Page 32

V ast, OneWorld

As jails went, Madeline and Dom were in a great one while they awaited the trial. At least she assumed so, never having been in the slammer before.

Their room in the OneCreator’s Sanctuary Keep was a luxury suite with a sitting area, kitchenette, bedroom, and well-stocked bathroom. Their clothes were in the closet. The only snag was they couldn’t leave, not even if they tried. Dom said his abilities were muted. She wasn’t certain about hers and sure in hell didn’t plan to test them.

Madeline was okay since the place was loaded with books, but Dom struggled with being locked in. He needed flight, a gym, a Scourge to chase, or somebody to extinct. He needed action—his words, not hers.

A knock on the door.

Dom stormed to it and yanked it open. “Great. Bright Boy. That’s all we need.”

She latched onto Dom’s elbow before he imprinted a fist on Michael’s face.

The white-winged warrior shoved inside. “I’m here on OC business.”

“Even better,” said Dom. “Don’t bother to sit. You won’t be here long.”

Madeline hip bumped Dom aside. “Nonsense. You’re Michael?”

He stuck out a hand. “Yes. Nice to meet you, Madeline. I must say life is a bit more exciting in Angor and Vast since your arrival.”

“I’d rather not have stirred up so much interest. Take a seat.” She pointed to a chair, relaxing on the sofa herself. She patted the cushion for Dom.

Growling, he joined her. “Make it fast, Michael.”

The very gorgeous, very tall man brushed white-blond hair away from his face, an inner light shining through his eyes. She knew he and Dom had a past, but he acted trustworthy.

Michael crossed an ankle over his opposite knee. “You’re not gonna like this, Dom. But it is what it is. When the OC says fly, we ask how high.”

“Get on with it.”

“I’m your defense counselor.”

“Holy Angor. No.” Dom jacked to his feet, nearly upsetting the coffee table.

Madeline stroked a hand along the back of his thigh to calm him. “What does that mean for us?”

“It means I will be standing between you and judgment.”

Dom flopped onto the couch and took her smaller hand in his. “It means we’re fucked.”

Michael stared at their clasped palms. “Tell me why you gave Madeline your blood, Dom. I need the whole story if I’m to mount a defense.” He eyed her. “It doesn’t look as though you devolved deeper into being a Leech because of it. That’s supposedly the reason for the law.” He scrubbed a fist across his chin.

Dom pathed a reminder to Maddy, Don’t reveal your gifts to Michael.

I know, dear. I’m neither stupid nor forgetful.

Sorry.

Dom summarized for Michael—Maddy’s kidnapping, escape, Sycophancy, cure, atypical Scourge-ness, and Indigo’s idea to curb blood hunger.

Michael stared. “We don’t mate.”

Madeline and Dom exchanged glances as he mumbled, “Tell that to Ohngel.”

“Ohngel and Indigo claim to be mates. Everyone lets them get away with the statement.”

“Are you sure?” snarled Dom. “Maddy and I have been drawn to each other since we met. When I asked her to accept me, she did. A bond snapped into place. We are mates.”

Michael dropped his foot to the floor, leaning forward in his chair. “Let me think.” He paused, intermittent light seeping from his skin. “Long ago. Eons. I remember Immortals who claimed to be mates. But the notion fell out of favor.” He flicked his gaze to Dom. “How do you know you’re mates?”

“I can see and feel the bond,” explained Dom.

Let me do the talking , he pathed to Maddy.

I’m your mate, not your Syc. I’ll talk when I want.

Dom chuckled in her head.

Michael nodded. “This could be a defense. I must find out more about Immortals and mating. If it is ... or was a thing, perhaps we can prove your attraction to Madeline was so great you couldn’t help yourself.” He paused before his following announcement. “Tetrys has been appointed prosecutor.”

“Fuck,” said Dom. “I might as well just extinct myself now.”

“Why?” asked Madeline.

“’Cause he has his lips so far up the OneCreator’s ass, they’re permanently puckered.”

Michael shrugged.

“I’ll confess. I’m guilty of talking Dom into giving me his blood.”

Maddy, stop , Dom pathed.

No.

Dom shot to his feet again. “She will not take the fall for me. Understand, Michael? I want your promise that it will never happen. Now.”

He hesitated. “Calm down, One-eye. I swear I will not allow Madeline to accept the blame.”

