Page 101 of Dark Shadow of Guilt

Upholstery approved, Ohngel rested a palm on Indigo’s thigh, stretching into the cushions. “No news of Praevus or Serita, but how was the bagged blood I dropped off?”

Madeline curled herself under Dom’s arm. She welcomed the diversion of visitors. Still, she wasn’t comfortable discussing her thirst for blood. She blushed. “Terrible. I upchucked it.”

Dom slung an arm over her shoulders, very brave since she wanted to drain him.

“Too bad,” said Ohngel. “It was worth a try. Other than that, how’s your Scourge-ness?”

Maddy rose and flicked out her wings. “I’m getting these babies under control. I wish they weren’t so weird.”

“Be proud of them,” said Indigo. “I’d love wings, even the weird variety. No reflection on you, girlfriend. But the OC nixed them. S’okay. He lets me ride my best bud.”

“I took my first flying lesson the other day, dropping off the cliff behind the house. I’m still limited to short distances.” Maddy shushed her wings in and sank back into the new couch beside Dom.

“Ballsy.” Indigo reached across the coffee table, high-fiving her.

Madeline smacked palms with the witch. “Yeah. Well, it took a while for my stomach to catch up. I didn’t last long on my first attempt. Dom had to save me. But I got better.” She opened her mouth, allowing her fangs to drop. “Then I have these.”

Indigo’s eyes lit up. “Nice. Sharp but tiny. Vamps on Scath have bigger ones. Of course, bigger isn’t always better.” She slapped Ohngel’s leg. “What am I saying? Of course it is. The bagged stuff didn’t work, but do you still want to suck on the black-winged hunk?”

“Yeah.” Madeline ogled Dom, the beating pulse in his neck thundering in her ears. She closed her eyes, drawing on her control.

Technology, Arts and Recreation, Literature...

Indigo tapped the side of her throat. “How do you feel about mine? Or the big guy’s here?” She jerked her head toward Ohngel.

Maddy stared at the couple, locking on their necks. Her hearing focused on their pulses.Thump. Thump. Thump.“I hear blood pumping through your veins.” She licked her lips, drawing their scents in through her nose. “You smell good, but the urge to bite you is weak. Very weak.”

Indigo and Ohngel exchanged looks, her mate speaking. “Interesting. So, you mostly want to suck on Dom.”

“Seems like.” Maddy really wanted to change the subject, but this was Ohngel and Indigo.

“My Indy spends a lot of time thinking about the two of you.” He smirked at his mate. “Time we could spend doing other things. Which brings us to the reason for the visit,” said Ohngel.

Indigo stretched out her legs, encased in leather. On her feet were scuffed motorcycle boots. The witch’s taste in clothes was as changeable as Angor’s weather. On some occasions, she dressed for a Grateful Dead concert in long skirts, sandals, and tie-dyed shirts. Today, she was decked out for a Sturgis bike rally. You could never be sure who’d show up.

Madeline recast her gaze to her own outfit—the jeans, the cropped t-shirt, the ankle boots. Plain. But Dom seemed to appreciate her style.

Her assassin scraped his fingers through his hair, brushing it off his forehead. “Spit it out, Ohngel.”

“It’s Indy’s play. She has an idea about the whole Leech shit.”

Madeline chewed her lower lip. “A cure?”

Indigo scooted to the edge of the sofa. “Maybe. Maybe not.”

Maddy’s shoulders sank. “Oh.”

“More of a containment.”

Madeline would grasp any straw. “What’s the idea?”

“You know about my nephew Rein. The guy who provided the bagged blood.” When Madeline nodded, the witch continued. “He was on the edge of the bludfrenzy, being a super vamp and all. Anyhoo, he mated a human.” Indigo tapped her chin. “The chickadee’s not so human now. She’s a Blood Coven witch, but that’s a story for another time.”

Ohngel looped an arm around her shoulders. “Get on with it, Indy.”

“Sure. They mated and exchanged blood. Rein is lots more stable now. Maybe it’s the mate thing. Maybe it’s the blood from his mate.”

Madeline scrunched her brows. “You’re suggesting Dom and I mate? Then I take his blood?”

---