Page 132 of Dark Shadow of Guilt

Had he grown sloppy in his management of OneWorld? Had he spent too much time at court, entertaining frivolous gods and goddesses who had the attention spans of a Vast nat?N-a-t, notg-n-a-t. Why would Earthers add agto the name? He didn’t know.

Anyway, an entire colony lived off the grid, unbeknownst to him. But the law was still law. The case was not about mates. It was about an Immortal, a Leech, and blood. But does the hybrid Scourge have a malady?

“What is life like at The Retreat?” asked Michael.

“Similar to that anywhere with a few exceptions.”

“We’ll get back to those exceptions in a moment. What do you know of a book of laws for mated pairs?”

Jasmine kneeled on the stone tiles to riffle through a huge tote bag. “I have a copy.” Retrieving it, she held it up for all to see.

The court wide-eyed the OneCreator as he pressed fingers to his temple, trying to remember. Had he written laws for mated beings? He couldn’t recall. There had been so few bonded Immortals. Even then. Hadn’t there?

“May I read it?” he asked.

Jasmine appeared reluctant to put it into his hands.

Acknowledging her hesitation, he said, “Do not fear me, child.”

After some thought, she stretched out her arms so she did not have to climb the steps to his throne.

Taking it, he studied the cover, sensed the ancient tome’s age, and set it in his lap. “I shall peruse this after we recess today.”

Michael paused, likely for effect. Over the millennia, his Bearer of Death had pleased him. He had grown into his power. Other than a tendency toward showmanship, he sorted out other Immortals with equity. He was a child to be proud of.

“Let’s return to those exceptions you mentioned earlier, Terrell. How is it different where you live?” asked Michael.

Terrell flicked his gaze to the throne, as if to judge reaction. “Younger mated couples have joined our group.”

The OneCreator schooled his expression. Matings still occurred? He’d thought Ohngel an exception because of the Aeternal witch. He doubted Dom and Madeline’s claim.

“Other irregularities?” pursued Michael.

“Some of us have borne offspring.”

The audience, including Dom, Ohngel, and Indigo, gasped. Madeline probably did not understand the gravitas. Murmurs ofnot possibleanduntruthmade their way through the court.

The OneCreator shot from his throne. “We are in recess. Leave now. I will announce my verdict tomorrow. Begone,” he bellowed.

He thundered from the room with Jasmine’s book under his arm. He needed to think, recall, and read. Changes were rocking OneWorld—geological disruptions, his declining health, his mood swings, disobedience of his laws, and an entire community of mated couples and livebornes.

He slammed into his personal chambers, angry at himself. Fearing the spread of the malady, he had sought to control Immortal DNA by calling an end to mating and producing liveborne. Or so he thought. It had been so long ago that he barely remembered. Chaos and his sisters had stood with him then. Aeternals and humans had not existed.

He had also worried about overpopulation. The creation of Immortals had to balance their extinction. Such was mandatory with eternity. Otherwise, in time, OneWorld would be overrun.

Though he had failed to eliminate the mating urge, a bigger problem niggled in his mind. How did Madeline come to be?

Despite his distaste for the invasion, he might need to crawl into a few heads.

He was slipping.

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