“You can’t make that promise, Michael,” said Maddy.

Both men stared at her as if she had no say. She sputtered but remained quiet. She’d sacrifice herself for Dom in a heartbeat. They couldn’t stop her.

Michael continued, “I have a lot to research before I can mount your defense.”

Still standing, Dom said, “Then I guess you better get going. Be sure to note that Maddy was never a typical Scourge. Even now, she’s a hybrid who can pass through the gateway. Unique among us.” He signaled for Maddy to rise. “Show him your feathers.”

She flared out her wings.

Unfolding his large frame from the seat, Michael asked if he could touch them.

“Yes,” said Maddy.

Dom clenched his jaw as Michael ran a palm over her glorious feathers.

“Some are leathery, similar to a Scourge’s but not. Most are blonde, and a few are black. A combination of both of you. Quite unusual.”

“Are there rules about wings?” asked Madeline.

Michael shook his head. “And your teeth. I understand you have fangs. Show me.” He approached her again, Dom unable to smother the growl passing his lips.

After demo-ing her canines, Madeline rubbed her mate’s shoulder to calm him. A lot of good that did. He still looked ready to strangle their only hope for a solid defense.

After escorting Michael to the door and closing it behind him, Madeline asked Dom, “Why don’t you like him?”

“He was the prosecutor against Gareth and enjoyed his job too much.”

****

M addy’s gaze swept the courtroom, which didn’t look like a courtroom. She figured it was more appropriate for a medieval king’s throne room than Judge Judy’s chambers. “Who’s testifying for us?” she whispered in Michael’s ear.

“Dom’s Feard brothers. The witch Indigo. Her brother. A few surprises. Your damn pet, Freki.”

“Don’t ever call him a pet to his face,” warned Madeline. “It’s demeaning.”

Michael chuckled, leaning forward, one elbow on the table, to talk to both Maddy and Dom. “My research into Immortal mates is turning up some interesting tidbits, but I’m not ready to review them with you.”

Perched on a dais in a royal high-backed chair was the OneCreator. He was decked out in a long, purple-velvet robe, open to reveal a massive, bronzed chest. Bare feet peeked beneath flowing black pants when he lobbed one leg over the arm of his throne. His hair, the color of a golden halo, fell down his back almost to his waist. His face was patrician, but his smile was mischievous. He was so glorious Madeline had to clamp her lips tight to choke back a sigh. She was nearly blinded by the power that seeped from his body.

Without straightening from his slouch, the OC fixed his gaze on her, a barely perceptible shift softening his eyes.

In a thunderous voice, he shook his head and announced, “For the sake of our visitor, Scribe, please stand.” A man sitting at a desk to the left of the throne rose. “This male is a court appointee who documents all important events. He will record the trial and report on it to my Immortals.”

Like the OC, Scribe was rocking a robe, a billowy brocade of pink and purple flowers on a navy blue background. He smoothed a palm across the top of his hair, careful not to flatten the dark blond pompadour. With one arm curled in front of his waist and the other behind his lower back, he bowed with a flourish when introduced.

When the OneCreator waved his hand as though he were starting a car race, a man flowed from his chair behind a long table to address the court.

His hands fisted the lapels of his black robe. “Tetrys for the prosecution.” He nodded to the throne and the audience. “My case is simple. First, a Blood Leech fed from a willing Immortal.” He pointed. “The female is the Scourge. Dominion is the Immortal. Second, the act violates the law.”

Tetrys neglected to say that Madeline was not your typical Scourge. She guessed that fact didn’t matter to him.

Michael rose and unfurled his wings, a bright white luminescence blazing from them and his skin. Everyone winced, shielding their eyes from the light.

The OC was the exception. He drew his mouth into a smirk and said, in a booming voice, “Enough.”

“Sorry,” said Michael. “Sometimes I forget.”

”Sure you do. Get on with it. And no theatrics. That’s my thing.” The audience applauded, earning a slight grin from the OC.

Michael paced back and forth before the OneCreator as he laid out his case. “Tetrys’s opening was okay but not spectacular. Not even completely accurate. I will present four arguments with witness testimony followed by a summation of logical conclusions.”

With his hands clasped behind his back, he paused in front of the OC. “First, Madeline was brought to OneWorld against her will, a human outside your laws. Second, she was never a typical Scourge, hence not a true Blood Leech. Third, the bloodtaking resulted in still more change for the hybrid human-Scourge-Immortal. Fourth, neither she nor Dom should be held accountable for their actions since they are true mates. I think the court will be entertained.”

