The Initiation (Darkness Within Duet 1)

“Harp, I’m trying here, but I’m running out of eggs and they’re burned on the bottom.” Axel lifted an egg and dodged the fat spitting up. The underside of the egg was black. There was also a lot of smoke.

“You’ve got it all too hot.”

“Help me make breakfast and remember I’m the considerate one,” Axel said. He gave her a wink, and she sighed.

No one mentioned last night. Buck was drinking his coffee, and Jett was watching as always.

“Okay, yes, fine.”

“You like the gardens?” Axel asked.

“They’re beautiful.”

“I’ll take you for a walk around them. They’re really something.”

“I’d like that.” She opened up the carton of eggs. “Do you have anything else? You’ve used three already.”

“Told you, you should wait,” Buck said. “He cannot cook to save his life.”

“Shut up.”

Axel grabbed more ingredients out of the fridge, and they got to work cooking breakfast.

Draven left them to it. He went into the sitting room and started to put it back to how it was, lifting up the pillows, plumping them up.

“Is she okay?” Jett asked, coming to join him.

“Yeah, why wouldn’t she be?”

“Last night couldn’t have been easy. It’s why we waited so long so she could adjust.”

“She’s worried. I think she expected you guys to go talking about it, but I told her not to worry.”

“Last night was private. No one gets to know what happened.”

Draven ran a hand down his face, thinking about his father. It seemed that no matter what he did, his father knew.

“You’re in love with her,” Jett said.

He turned to Jett, who held his hands up.

“It’s fine. I get it.”

“No, you don’t,” Draven said.

“I do. I mean, what’s not to love? We all care about her, but I’ve seen you with her. You’re careful around her. You don’t let her see the ugly you have to deal with.”

“Are you really going to try and analyze me right now?”

“I’m not trying to do anything, Draven. We’re all a team, but if you wanted her to yourself, all you had to do was say.”

“I want her to be protected. You’re the only guys I trust more than anyone else.” Even before his father. He knew Alan wouldn’t kill him. What he said to Alan in his office was very much true, but that didn’t mean he wouldn’t try to hurt Draven in some way, to come between all of them to see his goals through. It was always a risk.

“Does she know?”

“No, and you’re not going to say anything either.”

“I’m sure she’d love to know. There’s something between the two of you. I don’t know if the others can see it, but I can. She looks to you for reassurance. You’re always there for her.”

“I’m not going to take her away from you guys.”

Jett snorted. “This isn’t about that. It’s about the two of you. If your father has seen what I have, be careful.”

Draven tensed. “What do you mean?”

“One look at her and I see your weakness. She’s the key to breaking you, Draven. If your father ever finds that out, then I’d worry for Harper even more. You’re going to have to keep her in your sight.”

They finished putting the pillows and blankets together. Harper called breakfast, and Jett didn’t linger to finish off. Draven didn’t mind the few minutes he got to himself. Once he finished, he found them all sitting around the dining table. Harper was near the head of the table. Buck, Axel, and Jett took seats along the sides. Axel sat next to Harper while Buck and Jett were on the other side.

These guys, they were his family. They were his home.

One look at Harper, and he knew it was different for him.

For so long, he’d been watching her. He wanted to see every single dark part of her. To show her she didn’t have to be afraid of the dark.

Harper thought she knew darkness, but she hadn’t even come close to the dark yet. She had a long way to go before she even touched him.

She looked up, and that smile, it undid him every single time. “Breakfast,” she said.

He smiled at her, aware of his guys watching him, so he stayed on guard. He’d never tell Harper how he felt, or anyone else. Never would he openly admit his feelings. They were for him and him alone.

“So, I’m thinking we should party today,” Axel said. “You know, celebrate.”

“Let’s stay here. Rent a couple of movies. Hang out,” Buck said. “I’ve got nothing better to do.”

“You, Harper?” Axel asked.

She looked over at the clock on the wall and shrugged. “Ian’s probably hunting for me and is freaking out, but in all fairness, he left me without even a note so whatever. I’m good to hang out.”

Draven stared at her.

She was no longer blushing, and in time this would just be a memory for all of them. Their first time together. Their own secret as to what bound them together that all others only tried to guess the truth at.