Page 28 of Dark Shadow of Guilt

“I recall little about the first warehouse where I woke up other than it smelled bad. Later, Praevus cut the ropes and flew me to another place. Then things got weird.” She snorted and slapped a hand over her mouth before continuing. “I mean, weirder.”

“How so?”

“He sat close to me, touching my cheek or forehead. When he did, I’d get these horrible headaches. They lasted until he stopped. Afterward, he seemed tired, but he kept coming back.”

“How many times?”

“Maybe four. I know this is crazy, but I could swear he was fiddling inside my mind.”

Dom studied Madeline. Other than clenching her jaw, she looked normal. What was normal for a human, though? The little experience he had with the species was millennia ago. “He’s a Mind Rat. He can get into your head.”

Madeline pressed a hand to her heart, her breaths short, choppy. “Why would he want to?”

“It’s his sickness. He gets perverse pleasure from rummaging around in your brain.”

Her shoulders sagged. “That doesn’t sound good.”

“You aren’t showing symptoms, though.”

“Symptoms of what?”

Dom shrugged. “Of any permanent damage.”

Madeline set her empty glass on the table. “Silver lining.”

“How did you escape?” Dom threw back his wine.

“The last time I woke, I was untied. Once I talked myself into doing something other than sitting on my ass or bawling in the corner, I risked going outside.”

“Brave.”

“What choice did I have? If I’d stayed, Praevus could have returned. Why did he want me? Was I a random victim on National Grab-a-human Day?”

“I don’t know. How he got you is also puzzling.” Dom swiped a hand across his chin. “Scourges can’t leave Angor. Means he had a partner. Maybe the female you kinda remember. Someone capable of traveling to Earth and back here.”

“Can just any Immortal fly to Earth and then here?”

“Most. Is there anything else you recall?”

When she shook her head, her stomach growled.

“Are you hungry?”

“Starving.”

“Good. Maybe you won’t talk so much when your mouth’s full.”

“Rude.”

“Truthful.” Even though he was getting the hang of chatting, talking was not how he wanted to pass the time with the female. He’d never heard of an Immortal fucking a human. Could the experience kill them? Was he willing to take a chance? Probably. He’d sent Mora on her way, but he needed a fix. Sex would settle his mind. It always did. Dom didn’t like to overthink situations. Yet here he was.

Trying to erase thoughts of the alluring female, he ignored her to reach out to the OC. Again. His reply?Busy,adding,Shut the fuck up for a while.Ohngel, Remi, and Ely had nothing valuable to report.

“The kitchen,” Dom snapped to Madeline.Damn. First Angor tour guide. Now chef. The human was disquieting. Immortals didn’t fuck Gabriel’sHomo sapiens. Yet, he had a troubling desire to strip off Madeline’s t-shirt and trap her under his body.

Not happening.

She followed him, her footfalls soft on the stone flooring.

---