Page 27

D om 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.”

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.”

Dom poured the blood into a glass. “Warm or cold?” he asked.

“Um, warm.”

He heated it in the microwave, setting it in front of Maddy.

She eyed him over the glass. “It doesn’t smell good.”

“Chug it.”

Maddy downed the contents in one swift gulp, resting the glass on the counter when it was empty.

They waited.

Before Dom could ask “How is it?” she jumped up and ran for the bathroom. He raced after her.

As she upchucked into the toilet, he wet a cloth for her mouth. “That’s not good.” He crouched beside her and brushed a hank of hair from her eyes after she flopped onto the tile floor.

Madeline tucked her legs under her. “What if I want blood but can’t drink it?”

“Maybe you just didn’t like this brand.”

Her gaze fixed on Dom’s neck. “That’s probably the reason, or you’re the only brand that appeals to my tastebuds.”

****

L ater that day, a sleep -deprived Madeline heard a commotion outside. She rushed down the marble steps to the lawn. In the yard, Oskar shot streams of fire from his mouth while Freki prowled around him, snarling and dodging flames.

On the sidelines, Ohngel watched, his muscular arms crossed over his chest, a scowl on his face.

Indigo, spotting Madeline, shouted, “Aren’t they cute? Best buds.”

Madeline frowned. “How can you tell?”

“They’re playing. If Oskar wanted to, he’d fry the wolver’s ass in a sec. So, just goofing off.”

“Hmm.” Maddy, uncertain of Indigo’s assessment, looped a hand through the crook of the witch’s elbow, leading her up the steps and inside Dom’s home. “You have to see our new additions.”

Dom had kept Maddy occupied all day by decorating the salon.

Indigo jumped up and down. “Two couches. Fan-damn-tastic.” She flopped onto one, fluffing the back pillow for comfort. “Lovely.” She yanked Ohngel down beside her.

Dom strolled into the salon and leaned against the wall. “Glad you approve.”

Bouncing up and down, Indigo tested the sofa’s stuffing. “It’s a good thing Maddy cares about her guests.”

Madeline caught the “her guests” comment. It sounded as if Dom and her were a couple who shared the house. Hmm . She supposed they were.

“Do you like this color?” asked Maddy, settling into the opposing sofa with Dom. Both pieces of furniture were a soft green linen. A deep-pile rug of earth tones covered the floor between them, everything cozy in front of the fireplace.

Indigo smoothed a hand over a cushion. “What are my choices?”

Madeline pointed at Dom. “Do your thing.”

With a slight wave of his hand, he clad the sofas in rust-colored velvet.

Indigo shook her head. “Keep the green.”

Madeline signaled Dom to change the color back. He did.

Upholstery approved, Ohngel rested a palm on Indigo’s thigh, stretching into the cushions. “No news of Praevus or Serita, but how was the bagged blood I dropped off?”

Madeline curled herself under Dom’s arm. She welcomed the diversion of visitors. Still, she wasn’t comfortable discussing her thirst for blood. She blushed. “Terrible. I upchucked it.”

Dom slung an arm over her shoulders, very brave since she wanted to drain him.

“Too bad,” said Ohngel. “It was worth a try. Other than that, how’s your Scourge-ness?”

Maddy rose and flicked out her wings. “I’m getting these babies under control. I wish they weren’t so weird.”

“Be proud of them,” said Indigo. “I’d love wings, even the weird variety. No reflection on you, girlfriend. But the OC nixed them. S’okay. He lets me ride my best bud.”

“I took my first flying lesson the other day, dropping off the cliff behind the house. I’m still limited to short distances.” Maddy shushed her wings in and sank back into the new couch beside Dom.

“Ballsy.” Indigo reached across the coffee table, high-fiving her.

Madeline smacked palms with the witch. “Yeah. Well, it took a while for my stomach to catch up. I didn’t last long on my first attempt. Dom had to save me. But I got better.” She opened her mouth, allowing her fangs to drop. “Then I have these.”

Indigo’s eyes lit up. “Nice. Sharp but tiny. Vamps on Scath have bigger ones. Of course, bigger isn’t always better.” She slapped Ohngel’s leg. “What am I saying? Of course it is. The bagged stuff didn’t work, but do you still want to suck on the black-winged hunk?”

