Chapter 62

• The sleek black limousine glided across the downtown streets, its motor purring beneath them. Jace peered out the tinted window, the jumble of lights and shadows reflected in his steely eyes. The metropolis stretched endlessly before him, but his thoughts were far away. Avalynn sat quietly beside him, her fingers nervously holding the plush leather seat.
• Inside the automobile, the air was thick with silence, with only the occasional hum of tires against the road breaking the silence. Jace straightened his cufflinks, his jaw tightened, and his gaze fixed on the passing scenery. The perfectly fitted suit he wore did little to alleviate the stress he exuded. He took a glimpse at Avalynn, noticing the rigidity in her stance and how she tried to stay cool, but her fingers gave her away by tapping quietly against her leg.
• She felt his stare and shifted slightly, her lips parting as if to speak, but no words emerged. Instead, she returned her attention to the passing skyline, the rhythmic sway of the car lulling her into a trance she didn't want to be in. The weight of the emerald gown felt heavier than it had moments before, as if it were crushing against her chest.