Page 140 of Dark Shadow of Guilt

Can he glamour his wings?pathed Madeline.

Obviously.

And so they flew to Outcast Tower, where the OneCreator waited outside the entrance.

The OC momentarily fixed on Madeline, probably wondering why she was on a fly-along. Then the ruler of OneWorld turned a menacing glare on Luce. He powered toward him, moving so fast that his loose golden hair streamed behind him. He curled his palms around Lucian’s neck, the biceps in his arms bulging. Dom had felt the OC’s hands on him. It was something to take seriously. He lifted the Scourge off the ground, Luce’s boots dangling in the air. “What have you done, asshole?”

Lucian struggled in his grasp, his voice a strangled gurgle. Eventually, the OC released the rebel who, staggering, rubbed his throat. “I’ve done a lot, I’m sure. But what in particular?”

“The geological disasters. The riots in Angor. The whole shitstorm surrounding this human. Malacour.”

“I wish I could take the credit for all of it, but I can’t.”

Lightning crackled around the OC. He snapped out his wings. At first, they were a brilliant white. In a second, they morphed to black, touched with specks of gold, blending into the oncoming darkness like a starry night. Overhead, deafening thunder rumbled.

Lucian, in response, slicked out his wings. His golden wings.

They each stood, legs wide, awaiting a fight. Luce blinked first. He shushed his wings to his back, where they disappeared.

The OC settled down. With a deep breath, he waved away the lightning and thunder while he folded in his once-again-brilliant white wings. “You remain irreverent, Lucian. Such will not fare well for you.” His hands flew to his temples, and he howled in pain as the ground beneath their feet began to roll.

Dom grabbed Maddy’s arm to steady her.

Adopting a wide-legged stance for balance, Luce tapped his head. He glanced at Dom. “Is this what you meant?”

“Yep. Most often the OC’s pain comes and goes with some geological shit.”

“Okay. So I had contact with Malacour. He stopped by and met with a couple of my Scourges.”

The “my Scourges” got a raised brow from the OC. Since he’d created Immortals, he probably figured Luce couldn’t claim any ownership, even of those infected with the malady.

Lucian continued, “He told his contacts he was off to check out the gateway. Personally, I hope he tries to get through and fries his ass. Never liked the guy.”

Stiffening his spine, the OneCreator breathed deep, wiping the grimace from his face. Swaying, he waved the three visitors off. As they prepared to leave, he shouted, “If I discover you are at the center of or even on the periphery of this situation, Lucian, your punishment will be extraordinarily painful and long. I suggest you have a chat withyourScourges. Be fucking gone now.”

Before Dom took to the air, he asked Luce, “Is there any truth in your words?”

The rebel laughed. “I am telling the truth. Of course, if I’m a liar by nature, my statement may be false.”

“That makes no sense.”

“Neither does OneWorld right now.” Luce ascended in a blaze of golden feathers, lighting up the sky, his speed faster than Dom could track.

“I don’t trust him,” Madeline said as he disappeared. “What will you do now?”

“Path the Feard about what happened and watch him.”

Dom closed his eyes, sharing intel with his brothers-in-arms.

Fucker, said Ely.

Ohngel pathed,They both play games.

Remi said,Keep your friends close, but your enemies closer.

When nobody responded, the movie-watching assassin added,It’s fromThe Godfather, Part II.

Snapping out his wings, Dom signaled toward the sky. Madeline took flight alongside him, the tips of their feathers almost touching. It was a closeness Dom had not known he’d desired. Now that he had his mate, he could not imagine eternity without her. Even if she was stubborn and threw herself into dangerous situations.

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