Page 36 of Wings and Shadowthief

Jack hadn’t so much as heard or felt anyone arrive, but indeed, Seth Stomhale stood in the entryway, regal as usual, in a black tailcoat that might have been fashionable two or three centuries ago.

Jack stood straighter, nodding to the owner of the house.

Seth didn’t pay him any mind, the weight of his storm-blue eyes on Blair’s lap.

He sauntered the length of the room and slowly knelt.

The posture seemed awkward, as though it might have been the first time he adopted it.

His face on the cat’s level, he broke into the kind of smile that Jack hadn’t thought him capable of. The kind that reached his eyes—and his heart, if he had one.

“What have we here?”

“He peed on your stuff,” Blair blurted out.

“I can get more stuff,” Seth replied smoothly.

“How are you here?” Cat asked, half happy to see him, but also visibly worried.

“I was dining with Aveka. I informed her someone had entered my home—I could feel the intrusion. She encouraged me to find out who would offer such an affront.”

With reluctance, Seth straightened his spine and moved to his sister’s side.

Jack watched as they awkwardly took each other’s measure, as if unsure how to proceed.

Catherine finally got to her tiptoes to reach his cheeks and pressed her lips against one, then the other. “It’s good to see you. How are you, is everything fine on the island?”

“I gorge on blood, beauty, and beastly behavior. I’ve never been better.” He smiled and this time, it was nothing like the smile he’d given the kitten. “Especially since I’ve completed my task. I know how to get to the island uninvited.”

Intentions

Gwen moved to stand behind Blair's sofa, to put some distance between her and the newcomer. There was something about the predatory, majestic man that was utterly unsettling. After a year in Oldcrest, Gwen was used to powerful people who wore their strength on their sleeves, but Seth was something else altogether. Something downright terrifying.

“Wait, Chloe and Levi will want to hear this,” Bash said, already walking toward the door.

“No doubt. And then your very pregnant princess will insist on waddling all the way to the Mediterranean and taking a jump,” Seth guessed cheerfully.

He was right too, and Bash realized it at the same time as Gwen. He grunted and dropped on one of the black armchairs.

“So, what do you propose? We wait until she gives birth to let her know?”

“Right. Instead of a pregnant angry Chloe, we’ll have a new mama bear with a lovely little rat on her tit who will try to take down a powerful witch.” Now Seth snorted.

“What do you propose, then?” Cat sounded cautious of her own brother, and Gwen had a terrible feeling in the pit of her stomach.

“Depends. Do you occasionally wipe your ass without checking with an Eirikrson?"

This was why. Seth was…dangerous. Reckless. Terrible news. He was going to goad them into something that would put them all in danger.

"Only on days that end in aY," Jack replied smoothly, unbothered.

"You don't mean that." Gwen couldn't believe her ears. "We can't do anything without talking to the rest of the hill. That's not how we work. There's a conclave, there's…"

"Look, I'm fine involving everyone. The more, the merrier. But Aveka is fixated on Chloe. That's all she talks about, all she thinks about. We won't make it within a mile of the nearest portal with her in tow—not without Aveka's spies spotting her."

Some tension left Gwen's shoulders, because what Seth said made sense. Still, she couldn't shake the thought that he was playing the room, manipulating them. To what end, she didn’t know. She didn't like any of this.

"Portal?" Blair repeated. "Why a portal? Can't someone, like, walk into the island?"

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