Page 37 of Dark Shadow of Guilt

Dom was used to capturing Immortals-turned-Scourges or extincting the hell out of them. Investigating a crime was not his thing. It made his fucking head hurt.

He exited the same way he had entered the building, this time taking the stairs. Out on the street again, he prowled the alleys, checking behind closed doors for any sign of Praevus.

Near a toppled trash bin, he kicked at a bundle on the ground, obviously a Scourge who hadn’t secured a home yet. Meant he was a newbie, lazy, or stupid. Dom’s boot connected, but the body felt strange. The black-winged assassin bent forward, pulling back a raggedy, soiled blanket. He toed the guy over.

What the fuck?

It was Ike. Their informant had been extincted.

Finding a Scourge under a blanket on the street or in an alley was not unusual. Finding a dead one was ... what? Impossible.

Immortals didn’t just croak. They had to be extincted. And only a few could do that job. Him. His Feard brothers. Michael. The OneCreator. Short list.

Dom crouched beside what had been their informant. When he touched an arm, it ashed.Yep. The body was nothing more than a husk. Any good wind through the alley would turn the remains to dust. Immortals and Scourges disintegrated at different rates. He never knew who would instantly poof and who would slowly crumble. This one suffered a slow death.

Join me now.Dom broadcast his message to the other winged assassins, his thoughts a loud GPS beacon.

It didn’t take long before Ohngel, his wings blazing fire, landed with his crazy witch riding her gryphon. Ely came next. And finally, Remi arrived, his bronze-spiked wings pounding against the air as his feet touched the ground.

Ohngel glanced at the remains of the body first, lines forming above the bridge of his nose when he squeezed his brows together. “Get a little carried away, Dominion?”

Dom glared.

Ely’s expression remained disinterested. “Shouldn’t we have talked about this before you took it on yourself to off him?”

“I didn’t do it.” Dom studied each of his brothers for a sign of deception.

Ely shook his head. “Not me. I’m a good do-bee.”

Since Remi hadn’t answered yet, all gazes tennis-balled to him. “Don’t look at me. I got no reason to waste the Scourge.” He winked at Indigo, who flashed a grin.

Apparently, Ohngel didn’t appreciate Remi flirting with his mate. He glared, a growl rumbling from his chest, before he asked, “Did the OneCreator put out a hit on the asshole?”

“None I’ve heard of.” Remi avoided the snarly fire-winged assassin’s displeasure by leaning over the partially ashed body.

Ohngel’s quirky witch clapped her hands. “A mystery. I love a good mystery.” She reached into a pocket, extracting business cards. She passed them around to everyone except her mate. “I’m for hire.”

Indigo tapped on the one in Dom’s grasp, pointing out her description.Reader of the river, the incomparable finder of lost objects, witch extraordinaire, sister of Alarik, aunt of Rein, daughter of Tor and Adriana, madwoman, quirky bitch... “Notice, I’ve addedmate of Roark, and crime solver.”

Ohngel grinned, rolling his eyes while he looped an arm over her shoulder.

After he shook his head, Dom pocketed the card.

Joining Remi, Ely studied the body. “Michael may have accepted an extinction order.”

Dom agreed. “It has to have been Bright Boy.” He nodded at Indigo, who had come up with the perfect handle for the asshole Immortal Michael whose skin often radiated with light. “But why would the OneCreator issue a command to take out Ike, the male who turned us on to Praevus’s activities? He certainly didn’t mention it in my meeting.”

All heads shook.

Indigo asked, “Are you sure you know everyone capable of extincting Immortals.”

Gazes ping-ponged around the group.

“Hmm. Thought we did,” grunted Ohngel.

Dom went on to share his intel from the two Leeches, telling everyone that Praevus’s deal had not only exempted him from the Ordeals but had earned him better housing.

With the same division of labor, the Feard and the witch took off to find Praevus or info on whatever the fuck was happening.

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