Page 44 of Wings and Shadowthief

Chloe flashed her teeth before making her escape, leaving Gwen with their favorite—and least favorite—professor.

Varra stared for a while. “Not a dark witch, then.”

Gwen hadn’t shared her conversation with Eirikr with anyone, certainly not her teacher. For one, she wasn’t sure how Fin would react to being wrong, but she wasn’t certain said reaction wouldn’t include murder.

“Apparently not.”

“I’ve met several Brides in the past. None felt as testy as you. You were gifted a great boon, one the rest of the world does not share with you. The Brides I’ve known treasured it. Yet here you are. Pissed at the world.” He laughed. “It’s refreshing.”

It was funny that the fae couldn’t lie, when they clearly were able to say one word and mean something else entirely. “You disapprove.”

“Do you need my approval?” Fin countered.

He wasn’t giving her any answer. “Any reason you wanted to see me?”

“I’ll give you some advice, if you’d like to take it.”

Gwen waited, unwilling to give her word. Accepting the offer meant being bound to take the advice no matter what.

“Clever girl.” Fin circled the desk to stand closer to her. “Some say the Brides are aberrations. Some don’t approve of their existence. But they’re mostly left alone. Do you know why?”

Gwen shrugged. “Eirikr went on a murdering spree to protect them?”

“Well, there’s that. But he’s been locked up for a good long while, and though the knowledge may have been lost to the mortal lines, some of the Brides’ enemies have long memories.” He waved an imperious hand to her. “Yet here you stand. Your kind has not been eradicated. Explain.”

He made his request sound like she could solve the riddle, so she gave it a moment of thought. “I guess they’re impossible to get rid of, if a new one is born each time one dies.”

“Nothing’s impossible. Try again.”

Gwen frowned as she thought it out, remembering everything Eirikr had said in his cave. “Power,” she finally said.

Fin smiled. “Power. The Brides are strong, and their bond makes their mates stronger yet—stronger than they would have otherwise been. But you’re weak, Gwen. You know why?”

She stared at the teacher. He was wrong; she’d never been stronger. She finally understood her magic, could direct it, could control herself. “I’m sure you’re about to tell me.”

“Because you’re not embracing yourself. Or your mate. I’d let you figure it out yourself, if it wasn’t about to get you killed.”

Smug bastard. “You don’t know that.”

Fin Varra laughed pleasantly, his eyes flashing silver. “Of course. How could I possibly have any clue about the future? Enjoy your trip, child.”

Gwen reeled all day, not quite capable of pinpointing why until much later that night.

Fin Varra wasn’t supposed to know she was going anywhere at all.

Urbs Aeterna

4thof April 2158

Gwen’s choice of clothing was highly distracting.

Jack had been preoccupied for most of the day, after waking up completely pissed at Tris—and that other guy.

Hunter. It called itself Hunter.

Tris had been right to force the issue, he could see that now. It didn’t mean that he had to like it.

Having finally gotten a glimpse of his shadowthief, Jack started to understand it. That thing wasn’t thoughtlessly violent, or truly dangerous for that matter. It was Jack, stripped of all but his basest needs, his simpler impulses.

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