Zhang looked troubled. “But then where is the brooch?”
Jade touched his arm. “We wouldn’t know what to do with ourselves if we didn’t have a to-do list.”
Zhang snorted softly.
Ellis wandered back to them from a group of shaken-looking guards. “Guards are more than happy to corroborate any story we want to the police. They’re just grateful Becker’s dead. You freed a lot of people tonight, Ace. Glad you remembered how to shoot, because for a man who hates it, you’re damn good at it.”
Arthur took a breath through his nose.
“Hey,” said Ellis. “It was self-defense. He was trying to use you to kill me. He was going to use you to kill your little sweetheart. Good riddance.”
Christ. Arthur couldn’t even bear to look at Rory. He nodded stiffly.
Ellis put his arm around Gwen’s shoulders. “We’re going back to England, after tonight,” he said. “We’ll find Sebastian. He deserves to know he’s finally free.”
Gwen leaned into Ellis. “You all should go now.”
Jade and Zhang exchanged a glance.
“Let us handle this,” said Gwen. “We have ten of Zeppler’s henchmen happy to corroborate our story. We have each other.” She looked at Jade, but her head was tilted meaningfully toward Arthur. “Some of you need to rest.”
“Oh! Yes, yes, of course,” Jade said. “After all, Rory uses an alias—probably best he doesn’t meet the police anywhere. And Arthur, you’ll definitely have to come with us, because we need you to drive back to Paris.”
“You’re both completely transparent,” Arthur muttered, but itwouldbe better if the police didn’t get too interested in Rory.
Rory was right behind him as they made their way across the driveway to the Delage Arthur had stolen. As Arthur reached for the driver’s door, there was a soft throat clearing behind them.
Arthur looked over to see Gwen standing alone. She was staring very hard at him, as she had in London.
“Gwen?” he quietly prompted.
She met his eyes, and she didn’t look despairing. She looked wonderstruck. “Rory’s magic sparks so brightly when it’s active, like lightning in a bottle. It makes it difficult to be sure what I’m seeing, and I wanted to be sure about this before I said anything.”
Arthur furrowed his brow. “Said anything about what?”
“About what’s happened between your aura and Rory’s magic.”
Oh no.Arthur’s chest clenched as Rory’s eyes widened. “Gwen, what do you see?” Rory said urgently.
“The link between you is gone.”
Arthur’s heart plummeted. No more of Rory’s magic—
“No,” Rory said, sounding devastated, just as Arthur blurted, “That can’t be—”
“Sorry, sorry, I didn’t finish,” Gwen said quickly. “The link between you is gone. But Rory’s magic is still there, because in place of the link, some of it has bonded permanently to your aura.”
Arthur stilled.
Gwen smiled. “I’ve never seen it before. His magic has entwined with your aura, and filled in all the tears like mortar strengthening a fortress wall. It’s permanent, it’s a part of you now. You’re not going to be able to do magic—but you’re going to live.” She looked at Rory. “And a little bit of Arthur’s aura is in your magic.”
Arthur’s eyes widened. “What, really?”
“It’s grounding the lightning,” she said. “You’ll probably have more luck controlling your ring and psychometry now, because Arthur’s aura will keep your magic from overwhelming you.”
Rory touched his chest. “I can’t feel where he is anymore,” he said, sounding distressed.
“No,” she said quietly. “Because you’re not linked. You’ve both given a part of yourself to strengthen the other, and even if you walk away, your gifts can’t be undone.”
