Page 118 of Dark Shadow of Guilt

“You’ll get a trial, but we’ll be there every sec to make sure it’s fair,” said Ely.

“Who’s the judge?” asked Maddy.

Dom’s feathers quivered with his anger. After all these millennia of serving the OC, this was his payment. “The OneCreator is judge and jury.”

“But I’m cured,” said Madeline. “I can fly through the gateway. Surely, he’ll see that as good. Right?”

“He’s unpredictable,” explained Ohngel. “And intolerant when it comes to his laws being broken. I’ve never seen him so angry.”

“I could promise never to take your blood again, Dom,” said Maddy.

“What if that’s the only thing keeping you from being a full-fledged Scourge? If that’s so, I will do it again.” Dom flicked his gaze to Ohngel. “We’re mates.”

Ohngel nodded.

Remi said, “Impossible. Immortals don’t mate.”

“Is it impossible, Ohngel?” asked Dom.

The fire-winged assassin smiled. “You know it’s not, Remi. Indigo is my mate.”

“I thought you just said you were mates. A way of staking claim to your witch.”

“That’s part of it, but I can see and feel the bond with Indy. It’s unbreakable.” His focus flipped back to Dom. “How do you know Madeline is your mate?”

Dom sank into the sofa again, a smile twitching his lips. He drew a deep breath and exhaled. “I see the tie.”

Maddy tapped her chest as she stared at him. “He’s right here.”

“Well, shit,” said Ely. “You’re making eternity interesting, Madeline.”

Freki jumped off the couch. “Am I getting this straight? Madeline fed on Dom. She’s better. She even...”

Dom gave him a slight shake of his head.

“Never mind. The OC, a cantankerous bastard, is pissed because they broke one of his lame laws. He’s ordered you to bring them in for a trial, after which he’ll pass judgment. What are the possible sentences the prickly bastard can dole out?”

Remi ticked them off. “Not guilty. In which case, they go merrily on their way to suck and fuck. Guilty. In which case they could be condemned to Ordeals in Angor. No. I don’t see that happening since Dom isn’t a Scourge, and Maddy is ... I don’t know what. He could order their extinction, or stasis is an option.”

Freki bounded off the couch, growling. “Nobody’s taking them.” He pulled back his gums, revealing very sharp canines.

Maddy reached out to pet the wolver. “You’re sweet.”

“Not true. Who’s gonna feed me?”

She chuckled, “I think it’s more than that.”

“Believe what you want, but you are not leaving with the three asshole assassins.”

“Enough, Freki. They’re right. We have no choice.” Dom unfolded from the sofa, offering Maddy his hand. He had a plan. He stared down his assassin brethren. “I’ll be pissed and very non-compliant if you try to net us. We’ll fly to Vast under our own power.”

Before the Feard could answer, the foundation of Dom’s house started to rock and roll. The motion was so severe that he snagged onto Maddy to steady them both, his feet spread for balance. “Again?”

“Worse than last time,” said Ohngel. Soaring through Dom’s open roof, he beckoned the others to follow.

Flying alongside Maddy, Dom pointed at the shoals below. The ocean savaged the rocks, upset from the quake.

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