Page 99 of Dark Shadow of Guilt

Dom wiped away a tear that rolled down her cheek. “I can’t...”

She smacked his chest with her palm. “I know. You can’t die, but you were in bad shape. Still, I didn’t stop. The more your blood spilled, the more I drank.”

He scratched the patch over his bad eye.

She snuggled closer to Dom. “I’m a terrible person.”

“It’s the malady talking.”

“I know, but I’m so thirsty.” She ogled his neck. “For you. I’ve accepted that I can’t leave Angor. I’ve accepted I have strange wings and fangs.” She gulped. “What I cannot accept is that I want to hurt you. It has my stomach in knots.” When her sharp canines punched from her gums, Madeline slapped a hand over her mouth to hide them.

Dom stroked a palm up and down her back. “You’re not alone, Maddy. I’m here. We’ll find answers.”

“What if we don’t?” She sniffled back her tears. “Swear again that you won’t let me hurt you.”

“I promise.”

“And if I try to hurt others?”

“I won’t permit that either. I swear.”

She nodded.

The malady was tearing Maddy up inside. Her greatest fears were for the safety of him and others. Dom had to find a solution because her pain was his. Though he ached for her, he didn’t regret his promise to stand with her. Despite his past, he was happy to be the one Maddy turned to for help. No matter the future, he would be her lover and her protector. They would get through this together.

Dom shared an idea he’d been thinking about. “It’s illegal for Immortals to give their blood to a Leech, but Aeternal vampires on Scath can survive on bottled blood.”

She jerked her head off his chest. “You think that could work?” She glanced at the pulse in his neck. “God. I’m going to hell.”

“No, you’re not, and it might. The question is, can we risk your drinking even the bottled Aeternal stuff? It’s possible it could make your malady worse, less controllable. It could be the last step in the progression of the disease.”

She snuffled back tears. “I think the disease is already under way.”

Dom stroked his chin. “True.”

He rested Maddy on the bed and swung his feet over the side. Reaching for his pants, he jerked them on and slid a t-shirt over his head. “Shower. Dress. You’ll feel better. I’ll fix breakfast.”

In the kitchen, he pathed Ohngel.Can you get me some of that bottled blood vamps on Scath use?

Do you know how fucking early it is?

I do, but this is important.

So is sleep, and my time with Indy. What’s your request again?

Bottled blood.

Ohngel didn’t ask why Dom wanted the stuff. Obviously, he’d guessed.Give me a few secs. I’ll teleport Indy to her nephew. He stocks it in his fridge.

While he waited, Dom mixed pancake batter, put the griddle on the stove, and set the table. He poured two cups of coffee.

When he turned around, Ohngel stood beside the fridge holding a bag of blood. “If you need more, let me know. Later today. Much later.” He ported out of the kitchen. Obviously in a hurry. Wings were too slow.

When Madeline showed, she was calmer and gorgeous in jeans and a cropped tee. Though still damp, her tousled, shaggy-cut hair curled around her face.

Dom pulled out a stool for her. “Pancakes. Coffee. Blood.” He waved the bag in front of her nose. “Known cures for the morning blues.”

With a loud sigh, she flopped onto the seat in front of a plate of pancakes. “If only life were so easy.”

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