Page 125 of Dark Shadow of Guilt

“She is.”

The OC released his grasp as Michael looked on, confused. Later, when the Bearer of Death confronted Dom, he learned Maddy’s secret.

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The last trial Domhad attended was Gareth’s. That hadn’t turned out well. He hoped he and Maddy fared better. His petition to accept full blame for the bloodtaking had been denied. His mate’s response had been a frosty night of silence. Now they were at the mercy of the OC, and the guy was behaving erratically.

Dom crossed his arms defiantly over his chest as today’s arguments proceeded. Michael called Maddy to testify.

He asked her to retell the story of how she came to OneWorld. Maddy captured the audience’s sympathy with her harrowing account of being kidnapped on a street in St. Louis and rescued by Dom.

When she finished, Michael faced the audience and raised his arms as if victorious. “So goes my first argument. A human forced to enter OneWorld is not under the OneCreator’s laws.”

The OC popped that optimistic balloon. “One could also argue that anybody in OneWorld, regardless of how they arrived, is under my law.”

Michael shrugged. “On to the next point. Madeline, when you were supposedly a Scourge, what did your wings look like?”

“Leathery primaries and secondaries layered with blonde feathers.”

“Hmm. Not typical. How about your fangs?”

“I was told they were smaller than usual.”

“Did you crave blood?”

Her gaze flicked to the floor as a blush creeped onto her cheeks. “Yes.”

“Anyone’s?”

She jerked her head up. “No. Just Dominion’s.”

“So your wings, fangs, and blood cravings were oddities. And though you couldn’t pass through the gateway out of Angor, you may never have been a typical Scourge.”

He asked Madeline to unfurl her wings. When she did, the audience gasped.

“Spectacular and strange, aren’t they,” said Michael. “A few leathery primaries but many blonde feathers now joined by ones similar to the black-winged assassin’s. Thanks, Madeline. Your fangs, please.”

She opened her mouth.

“As you can see, they are present but small. Quite unlike a Blood Leech.”

While Madeline stood silent, Michael continued, “So what do we know? Here is a human who resembles a Scourge. We don’t know why or how. We do know she isn’t conventional. And may I repeat, she was human—not an Immortal who could suffer a malady. Madeline, why is it you believe you are no longer a Scourge?”

“Mostly because I can fly through the passageway out of Angor. Well, that and the added color in my wings.”

Once she had answered, Michael said, “Whatever had affected her does no longer. Since drinking Dominion’s blood, Madeline is a strange blend, seeming Immortal as she had once seemed a Scourge.” He fixed his gaze on the OC, who leaned forward, listening intently. “Most importantly, if she never was a Scourge, never a true Leech, no law exists to prevent Dom from feeding her his blood.”

The OC’s only comment was “Hmm.”

“Thank you, Madeline. Please return to your seat.”

Michael stroked his jaw, appearing to contemplate his next move. Then he acted. “I have a question for the OneCreator. It pertains to my case.”

The OC nodded. “Unusual but granted.”

“Does Madeline have other abilities that make her unique in OneWorld?”

The OC squint-eyed him but answered. “She does.”

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