Page 144 of Dark Shadow of Guilt

“Of course. Healing is cool, but the flip side is evil. I’m like a black mamba or a poisonous scorpion.”

“Maddy, you’ve always had the ability to kill others. Guns. Swords. Hammers. You didn’t then, and you won’t now.”

“But it’s easier now. I need some Immortal wisdom.”

Dom curled an arm under his head. “Hmm. Never thought much about it before. Our gifts are like muscles, I guess. We flex them. Extend them. Retract them. Doing anything out of the ordinary, though, requires a conscious command. You don’t accidentally slap someone, do you?”

“No.”

“The same with your powers. They don’t jump out of you willy-nilly and do whatever. If you want to perfect them, train, but you won’t kill someone unintentionally, Maddy.”

“I don’t want to kill anyone at all.”

“That’s good because you won’t be joining the assassins.”

“Fine by me. The OC promised me a job in Angor’s library. I intend to make sure he follows through.” She rested her cheek on Dom’s chest again.

After they lay silent for many moments, she said, “I need to contact my sisters. They must be worried.” It was time to reach out to Fia and Darya, though she was still unsure what to tell them.

“Ohngel has a lot of dealings on Earth. I’ll see if he knows an easy way.” He closed his lids to contact Indigo’s fire-winged mate.

When he opened his two shocking green eyes, he lifted an index finger. “Just a minute. Wait here.” He climbed out of bed to drag on his pants before heading toward the salon.

She heard voices. Dom returned with something in his fist. A cell phone. “Ohngel says this will do the trick.”

“It’s an iPhone. Does he have some kind of a deal with Apple? Like a cell tower in Vast and Angor?”

Shucking off his pants, Dom slipped into bed, leaning his back against the headboard. “He keeps up on Earth shit. Has friends there.”

“What about you?”

“Not so much. I watch some Earth TV. Not since you arrived and not as much as Remi. He’s obsessed with television and the movies. Quotes shit all the time.”

“You have a television? Where is it?”

“Wherever I want it to be.” He snapped his fingers, and a widescreen television appeared on the bedroom wall. It was tuned to a cooking show.

“Hmm. I wonder how ... never mind. It’s magical or technical. In either case, I don’t want the particulars.” She palmed the phone. “Should I punch in their usual area code? Is there an international number?”

“I don’t know what the fuck you’re talking about. Try.”

“Simmer down. We can’t all use telepathy.” Maddy scooted upright in bed.

“Don’t see why not. And you’re stalling.”

“True. I didn’t ask about phoning them before because I wasn’t convinced I’d live. It was better to let them believe I’d disappeared. Cruel but kind. Now, I’m not sure what to tell them.”

“The truth.”

She snorted. “Ha. They’ll think I’m crazy.”

Maddy punched in the country code and number for Darya. She smiled at Dom when the phone rang, but she listened to a message that said the mailbox was full. “Strange. Never happened before. She’s not deleting her voicemails.”

Dom’s lips curved into a smirk. “Still not sure what you’re talking about.”

Entering Fia’s digits, Maddy waited. “Now I am concerned. Both boxes are full? Something’s wrong. Maybe they’re looking for me. They must be worried sick. I have to reach them. Can we go to Earth?”

Dom angled his head toward her. “Not a good idea yet. Fangs. Wings. Blood urges.”

---