Page 27 of Wings and Shadowthief

He winced. “I get you don’t like me very much at the moment, but I don’t have a choice. I need powerful elemental magic infused into this every day, or I’ll go crazy again.” He was holding a small pendant between his fingers, a delicate amber filled with magic she couldn’t identify at first.

Part of her wanted to escape into her room and shut the door. Another part was intrigued.

“Crazy?”

He nodded. “I told you I don’t remember that night, and that was the truth. Some part of me takes over when I’m in danger. A part I can’t control. This ensures I remains conscious at all times—presumably, even when that…thing surfaces.”

“Shadowthief,” she said.

He frowned.

Rather than admit she’d looked into it after his confession in March, she pretended the term was common knowledge. “An inner self able to surface, entirely independent from your consciousness, is called a shadowthief. When it’s not schizophrenia, that is.”

He leaned against the wall. “Did I ever tell you I liked when you sound like a prim teacher?”

“Did I ever tell you I don’t care what you like?” She unlocked her bedroom, immediately regretting it.

She hadn’t been as tidy as usual that morning. Her bed was unmade, and the clothes on her chair remained unfolded.

Not sharing with Michelle had made her complacent.

“Why not ask just about anyone else?” she asked.

“Because Terra White said I needed a cosmic amount of magic. You’re the most powerful witch I know.”

“Aww. You think flattery will get you somewhere. Cute.”

Jack laughed.

It wasn’t a bad sound at all, all things considered.

“You’ve changed, Gwen. You didn’t used to—“

“Have a spine?” she interrupted derisively. “Sorry to disappoint. I have one now, and zero desire to let you use me.”

She moved to close the door, but he pressed his flat palm against it, holding it open, amusement gone from his eyes. “I have never wanted to use you. Not then, not now.”

“Sure sounds like it.”

“I need a service from you, and I’ll pay whatever you want, no matter the rate you charge.”

Way to make her sound like a prostitute. He must have realized it, because he winced. “For your magic. Clearly.”

“I don’t sell magic.” Or anything else. “Move.”

To her surprise, he stepped back.

She closed the door and flopped her back against it, suddenly exhausted.

“I need you, Gwen.” She could hear him clearly from the other side. “I wouldn’t ask if I had any other alternative.”

That couldn’t be right. There were dozens of better witches than her here. They even had a hellwitch around, for heaven’s sake. And Greer Vespian.

This was another game.

After a long sigh, she unlocked the door, and opened it again.

“All right. Let’s have a look.” She reached out for the pendant, careful not to touch Jack’s shirt underneath.

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