rest of the team. “You all ready for this?” he asked, a hint of a smile playing on his lips.“Ready as we’ll ever be,” Evelyn replied, her expression a mix of excitement and anxiety. She wore a sharp navy dress, looking every bit the part of a hero.“I just hope they don’t ask me to give a speech,” Felicity chimed in, rolling her eyes playfully. “You know I’m much better at hacking than public speaking.”Marcus chuckled, the tension easing slightly. “Don’t worry. I’ll do all the talking if it comes to that. Just stick to your strengths.”As they approached the entrance, a line of security pers

The command center hummed with activity, but all Marcus could think about was the impending reunion with his son, Harry. After months of turmoil and uncertainty, he felt a surge of anticipation and nervousness. The mission had consumed his life, pushing him away from the people he loved most. But now, with a chance to finally reconnect, he hoped to show Harry the man he had become.“Marcus, are you okay?” Evelyn asked, stepping closer, her brow furrowed with concern. “Yeah, I’m fine. Just…thinking about Harry,” he admitted, rubbing the back of his neck. “I can’t imagine how excited he must be to see you. You’ve been through so much,” she said, her tone softening. He nodded, grateful for her understanding. “It’s just been hard. I didn’t want him to see me like this. I wanted to be there for him.”Evelyn placed a reassuring hand on his shoulder. “You’ve done everything you can to protect him. He knows that. He’ll understand.”The door to the command center swung open, and Felicity wa

The wind howled like an orphan through the ravaged cliffs of Skavros. Banners once proud, once gilded with the symbol of the Phoenix, now lay in tatters, dancing mournfully among scorched stone. Rey stood at the crest of the shattered ridge, the remains of his ancestral fortress silhouetted against a blood-orange sky. Emberclaw crouched beside him, silent, his molten eyes surveying the carnage below. “This... was your home?” Lyra whispered, stepping beside Rey. Her fingers brushed his hand, seeking warmth. Rey didn’t answer immediately. He inhaled the scent of the land—smoke, fire, dust, and decay—and it clawed at his lungs like ghosts demanding remembrance. A place of childhood laughter, of whispered lullabies from his mother Seraphina... now reduced to ruins. “Yes,” Rey said finally. “This is Skavros. The cradle of my bloodline. The heart of everything that was taken from me.” The Crimson Siege had bought them momentum. Flameborne banners now flew in rebel cities, and eve

The morning skies over the Flameborne camp glowed an ominous red—the kind of red that foretold bloodshed. Rey stood atop the rise overlooking Crimson Gate, his cloak flapping in the sharp wind, Emberclaw perched silently beside him. The sprawling city on the other side of the valley, once a bastion of the Empire's pride, now pulsed with anticipation, every watchtower bristling with archers and magitek cannons."It’s time," Zayne said behind him, armored and cloaked in war paint.Rey didn't answer immediately. He could feel it—something ancient in the stones of the gate, whispering warnings into his very bones.Lyra joined them. Her soul-purge ritual had left her changed. Her eyes glowed faintly gold, her voice deeper, her aura darker and more commanding. "We must move before nightfall. The rebels from the east are in position. The river flank is ready."Rey finally nodded. "Then let the siege begin."Part I: Thunder Before the StormThe Flameborne army descended like shadows—silent, p

The sun was a dying ember above the horizon, staining the skies blood-red over the high cliffs of the Flameborne encampment. Tattered banners of resistance fluttered weakly in the wind, bearing the sigil of the reborn Drakar line: a phoenix wrapped in a serpent of fire.Rey stood at the edge of the cliff, Emberclaw sheathed at his side, staring into the valley below. Fires flickered across the land in distant villages razed by imperial scouts. He felt the pulse of every survivor beneath his skin now. The Phoenix Pact thrummed through his chest like a second heartbeat. Every wounded brother, every grieving sister, every hungry child... they were all threads in the tapestry of his power.Behind him, Lyra approached in silence, her steps cautious. She had shed the last of her empire-colored robes. Her silver armor gleamed faintly with dragon-vein etchings, symbols now etched into her very skin. She was Flameborne now—in body, heart, and spirit."You're too quiet," she said softly.Rey di

The dawn after Kaelus Drakar's defeat broke in bloody streaks over the battered skyline of the Academy. Smoke still curled from the scorched towers, and the scent of ash clung stubbornly to the air. Rey stood in the courtyard where Kaelus had fallen, the ground beneath his feet stained with the blood of a traitor and the heat of a thousand years of vengeance.He had unmasked the Obsidian High Executioner. He had struck down his own blood. And now, everything had changed.Rey’s gaze drifted over his companions—Zayne, his brother-in-arms with fire newly kindled in his soul; Lyra, soul-purged, her draconic essence now blazing behind her fierce eyes; Elira, still recovering from her collapse but walking once more in waking visions; and the others—Aeris, solemn and cold, who had returned after walking the edge of loyalty.They stood together not as students, not as rebels, but as the last hope for the Flameborne.“We can’t win alone,” Rey said. His voice cracked with the weight of realizat

The moon hung high over the Academy of the Seven Towers, casting a silver sheen across shattered rooftops and smoking ruins. Beneath its pale gaze, the ashes of battle settled into silence. But for Rey Drakar, the fire had just begun to burn.Blood still crusted his knuckles as he made his way through the debris-choked corridors of the western archive wing—the one Drax had claimed was forbidden to students. Behind him walked Zayne, eyes narrowed, and Lyra, her soul newly purged and still flickering faintly with dragonfire.The trail had begun with whispers—rumors of a sealed vault beneath the old lecture halls. Elira’s half-conscious visions had confirmed it: "He keeps it in the dark… the proof… the truth of who watches you from the shadows."And now, here they were."Here," Lyra whispered, touching the wall where a scorch mark formed a perfect circle. Emberclaw glowed on Rey’s back, humming like a warning.Rey nodded. He drew the blade, letting its heat pulse through the air, and sla

The moon hung high over the Academy of the Seven Towers, casting a silver sheen across shattered rooftops and smoking ruins. Beneath its pale gaze, the ashes of battle settled into silence. But for Rey Drakar, the fire had just begun to burn.Blood still crusted his knuckles as he made his way through the debris-choked corridors of the western archive wing—the one Drax had claimed was forbidden to students. Behind him walked Zayne, eyes narrowed, and Lyra, her soul newly purged and still flickering faintly with dragonfire.The trail had begun with whispers—rumors of a sealed vault beneath the old lecture halls. Elira’s half-conscious visions had confirmed it: "He keeps it in the dark… the proof… the truth of who watches you from the shadows."And now, here they were."Here," Lyra whispered, touching the wall where a scorch mark formed a perfect circle. Emberclaw glowed on Rey’s back, humming like a warning.Rey nodded. He drew the blade, letting its heat pulse through the air, and sla