Page 7 of Dark Shadow of Guilt

Dom pushed off his stool, fisting the front of the informant’s ragged shirt. “What’s your name, Scourge?”

“Ike.”

“Well, Ike, tell us about the outsider.” Dom’s upper lip curled into a sneer, his no-nonsense, do-what-I-say expression.

“I want to negotiate.”

Remi asked, “What do you expect for the intel?”

“I want time off from all Ordeals.”

Dom answered the Scourge. “Not happening. Besides, we have no say-so. That’s up to the OC or Harmony. If your shit is important, we’ll negotiate to keep you out of a few Ordeals of your choice.”

Ike looked as if he was thinking about the deal, but that assumed he was capable of rational thought. He scratched his arm again, opening a sore. “Deal. Time off from three punishments of my choice.”

Dom nodded. “Spill.”

“The outsider’s a human.”

The news exploded like a bomb blast. OneWorld was restricted. Vast was for Immortals. Angor for Scourges. Never. Never. Humans. And for good reason. Earthers were weak creatures who would be easy prey for Immortals and easier prey for Scourges. Besides, the OneCreator had a very protective fondness for them.

Ely’s eyes pinged from Remi to Dom. “What the fuck?”

Dominion guzzled his Dead Manhattan and jacked onto his feet. “Time to earn our pay. Shit just got very interesting, huh, Ely?”

Chapter Three

On the street in frontof the Angor Management Club, Dom released his grip on Ike, the Scourge-dash-snitch. “Well, where is this human?”

Rubbing the back of his neck hard enough to slough off skin, Ike stuttered, “I-I-I have to show you.”

“We have trust issues,” said Remi, speaking for everyone.

The Feard warriors finished the convo telepathically.

What’s the worst that could happen?Dom shifted from one foot to the other as he pathed his brethren.

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