Page 33 of Wings and Shadowthief

“How’s your theory going?”

“I’ve proven it with plenty of examples and experiments. It’s all about writing the paper now.” He grimaced, clearly not fond of the prospect.

“It sounds interesting. And useful.”

“What’s useful is having that PhD next to my name. I’m running London, and the old-school members of my mother’s council don’t like it. Traditionally, local leaders are older, wiser, in order to be taken seriously when they have to sit down with ancient creatures. Being a doctor is supposed to help.”

Gwen nodded. She’d learned more about him in the last ten minutes than in the last year.

“How about you? You’re an undergrad.”

She sighed. “My mother didn’t want me to go to college. She didn’t see the point, given that I can’t be trusted out in the world. If I have to stay in the coven, I might as well concentrate on learning coven magic, you know?”

His head snapped left, and he frowned at her. “Why would you stay in your coven? I mean, you could, but why would you have to?”

“You don’t remember my first day?” He didn’t seem to get it, so she clarified, “When I froze Oldcrest?”

Jack was still frowning.

“Well, let’s just say that happened pretty often. When I was upset, worried, or too happy, I guess.”

“Magic is linked to emotion,” he replied. “So?”

“So, I lack control. I’m dangerous.” Well, she had been. The progress she’d made over the last few weeks gave her hope. “But I convinced my mother to let me go last year. I’d done some studies online, and some of my courses were validated here, so I started in second year. I failed practical elemental magic last year, but I think I’ll pass it this year.”

“Hold on. Backtrack a second.” He blinked slowly. “You were going to stay with your coven because you changed the weather sometimes?”

Jack sounded aghast.

“Well, would you have liked for some snow when you’re at the beach?” she pressed.

“No. But that’s no reason to lock yourself up. I hunt witches who lose control. Trust me, no one has ever been on my list for making a bit of rain.”

“Sure. And what if said rain causes a car to skid and people die?”

“You’re being ridiculous.”

She could feel her magic start to stir. “Don’t.”

Her warning fell on deaf ears. “Maybe it didn’t occur to you, but you might have sucked at what you did because you stayed coddled by a clan who didn’t want their most powerful witch gone.”

“I saiddon’t,” she snapped, closing her eyes and grinding her teeth.

When she opened them again, the rearview mirror reflected bright blue eyes.

Dammit.

“Don’t piss me off,” Gwen told Jack. “I know that’s hard for you, but when I get pissed, my magic comes to me, and at the moment, it’s not just making snowflakes.”

Jack laughed, unconcerned. “I remember.”

“And what if I throw a spike at someone because I’m angry? Will you say I’m being ridiculous then?”

Jack was silent for a moment. Then he told her, “You’re hiding. I don’t know what from, I don’t know why, but from the moment I saw you, I knew you were keeping yourself in check, not letting the beast out—so to speak. Now, the beast’s angry. Trust me, that’s a dangerous path. I can guarantee that you would have ended up in the same situation if you’d remained stuck at home. The difference is, in Oldcrest, you’re among peers. We all have claws, fangs, and scars.”

She could only nod, though she would have liked to argue.

“Promise me one thing.”

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