The Darkness Within (Demon Elite Death Squad #1)

RAYNE 12

Blade tightens his hold on Rayne, letting the tension of the battle finally melt away in the warmth of her embrace. He had spent the past days in a constant state of vigilance, always a step away from violence, his thoughts consumed by the threat that Rake posed. But now, with Rayne in his arms, he allows himself to feel the relief he had pushed aside. He was home.

Rayne looks up at him, her eyes filled with relief and love, but also something else—something fragile, like she had been holding her breath since he left. He reaches up, brushing his thumb along her cheek, the softness of her skin a balm to his weary soul.

“I’m back,” he whispers, his voice rough with emotion. He hadn’t realized just how much he had missed her until this moment, the reality of their separation hitting him all at once.

Rayne smiles, but her eyes glisten with unshed tears. “You have no idea how much I worried,” she admits, her voice barely a whisper. “I kept telling myself you’d be okay, that you’d come back, but…”

Blade leans down, pressing his forehead to hers, letting his eyes close as he absorbs the warmth of her presence. “I’m here now,” he murmurs, his voice barely audible. “And I’m not going anywhere.”

Taking her hand, he leads her into their room, the world outside fading into insignificance as the door closes behind them. He pauses for a moment, simply looking at her, marvelling at the strength he sees in her eyes, the resilience that has seen her through their time apart. He can see the worry lines etched faintly on her face, the shadows beneath her eyes from sleepless nights spent waiting for his return.

In that moment, Blade feels a fierce protectiveness surge through him, a need to shield her from every hurt, every worry. He pulls her close, their lips meeting in a kiss that is both tender and possessive, a silent promise that he will always come back to her, no matter what. His hands slide down her back, pulling her even closer as he deepens the kiss, his body instinctively seeking to remind her that he is real, that he is hers.

Rayne’s fingers tangle in his hair, she returns his kiss with a fervour that takes his breath away. He can feel the desperation in her touch, the unspoken fear that she might lose him, and he wants nothing more than to erase that fear, to replace it with the certainty of his love.

They move toward the bed, their bodies entwined, each touch a reassurance, each kiss a reminder of the bond they share. As he lays her down, Blade takes a moment to simply look at her, to take in the sight of her beneath him, her chest rising and falling with each breath, her eyes filled with a mixture of love and vulnerability that makes his heart ache.

“I love you,” he murmurs, his voice thick with emotion. He runs his hands over her body, enjoying the feel of her skin beneath his fingers, the softness that contrasts so starkly with the hardness of his own life. “I want to give you everything.”

Rayne’s hands come up to cradle his face, her eyes shining with unshed tears. “You already have,” she whispers, her voice barely audible. “You’re all I need.”

They move together, each touch, each whispered word a testament to the love they have fought so hard to protect. For that moment, there is no darkness, no threat lurking in the shadows—only the warmth of their bodies entwined, the softness of Rayne’s sighs, and the steady beat of Blade’s heart as he holds her close.

They whisper about the future, about the life they want to build together, a life free from the constant threat of violence and death. Blade feels a sense of peace settle over him, a feeling he had long believed was beyond his reach. But with Rayne, he can see a future that is brighter than anything he has ever imagined.

“You’ve given me more than I ever thought possible,” he murmurs, pressing a kiss to her forehead. “You’ve shown me that there’s more to life than fighting, that there’s something worth coming back to.”

Rayne smiles, her eyes filled with a love that seems to pierce through the shadows that has long haunted him. “As long as we have each other, we’ll be okay. We’ll face whatever comes together.”

And as they lay together in the quiet of their room, wrapped in each other’s arms, Blade knew that he had finally found the one thing he had been searching for all his life. He had found home.

The next day, the Elite gather in the common room, their faces a mixture of relief and exhaustion. The battle has taken its toll on each of them, but they are alive, and they had won. As Blade and Rayne enter, they are greeted by a chorus of cheers and clinking glasses, the room fills with a palpable sense of camaraderie.

Scar raises a glass, his grin wide as he inclines his head towards Blade. “To surviving yet another brush with death,” he says, his voice filled with a wry humour. “And to the brotherhood that keeps us coming back.”

The others raise their glasses, their faces reflecting the same sentiment. Talon, ever the charmer, gives Blade a playful nudge. “You know, I was almost worried about you there. You’ve got a knack for throwing yourself into the thick of things.”

Blade chuckles, shaking his head. “I’ve got a lot to live for now. I wasn’t about to let Rake take that away from me.”

Gage, his usual stoic expression softens, lifting his glass in a silent toast. “We fought hard, and we won. But we wouldn’t have made it without each other. That’s something worth celebrating.”

Reed and Soren, standing side by side, nod in agreement, their expressions filled with a quiet pride. They had faced death together, had looked into the abyss and come out on the other side. And though the battle had left its mark on each of them, they are stronger for it, their bonds unbreakable.

Rayne looks around at the men who had become her family, her heart swelling with gratitude. She can see the scars of their battles, the lines etched into their faces, but she also sees the love and loyalty that holds them together. They aren’t just a team—they are a family, bound by more than blood.

As the evening wears on, they share stories of past battles, their laughter filling the room as they recount their near-misses and hard-won victories. Scar, ever the storyteller, regales them with tales of their early days, his voice filled with a nostalgia that brings smiles to their faces.

“You know,” he starts, his gaze drifting over the room, “we’ve come a long way. We’ve lost a lot, but we’ve also gained more than we could have ever imagined. And no matter what comes next, we’ll face it together.”

Blade feels a swell of pride as he looks around at his brothers, at Rayne, at the life they had built. They had faced the darkness and emerged victorious, and now, for the first time, he allowed himself to believe in a future that is brighter than the shadows they had left behind.

As the celebration winds down, Blade finds himself standing beside Rayne, watching as the others continue to laugh and share stories. He feels a sense of peace settle over him, a quiet contentment that is both unfamiliar and welcome. He has spent so long fighting, so long running from the darkness, that he has never allowed himself to believe in a future beyond the next battle.

But now, with Rayne by his side, he can see a future that is filled with possibility. He can see a life that isn’t defined by violence, a life that is built on love and the unbreakable bond they share.

He turns to Rayne, his gaze steady as he takes her hand. “I’ve spent my whole life fighting. But now, for the first time, I feel like I’ve found something worth living for.”

Rayne smiles, her eyes shining with a love that makes his heart ache. “We’ve been through so much, but we’ve come out stronger. And whatever comes next, we will be fine.”

Blade nods, a sense of purpose filling him as he looks toward the future. He knows there will be new challenges, new battles to fight, but he also knows that he isn’t alone. He has Rayne, he has his brothers, and together, they are stronger than any darkness that might come their way.

As they stand together, watching the dawn break over the horizon, Blade knows that they have finally found their place in the world. They have fought for each other, they have fought for love, and they have won. And now, as the first light of morning bathes them in its warmth, they look towards the future with hope, ready to face whatever lays ahead, knowing that as long as they had each other, they could conquer anything.