Page 98 of Dark Shadow of Guilt

That is not me.

Chapter Twenty-Seven

Dom awoke with a start, Madeline beside him screaming. He shook her.

When she didn’t stop, he curled one arm under her shoulders and the other under her legs, lifted her off the bed, and cradled her in his lap. Tucking her tight, he restrained her as she thrashed. He kissed the top of her head, whispering, “Madeline, wake up.” No reaction. Louder. “Maddy.”

Her eyelids swooshed up, her face a canvas of terror. When he relaxed his hold, she threw her arms around him, snuggled into his chest, and sobbed.

Dom waited, letting her cry it out. Obviously, she’d had a nightmare.

Maddy sucked in large gulps of air, choking on her tears.

“Do you want to talk about it?” He smoothed his hand up and down her back, amazed that he wanted to chat it out.

She tensed, her back straightening. “It was horrible.”

Dom said nothing. Rather, he unfurled his wings and wrapped them around Madeline to comfort her. She calmed, relaxing in the darkness of his protection. He waited.

Finally, she inhaled, exhaled, and mumbled, “I had a nightmare.”

“About?”

“Blood.”

“Go on.”

Her chest heaved with shallow breaths as if the story were too gruesome. “We were in a meadow. Making love.” Maddy raised her chin, a small grin curling her lips. “When I straddled your legs, I bent forward and kissed you. With my hand on your chest, I felt your heartbeat. The sound was mesmerizing, exciting. I leaned closer, nibbling your lips, your jaw, your neck. Then I bit.”

Her gaze flipped to Dom’s good eye as if he’d censure her.

When he didn’t, she continued. “My fangs popped through your skin, sliding into a vein. Your blood flowed down my throat. Warm. Delicious. Then everything went to shit. You struggled, but I held you down while I kept sucking. When you fought, I ripped into your flesh, tearing it, blood spraying everywhere.” She paused as if the scene were too horrible. “So much of it.”

Dom nodded, not wanting to interrupt.

“You convulsed in my arms, but I didn’t care. All I cared about was your blood, and it flowed onto the grass beneath you. I threw myself off you. On my hands and knees, I lowered my mouth to the ground and lapped up your blood like a monster. I knew you were dying.”

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