Page 121 of Dark Shadow of Guilt

She flared out her wings.

Unfolding his large frame from the seat, Michael asked if he could touch them.

“Yes,” said Maddy.

Dom clenched his jaw as Michael ran a palm over her glorious feathers.

“Some are leathery, similar to a Scourge’s but not. Most are blonde, and a few are black. A combination of both of you. Quite unusual.”

“Are there rules about wings?” asked Madeline.

Michael shook his head. “And your teeth. I understand you have fangs. Show me.” He approached her again, Dom unable to smother the growl passing his lips.

After demo-ing her canines, Madeline rubbed her mate’s shoulder to calm him. A lot of good that did. He still looked ready to strangle their only hope for a solid defense.

After escorting Michael to the door and closing it behind him, Madeline asked Dom, “Why don’t you like him?”

“He was the prosecutor against Gareth and enjoyed his job too much.”

****

Maddy’s gaze sweptthe courtroom, which didn’t look like a courtroom. She figured it was more appropriate for a medieval king’s throne room than Judge Judy’s chambers. “Who’s testifying for us?” she whispered in Michael’s ear.

“Dom’s Feard brothers. The witch Indigo. Her brother. A few surprises. Your damn pet, Freki.”

“Don’t ever call him a pet to his face,” warned Madeline. “It’s demeaning.”

Michael chuckled, leaning forward, one elbow on the table, to talk to both Maddy and Dom. “My research into Immortal mates is turning up some interesting tidbits, but I’m not ready to review them with you.”

Perched on a dais in a royal high-backed chair was the OneCreator. He was decked out in a long, purple-velvet robe, open to reveal a massive, bronzed chest. Bare feet peeked beneath flowing black pants when he lobbed one leg over the arm of his throne. His hair, the color of a golden halo, fell down his back almost to his waist. His face was patrician, but his smile was mischievous. He was so glorious Madeline had to clamp her lips tight to choke back a sigh. She was nearly blinded by the power that seeped from his body.

Without straightening from his slouch, the OC fixed his gaze on her, a barely perceptible shift softening his eyes.

In a thunderous voice, he shook his head and announced, “For the sake of our visitor, Scribe, please stand.” A man sitting at a desk to the left of the throne rose. “This male is a court appointee who documents all important events. He will record the trial and report on it to my Immortals.”

Like the OC, Scribe was rocking a robe, a billowy brocade of pink and purple flowers on a navy blue background. He smoothed a palm across the top of his hair, careful not to flatten the dark blond pompadour. With one arm curled in front of his waist and the other behind his lower back, he bowed with a flourish when introduced.

When the OneCreator waved his hand as though he were starting a car race, a man flowed from his chair behind a long table to address the court.

His hands fisted the lapels of his black robe. “Tetrys for the prosecution.” He nodded to the throne and the audience. “My case is simple. First, a Blood Leech fed from a willing Immortal.” He pointed. “The female is the Scourge. Dominion is the Immortal. Second, the act violates the law.”

Tetrys neglected to say that Madeline was not your typical Scourge. She guessed that fact didn’t matter to him.

Michael rose and unfurled his wings, a bright white luminescence blazing from them and his skin. Everyone winced, shielding their eyes from the light.

The OC was the exception. He drew his mouth into a smirk and said, in a booming voice, “Enough.”

“Sorry,” said Michael. “Sometimes I forget.”

”Sure you do. Get on with it. And no theatrics. That’s my thing.” The audience applauded, earning a slight grin from the OC.

Michael paced back and forth before the OneCreator as he laid out his case. “Tetrys’s opening was okay but not spectacular. Not even completely accurate. I will present four arguments with witness testimony followed by a summation of logical conclusions.”

With his hands clasped behind his back, he paused in front of the OC. “First, Madeline was brought to OneWorld against her will, a human outside your laws. Second, she was never a typical Scourge, hence not a true Blood Leech. Third, the bloodtaking resulted in still more change for the hybrid human-Scourge-Immortal. Fourth, neither she nor Dom should be held accountable for their actions since they are true mates. I think the court will be entertained.”

The OC’s eyes flashed surprise while mumbles bounced through the courtroom audience.

Madeline guessed the mate defense was a heavy hitter.

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