Page 38 of Wings and Shadowthief

She pretended not to notice or care when Jack placed himself next to her. "Do you mind?" he asked, holding out his pendant.

She closed her hand around it and fueled it with magic.

“What will I owe you this time?” he teased, keeping his voice low. “A trip to the post office?"

Seth and Mikar were arguing—which meant that Seth snorted a lot while Mikar’s voice rose to a shout as he tried to explain why Seth’s ideas were terrible.

They’d been at it for hours. Gwen had missed most of her classes, staying out of the discussion, but wanting to hear it, nonetheless. If she was at the center of the plan, she wanted to know what she was supposed to walk into.

“Even I wouldn’t be that cruel.” There were few places on Earth she hated more than the local post office.

The small town half an hour away from Oldcrest didn’t have many facilities. A post office was one of them. It was manned by one person, an old lady hard of hearing who should have retired years ago. Gwen remembered taking an entire hour to buy stamps once.

“You have my number when you decide. Now that you’ve unblocked it, that is.”

She didn’t bother attempting an excuse. She was entirely entitled to be pissed at him for however long she wanted. “If you’re waiting for an apology—”

“I’m not waiting for an apology. If anything, I owe you one, when you’re ready to hear it.”

“I’m always ready for some groveling.” That was a blatant lie. She hadn’t wanted to hear from him for months. A part of her still didn’t. But at the same time, Gwen could feel herself getting more comfortable with him every day. “Make it good.”

“Oh, I didn’t say anything aboutgroveling.”

She cocked an eyebrow.

“Fine. Pretty please, beautiful, gentle, kind, merciful Gweneth, would you forgive me?”

“For?” she prompted, genuinely curious to hear what he thought she held against him.

“I’m not sure all I have to apologize for, actually. Not sending flowers, certainly.”

She hated the fact that her mouth curved into a smile. Damn Jack for being sweet and funny when he wanted to.

“I’m not the flowers kind of girl. A ‘hi, Gwen’ would have done the trick.”

“Noted.” He nodded. “Do I have more transgressions to regret? Was I rude, or selfish? Tell me I took care of you that night.”

Gwen laughed out loud. “Oh, no, buddy. We’re not going there.”

“I have to wonder if you’re protecting my male pride now.” He pulled a face. “I was terrible and didn’t make you come. No wonder you were pissed.”

“Another word on the subject and I will murder you.”

“Noted.” He gestured shutting his own lips, before tilting his chin toward the rest of the gathering. “What do you think of this?”

“It’s going to be dangerous.”Way to state the obvious.“But potentially worth it, I think. Getting rid of Aveka—that’s for the entire sup community. She’s fixated on vampires now, but someone like her? She’ll want more soon.”

He was in agreement. “Stopping the likes of her is essential to the survival of all. I meant, what do you think of this specific plan?”

“Too many variables. I don’t like it much. And I don’t like the fact that it doesn’t work without me, either.”

Jack nodded, slowly. “We’ll need you to get in, and there’s no way out without you either. I’d much prefer if you weren’t part of this.”

She tried not to feel insulted and failed. “What, you don’t think I can handle a portal?”

“The portal will be child’s play. I just don’t want you in harm’s way.”

She wasn’t blushing. She wasn’t. And at least if she was, no one could tell, thanks to her complexion.

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