Page 8 of The Darkness Within

As they enter, Blade is greeted by the familiar sight of his six brothers, each one a towering figure of strength and skill, their presence filling the room with a sense of camaraderie and unspoken loyalty. There is Gage, the eldest and their leader, with silver hair and a piercing gaze that could cut through steel. Beside him stood Talon, with jet-black hair and a tattoo of a raven on his forearm, known for his agility and sharp instincts.

Next to Talon was Kade, a quiet giant with a scar across his cheek, a reminder of a battle long past. He is the team’s tracker, able to sense energy trails that no one else could. Reed, with his wild auburn hair and easy grin, was their strategist, always a step ahead in planning their next move. Soren, the youngest but just as fierce, had icy blue eyes and an affinity for weapons, his skills with a blade unmatched. And then there was Fynn,the team’s healer, his hands capable of mending wounds and soothing pain, though he could be just as lethal in battle.

They greet Blade and Scar with nods and claps on the shoulder, their eyes filled with curiosity and the silent questions that they all are holding back, waiting for Blade to speak.

“Brothers,” Blade began, his tone serious, “I have news. I’ve found my mate. Her name is Rayne, and she’s a human. I need to bring her here, and we need to make this place safe for her.”

Talon lets out a low whistle, a grin spreading across his face. “A human mate? Didn’t see that one coming, Blade. But I’m happy for you. Guess that means we’ll have to do some redecorating.”

“More than that,” Kade adds, his deep voice resonating through the room. “We’ll need to reinforce the wards. If Rake catches wind of this, he’ll come after her.”

Gage nods, already assessing the adjustments they would need to make. “I’ve spoken to Command. They’re sending additional resources to fortify our defences. We’ll set up a safe room for her, a place where she can stay if things get dangerous.”

Reed steps forward, his gaze serious. “If she’s going to be part of this, she should know what we do. We can’t hide things from her. She needs to understand what it means to be mated to an Elite.”

Blade nods, understanding the weight of Reed’s words. Rayne would need to know the risks, the dangers that come with being part of their world. But he also knew that she was stronger than she realized.

With the issue of Rayne’s safety addressed, Blade and Scar shift their focus to the matter at hand—Rake. They gather around the central table, where a map of the city is spread out, marked with notes and pins indicating Rake’s last known locations.

“We tracked him to an old warehouse on the east side,” Scar began, pointing to a red pin on the map. “He’s been using it as a meeting point, but he’s never there for long. It’s like he knows we’re on his trail.”

“Rake’s always been slippery,” Soren comments, his arms crossed over his chest. “But he’s gotten bolder. He’s leaving more bodies behind, drawing attention. He wants us to find him, to challenge him.”

“That’s because he’s planning something big,” Blade replies, his voice dark. “We think he’s trying to perform a ritual, something tied to the old ways. If he succeeds, he’ll gain enough power to tear through the Veil and unleash chaos on both our world and the human one.”

“Then we need to move fast,” Fynn states, his gaze steely. “We can’t let him complete that ritual. If he does, none of us will be safe.”

Gage looks around at each of them, his expression grim. “We’ve faced worse. Rake may be dangerous, but he’s not invincible. We’ll tighten our search, track down his followers, and cut off his resources. He won’t be able to hide for long.”

The others nod, a sense of resolve settling over them. They were brothers, bound not just by duty but by a loyalty that had been forged in the fires of battle. They would face this threat together, as they always had, protecting their world, and now, for the first time, one of their own who had something precious to lose.

As the meeting concluded, the team began discussing the changes they would need to make to accommodate Rayne. Talon offered to set up a room for her, ensuring it was comfortable and safe. Fynn prepared to reinforce the wards around headquarters, layering them with additional protections that would keep out any threat. Soren and Reed discussed the possibility of installing surveillance to monitor the perimeter, leaving nothing to chance.

Blade felt a swell of gratitude as he watched his brothers work together, each one taking on a role to protect not just him, but the woman he loved. He knew that bringing Rayne into this world was a risk, but with his brothers by his side, he felt a sense of hope, a confidence that they could face whatever came their way.

As they make their preparations, Blade’s thoughts turn to Rayne, wondering how she would feel stepping into this world, seeing the place where he lived and fought, the place he had called home for so many years. He knew it would be an adjustment, but he also knew that together, they could face anything.

Blade took one last look around the headquarters, feeling a renewed sense of purpose. He would protect Rayne, just as he had sworn to do, and with his brothers at his side, he knew they would emerge victorious.

The hunt for Rake continued, but now, with Rayne by his side, Blade knew that he had more than just duty driving him forward—he had love, and that made him more determined than ever.

RAYNE 5

Rayne looks over the classroom, a smile playing on her lips as her students decorated paper pumpkins and cut-out bats. Halloween was one of her favourite times of the year; the excitement in the air was infectious, and she loved seeing the kids’ creativity come alive as they planned for the school party. She glances over at Ashley and Rita, who were helping a group of students glue glitter onto paper ghosts, their laughter blending with the chatter of the children.

“Miss Rayne, look at my bat!” one of her students calls out, holding up a lopsided creation with a proud grin. Rayne kneels beside him, admiring his work with genuine enthusiasm.

“It’s perfect, Danny,” she replies, ruffling his hair. “I think it’s the best bat I’ve seen today!”

As the students busied themselves with their crafts, Rayne’s thoughts drift to Blade. She hadn’t told anyone about him—not the full story, at least. She’d shared a few details with Ashley and Rita, mentioning that she’d met someone, but she couldn’t bring herself to explain the whole truth. How could she? If shetold them he was a demon, that she was now marked and bound to him, they’d think she was insane.

“Are you bringing this mystery guy to the Halloween party?” Ashley asks, sidling up next to her with a smirk. “I’m dying to meet him. You’ve been so tight-lipped about him.”

Rayne laughs, keeping her tone light. “Maybe. But he’s... complicated.”

“Complicated?” Rita raises an eyebrow, a knowing look in her eyes. “Complicated how? As in, bad-boy-with-a-heart-of-gold complicated, or are we talking more about serious baggage?”

Rayne feels her cheeks heat with a blush. “More like... intense. He’s got this whole other life that I’m still trying to understand.”

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