THE DARKNESS IN YOU
THE FOUR
BOOK 6
BECCA STEELE
The Darkness In You
Copyright © 2023 by Becca Steele
All rights reserved. No part of this book may be reproduced or transmitted in any form or by any means, electronic or mechanical, including photocopying, recording or by any information storage and retrieval system, without written permission from the author, except for the use of brief quotations in a book review.
Editing by One Love Editing
Proofreading by Rumi
Cover photography by Michelle Lancaster
Becca Steele
This is a work of fiction. Names, characters, businesses, places, events, locales, and incidents are either the products of the author’s crazy imagination or used in a fictitious manner. Any resemblance to actual persons, living or dead, or actual events is purely coincidental.
CONTENTS
Playlist
Author’s note
Another note
A Quick Recap
Part One
Prologue
Chapter 1
Chapter 2
Chapter 3
Chapter 4
Chapter 5
Chapter 6
Chapter 7
Chapter 8
Chapter 9
Chapter 10
Part Two
Chapter 1
Chapter 2
Chapter 3
Part Three
Chapter 1
Chapter 2
Chapter 3
Chapter 4
Chapter 5
Chapter 6
Chapter 7
Chapter 8
Chapter 9
Chapter 10
Chapter 11
Chapter 12
Chapter 13
Chapter 14
Chapter 15
Chapter 16
Chapter 17
Chapter 18
Chapter 19
Chapter 20
Chapter 21
Chapter 22
Chapter 23
Chapter 24
Chapter 25
Chapter 26
Chapter 27
Chapter 28
Chapter 29
Chapter 30
Chapter 31
Chapter 32
Chapter 33
Epilogue 1
Epilogue 2
Thank you and a note
Acknowledgments
Also by Becca Steele
About the Author
PLAYLIST
Loner - Theory of a Deadman
Monster - Imagine Dragons
Zombie - Bad Wolves
The Sun Has Set on Me - Theory of a Deadman
The Dark of You - Breaking Benjamin
Demons - Imagine Dragons
With Or Without You - U2
Alone - I Prevail
Angel - Theory of a Deadman
Monster - Walking on Cars
I Started A Joke - ConfidentialMX, Becky Hanson
Love Is Gone (Acoustic) - SLANDER, Dylan Matthew
One More Light - Linkin Park
Enemy Reimagined (Acoustic) - Designer Disguise
Fallen Angel - TIX
Wicked Game - Theory of a Deadman
Here With You - Sick Puppies
Ashes of Eden - Breaking Benjamin
Scars - Alfie Acuri
Right Here - Ashes Remain
Pieces - Red
Nightlight - Finding Hope
My Escape - Ravenscode
Find the playlist on Spotify or YouTube
AUTHOR’S NOTE
The author is British, and British English spellings and phrases are used throughout.
Please note that this book may contain triggers for some readers. Please view the trigger warnings page below for details:
https://authorbeccasteele.com/trigger-warnings/
You can find the playlist for TDIY on Spotify or YouTube
ANOTHER NOTE
While The Darkness In You is technically a standalone novel, it is best enjoyed after the previous books in the series (particularly books 1-3), in order to gain an understanding of the characters and continuing storylines. All are available on Amazon, and are in Kindle Unlimited.
#1: The Lies We Tell
#2: The Secrets We Hide
#3: The Havoc We Wreak
#4: The Fight In Us
#5: The Bonds We Break
If you haven’t read them, or read them a while ago and need a reminder of what happened, read on for a quick recap of the books. Please note that this recap contains MAJOR spoilers! If you would prefer not to read, skip ahead to Part 1 of the story.
Becca xoxo
PART ONE
TWO YEARS AGO
“You never really understand a person until you consider things from his point of view… until you climb inside of his skin and walk around in it.”
—Harper Lee, To Kill a Mockingbird
PROLOGUE
Tim. My brother. My confidant, my best friend, and my protector.
Zayde. My lover. My secret, my shelter, and my soulmate.
On Halloween, I lost them both, because of him.
He started the fire, and I burned with it. In one night, he destroyed my entire world, and ashes were all that remained.
ONE
My eyes blinked open, and it took me a minute to get my bearings. Oh, yes. I was in my friend Hailey’s car. She’d come to pick me up from the train station for a surprise visit to Alstone. I was normally at boarding school during term time, but since it was half-term, I was making the most of no lessons and a chance to see my two favourite people. Even though it meant that I’d see him. “Where are we?” I asked, then took in the scenery outside. “Oh. Nearly home.” I couldn’t disguise the tremor in my voice, but I hoped that Hailey didn’t notice it.
She smiled as she brought the car to a stop at the side of the road. “Happy to be back?”
That was a question with a complicated answer. “I’m looking forward to seeing Tim and Joe,” I said, unclipping my seat belt. As I reached for the door handle, I forced a smile. “Thanks, Hails. I’ll see you on Sunday?”