“Yeah.” Madeline ogled Dom, the beating pulse in his neck thundering in her ears. She closed her eyes, drawing on her control.

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Indigo tapped the side of her throat. “How do you feel about mine? Or the big guy’s here?” She jerked her head toward Ohngel.

Maddy stared at the couple, locking on their necks. Her hearing focused on their pulses. Thump. Thump. Thump. “I hear blood pumping through your veins.” She licked her lips, drawing their scents in through her nose. “You smell good, but the urge to bite you is weak. Very weak.”

Indigo and Ohngel exchanged looks, her mate speaking. “Interesting. So, you mostly want to suck on Dom.”

“Seems like.” Maddy really wanted to change the subject, but this was Ohngel and Indigo.

“My Indy spends a lot of time thinking about the two of you.” He smirked at his mate. “Time we could spend doing other things. Which brings us to the reason for the visit,” said Ohngel.

Indigo stretched out her legs, encased in leather. On her feet were scuffed motorcycle boots. The witch’s taste in clothes was as changeable as Angor’s weather. On some occasions, she dressed for a Grateful Dead concert in long skirts, sandals, and tie-dyed shirts. Today, she was decked out for a Sturgis bike rally. You could never be sure who’d show up.

Madeline recast her gaze to her own outfit—the jeans, the cropped t-shirt, the ankle boots. Plain. But Dom seemed to appreciate her style.

Her assassin scraped his fingers through his hair, brushing it off his forehead. “Spit it out, Ohngel.”

“It’s Indy’s play. She has an idea about the whole Leech shit.”

Madeline chewed her lower lip. “A cure?”

Indigo scooted to the edge of the sofa. “Maybe. Maybe not.”

Maddy’s shoulders sank. “Oh.”

“More of a containment.”

Madeline would grasp any straw. “What’s the idea?”

“You know about my nephew Rein. The guy who provided the bagged blood.” When Madeline nodded, the witch continued. “He was on the edge of the bludfrenzy, being a super vamp and all. Anyhoo, he mated a human.” Indigo tapped her chin. “The chickadee’s not so human now. She’s a Blood Coven witch, but that’s a story for another time.”

Ohngel looped an arm around her shoulders. “Get on with it, Indy.”

“Sure. They mated and exchanged blood. Rein is lots more stable now. Maybe it’s the mate thing. Maybe it’s the blood from his mate.”

Madeline scrunched her brows. “You’re suggesting Dom and I mate? Then I take his blood?”

Indigo shrugged. “It’s a thought.”

Dom scowled. “A couple of problems. First, giving my blood to Maddy is illegal.”

Ohngel, exchanging glances with Indigo, said, “I told you so. It’s a no-go.”

“Yeah, yeah. But who’d tell, Dom? Not us. Sometimes, you gotta bend a few rules. Roark’s strategies to save Aeternals and humans showed his willingness to stray from a righteous path.”

“I’m not Ohngel.” Dom turned a sorrowful eye to Madeline. “Besides, it could make her malady worse.”

Indigo shrugged. “Sometimes ya gotta take a risk.”

“Second,” said Dom, “Immortals don’t mate.”

Ohngel grinned. “I beg to differ.”

The statement made Dom pause, glancing at Madeline. “I wouldn’t know how.”

Indigo patted Ohngel’s leg. “Neither did big guy. He proposed. I accepted. The mating bug struck. Of course, we were flying above Earth at the time and in the middle of the fight of our lives. But sometimes shit happens and you just go with the flow.”

Maddy was dying here, but drinking Dom’s blood was a no-no. The intensity of her urges was growing, even though she fought them. If they grew too unbearable, maybe Dom could extinct her. No . She’d never ask that of him after Gareth. She’d continue to struggle. She’d win.

In her head, she tossed around the notion of mating. Was it a step beyond what she already felt for Dom? A stronger tie? Maddy had no doubt that she loved the black-winged Immortal. But how did he feel about her? He cared about her, though all she had to offer was a repeat of Gar. How could she tie the man she loved to a Scourge?