Page 69 of Dark Shadow of Guilt

“Have to try, Dominion.” Farce had been an Immortal warrior, part of the OneCreator’s personal guard. An honor. Then he was caught feasting on a buddy. Off to Angor.

“Why?”

Farce spread his legs, a battle stance, preparing to fight. “To get out of the Ordeals. Can’t stand them.”

“So reform.”

The Scourge cackled. “Don’t think that’s in my future.”

“If you can’t do the time, don’t do the crime.”

Madeline shouted at his back, “Be careful, Dom. They look scary.”

“Just give me the female, and we’re outta here. No fuss. No muss.”

Why would they come for Maddy?

“Not gonna happen. Fuss away.”

On Farce’s signal, the four came at him, swords swinging.

Dom spun, nothing more than a cloud of dust with projectiles launching from his wings. He ducked and side-stepped the attackers while blocking access to Madeline. He curled his wings forward, hurling onyx-bladed feathers. When they missed the targets, he drew his sword from the spine sheath. He swung, lobbed off a Flesh Eater’s head, and pierced another Scourge’s heart. Farce’s remaining conspirator took to the skies, a deserter.

“Just you and me. What do you think of the odds, Flesh Eater?”

“The creats and missing the Ordeals were worth the risk.” Farce figure-eighted his blade.

Cheesy.

“Who sent you? If you tell me, I won’t extinct you.”

“That’s a lie.” He lunged at Dom. “I’ve sealed my fate for a chance at freedom.”

Dom struck with sword and feather. The first to the heart. The other lodged in Farce’s neck. Clean and mean.

The once-honorable warrior’s attack added to the questions piling up. Who wanted the human female and had the power to hire these assholes?

He sliced off the Scourge’s head before he spun toward Madeline, muttering the words, “May my blade bring you peace.” She peeked around him to check out the bodies while he pathed Harmony to pick up the fallen.

Dom grabbed Maddy, tucking her against him as he streaked toward the pathway to Vast and Earth.

No more tours or aerobatics. He’d promised to take her home. While he couldn’t be killed, she could. And somebody was set on getting her. Though it pained his heart, he forced himself to picture Madeline happy on Earth, shelving books in the library, enjoying her job, eventually married, and surrounded by beloved children. What he could not bear to imagine was her dead or in captivity as a Scourge’s plaything.

Yes. Maddy had gotten under his skin. After he returned her to Earth, however, everything would be normal again. He’d be the perfect winged assassin of the OneCreator. He’d have meaningless encounters with females. He’d keep Immortals at a distance so that he wouldn’t feel anything if he had to punish them. And if he got lonely, he’d remember the beautiful blonde, blue-eyed human who had cared for him and whose silky skin he had loved to caress.

When he spied the passage ahead, he kicked up his speed. “There it is. You’ll soon be home.” Dom held his grief in check for Maddy’s sake. Besides, what would he do with a human in Angor? She’d be in constant danger. Without wings, she had no transportation. It would rankle her to rely on him.

Yeah.

He was doing what was best, but he’d miss her. So would the damn wolver, Freki. But screw him.

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