Page 7 of The Darkness Within
She looks up at him, finding him watching her with a mixture of tenderness and intensity. “I can feel it,” she murmurs, her voice barely more than a whisper. “The mark—it’s like I can sense you, even when you’re not touching me.”
Blade’s gaze softens, he reaches up, brushing his fingers over her cheek. “That’s the bond,” he explains, his voice a low murmur. “When I marked you, it created a connection between us. It’s more than just a physical mark—it’s a link that ties our souls together. I can feel you too, Rayne, no matter where you are.”
The weight of his words settles over her, there is a flutter of awe in her chest. She has never imagined anything like this, never imagined that someone could be so connected to another person. But as she gazes into Blade’s eyes, she knows that this isreal, that the bond between them is something deeper and more profound than she has ever known.
“It’s… it’s strange, but it’s comforting too,” she admits, her fingers still tracing the mark. “Like I know I’m not alone anymore, like there’s a part of you with me now.”
Blade nods, a small smile curving his lips. “That’s exactly what it means. You’re not alone, Rayne. You never will be again.”
She feels a surge of emotion at his words, a sense of belonging that makes her eyes sting with unshed tears. She had spent so much of her life feeling isolated, like she was drifting through the world without a place to call home. But now, with Blade beside her, she feels grounded, tethered to something solid and unbreakable.
As the pulsing sensation in her mark continues, she finds herself admiring the way it makes her feel—not just connected to Blade, but almost stronger, as if his presence were a shield that wraps around her, protecting her from the darkness that lurks beyond. She can feel his warmth, his strength, radiating through the bond, and it fills her with a quiet confidence she had never known.
“What does this mean for us?” she asks, looking up at him, her eyes searching his for answers. “How does this change things?”
“It changes everything,” Blade replies, his tone serious. “You’re part of my world now, Rayne. The bond we share isn’tsomething that can be broken. It means I can protect you, even when I’m not with you. But it also means you’ll feel what I feel. You’ll know when I’m near, when I’m in danger.”
She swallows hard, the implications of his words settling over her. “And you’ll feel me too?”
He nods, his expression sombre. “Yes. That’s why I need you to be careful. I can protect you, but there are things in my world, things that are dangerous. And now that you bear my mark, those things might come for you too.”
Rayne takes a deep breath, steadying herself. She knows there is danger, that being with Blade means facing things she can barely comprehend. But the thought doesn’t frighten her—not as much as the idea of losing him, of being separated from the warmth and safety she feels in his arms.
“I can handle it,” she vows, her voice filled with quiet determination. “I don’t want to be afraid, Blade. Not if it means being with you.”
He looks at her with a mixture of pride and concern, his thumb brushing over her cheek as he leans down to kiss her again, soft and tender, a promise sealed between them. “Then I’ll be with you, Rayne,” he murmurs against her lips. “Every step of the way.”
As they lay together, Rayne can feel the bond between them pulsing stronger, a living thing that ties their fates together.She knows there will be challenges, knows that the world Blade speaks of is filled with darkness and danger. But with him beside her, she is ready to face it all, to embrace the unknown and find her place in a world that is as terrifying as it is beautiful.
BLADE 4
Blade is sitting alone in a quiet corner of the room, his phone in hand, his thoughts already on what he needs to say. Becoming mated is a rare thing, and as the only one among his Elite brothers to have found a mate, he knows the news will come as a shock. He also knows it will change things. The headquarters is not set up for humans—it is a place of shadows, hardened by battles and secrets, and bringing Rayne into that world would mean altering it in ways they had never considered.
He dials the number to headquarters, the familiar tones humming in his ear before a voice answer on the other end.
“Elite Command,” the voice says, firm and efficient.
“It’s Blade. Put me through to Command,” he replies, his voice steely. Within seconds, the call is transferred, and the familiar voice of Gage, the head of their operations, is heard on the line.
“Blade! It’s been a while. I take it you have an update on Rake?”
“More than that,” Blade replies, a hint of tension in his tone. “I’m mated, Gage. And that changes things. I need protection for her.”
There is a pause on the line before Gage responds, surprise evident in his voice. “Mated? Damn, Blade, I didn’t think that would ever happen to one of us. None of us ever found a mate, not in all these years.”
“Neither did I,” Blade admits, “but here we are. She’s a human, and that means she’s vulnerable. If Rake finds out, he’ll use her against me, and I can’t risk that. I need her protected.”
“Understood,” Gage says, all business now. “We’ll make the arrangements. But you know what this means. We’ll need to change things at headquarters. It’s not exactly human-friendly.”
“I know. But it’s what has to be done,” Blade warns, his voice resolute. “I won’t bring her into this world without making sure it’s safe for her. I need to know she’ll be looked after when I’m not there.”
“Then consider it done. We’ll set up the protections and make the necessary modifications,” Gage assures him. “Bring her in as soon as you can. The others will want to meet her.”
Blade ends the call, exhaling a long breath. He had known this wouldn’t be easy, but hearing it confirmed made the weight ofhis decision settle even more heavily on his shoulders. He knew his brothers would have questions, but he also knew they would understand. They were family, and family protected its own.
???
Blade and Scar pull up to the Elite headquarters, a sprawling complex hidden in the heart of the mountains, cloaked by ancient wards that keep it hidden from human eyes. The building itself is a blend of stone and metal, a fortress that has stood for centuries, its walls etched with protective symbols and ancient runes that shimmer faintly in the dim light. The headquarters was more than just a base—it was their sanctuary, a place they had built and fortified over the years to withstand any threat.