Page 45 of Wings and Shadowthief

And that made him smarter. Stronger.

Handsomer, too.

Jack grunted, pissed to hear the thief’s voice in his mind for the third time that day. The wall between them was crumbling.

A concern he couldn’t focus on right now.

Damn.

Hunter had to stop talking, or Jack was going to punch himself. But "damn" was right. Gwen was wearing tight leather pants and a high-necked duster flowing to her ankles.

“You look amazing.” He offered her a hand to help her in Seth’s jet.

She grinned, surprising him by taking it. “Tris’s old wardrobe is what’s amazing.”

He’d never seen his cousin wear any of those clothes, but he sure was glad Tris had passed them along.

He glanced back at his cousin, already settled on one of the comfortable cream leather seats at the back of the plane. Tris winked at him, knowing exactly what monster he’d unleashed.

Everyone else was already present, save for the man of the hour, Seth, who was fashionably late. Cat and Bash, Mikar, without Diana, who was remaining behind as part of Chloe’s guard—mostly because she was too recognizable—Tris, Alexius and Avani. Alexius, stuck in Oldcrest for the best part of the last thousand years, couldn’t be recognized on sight by just about anyone. He’d also dyed his hair black for the occasion. Jack had considered coloring his, but settled on cutting it much shorter and wearing a charm changing the color of his eyes to a dull brown. Blair had wanted to join them, at first, but Seth only needed to mention Velvet to talk her out of it.

“Have you ever been to Italy?” he asked Gwen, to fill the silence and also simply because he wanted to know more about her.

“I lived there for a time.”

“Oh, whereabout?”

“A small town in the south, close to the mountain. Plati.” She shrugged. “Nothing special, but it was close to a river, so we could practice our magic.”

It wasn’t unusual for witches to prefer smaller towns and keep to themselves. Yet he couldn’t imagine Gwen there, as if in hiding.

Seth stepped inside before he had a chance to say another world, carrying two full trays of coffee.

“Starbucks, anyone?”

Gwen laughed. “I can’t remember why I didn’t like that guy.” She greedily accepted the cup.

“I’ll make a mental note: apologize with coffee, next time.”

“Do you plan to do anything that’ll require an apology?” Gwen countered.

“Not if I can help it, but a wise man plans ahead.”

Seth’s staff started the plane, taking off over the Highland countryside.

Gwen stiffened on her seat as the plane lifted, closing her eyes and letting herself sink into the cushy seats.

“You don’t like flying?” he guessed.

“Just don’t remind me it’s safer than driving. I’m aware. I’m still not fond of the idea of being stuck in a tube of metal.”

“Me neither.”

She opened one eye, shooting him a skeptical look. “Isn’t the sky, like, your domain?”

“Sure, but I'd much rather be in charge. Or as much in charge as the wings ever let me be, in any case.”

Now she opened her other eye and turned to him, distracted from her fears. “Your wings?”

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