The OC’s eyes flashed surprise while mumbles bounced through the courtroom audience.

Madeline guessed the mate defense was a heavy hitter.

Michael glowed with the response to his surprise announcement.

Tetrys, looking somewhat deflated after Michael laid out his plan, presented the prosecution’s case first, calling Librarian to testify.

A thin man, wearing what Madeline thought of as a black toga, carried a huge leather-bound book when he approached the OC’s throne.

Tetrys said to Librarian, “Please read the law as it applies to Immortals freely giving their blood to a Leech.”

The OC rolled his eyes when the witness had difficulty standing and opening the evidently heavy book. He snapped his fingers, summoning a bookstand. Librarian rested the tome on it to read a passage which clearly stated that an Immortal was forbidden to feed a Blood Leech.

Pretty clear.

Michael asked only one question on his cross. “Where are the laws pertaining to mates?”

Librarian looked to the OC for an answer, but his boss’s expression was inscrutable, his face that of a marble Greek statue. The witness said, “I know of no laws pertaining to Immortal mates.”

“Because none exist or because none are recorded?”

Again, when the OC failed to give him direction, Librarian said, “I do not know.”

“Thank you.” Michael let a spark of light shine from his body but reined it in again with a twist of his lips.

The OC smirked.

Tetrys then called on Dom. Apparently, in this court, you couldn’t plead the fifth.

When asked, Dom said, “Yes. I gave Madeline my blood.”

“Did you know it was illegal to do so?” asked Tetrys.

“Yes.” His gaze swung from Tetrys to the OC. “Madeline is a human from Earth who was unaware of our laws. She should not be held responsible for my disobedience.”

Madeline jumped up, her fingers splayed on the table. “Not true. I did know. Dom told me.”

Michael pushed her into her chair while the OC pointed at her and drew a finger across his lips, zipping them. At the end of Dom’s testimony, Michael stated he would question the black-winged assassin later.

But Dom did not sit. Instead, he said, “OneCreator, I formally petition that you release Madeline.” Snapping his fingers, he produced a sheet of paper, which the OC teleported into his own hand. “I am the Immortal. I broke your law. As your subject, I alone should be deemed guilty.”

After reading the document, the OC angled his head toward Dom. “Your petition has merit.”

When Maddy tried to rise, Michael grasped her arm to restrain her.

The OC frowned, cautioning her to stay seated and quiet. “You know the law, assassin. You are aware that I enforce my laws, and you expect stasis or extinction as punishment.”

“True to all,” replied Dom.

Michael shot to his feet. “Hear the case before you judge.”

The OC rested an elbow on the arm of his chair. “Why should I do that? My assassin has confessed and is willing to accept punishment.”

Light blazed from Michael’s eyes. “Because true justice demands you hear me out. Even Dominion does not have all the facts.”

The OC smiled at his Bearer of Death. “Very well. Petition denied, my black-winged assassin. Gladly. I, too, am interested in following this case to its conclusion.”

When Dom growled and nearly leaped forward, Michael body-checked him. “Sit. The OC has ruled.”

The courtroom remained quiet for several moments. A dejected Dom slumped into his chair, Michael pressed his lips into a thin line, and Maddy twisted her hands in her lap, angry with her mate for the end-run.

Tetrys broke the silence by calling Madeline to testify. She admitted to biting Dom and drinking his blood, heaping blame on herself. “I forced him to feed me.”

Leaning forward, an elbow on his knee, the OC puzzled his brows. “How did you force Dominion? He is bigger than you.”

“I ... I begged him. Made him feel guilty.”

Michael held Dom in his seat. “No,” he whispered. Rising as if to cross-examine Madeline, he announced he would question her about the incident when he called her to testify.

At that point, Tetrys rested the prosecution’s case. “The verdict is simple. You have heard the law, and the defendants admitted to violating it. What could be clearer? Only one conclusion can be reached.” He glanced briefly toward Madeline and Dom. “Both are guilty. Of course, the decision and punishment are yours, beloved OneCreator.”

The OC flipped an errant strand of blond hair over his shoulder. “Yes, it is. Thank you for stating the obvious.”

If the judgment were as easy as Tetrys said, Madeline conceded they were fried.