“Sure you’re not.” Zhang hesitated. “I guess you didn’t know Rory had hidden Fine in the backroom of the antiques shop in New York.”
Sebastian shook his head.
Zhang sighed. “Jade and I hadn’t put it together either. Even if I’d remembered, I never would have thought he’d recognize you by your voice.”
“It is not your fault.” Sebastian was coming up on High Street, and another underground station with lit shops at the sidewalk level. “And I am glad that Rory hid him. The other two paranormals with me would have slaughtered Lord Fine without a second thought. And I can’t be sure what I might have done.”
Zhang was quiet for a moment. “It must be hard for you,” he finally said. “To live in the aftermath.”
Every time Sebastian thought he’d found the edge of his actions, he discovered more damage he’d done while under blood magic. The consequences rippled across the world, poisoning everything. He could still hear the contempt in Lord Fine’s voice, see the anger and fear in his face as he laid out Sebastian’s crimes.
I don’t care if he was tortured. There are no extenuating circumstances that would excuse what he did.
Lord Fine was right: nothing ever would.
Sebastian swallowed. “You are kind. But I am not one of the heroes anymore. It is simply smart business not to trust me.” He tried to shrug, like that didn’t hurt. “I will still do whatever I can to solve the murders.”
“Sebastian—”
“And Lord Fine has been too close to magic too many times,” Sebastian said. “I will still help you protect him. I’ll just also stay out of his way.”
He reached the stairs of the underground as Zhang’s projection flickered again, and then went all the way out, like a light turned off.
Sebastian stood for a moment, looking at the space where Zhang had been.
You’re a villainanda coward, the little voice in his mind said.No wonder you can’t fight off the blood terrors. You can’t even face your own past; you just run.
Sebastian swallowed. Then he took the steps down. He could ride the trains for a bit, give Jade and Lord Fine time to leave his home.
Wesley had a car called for him at Liverpool Street Station. He had the driver take him straight home, where he went straight to his smoking room and poured a shot of straight whiskey.
He sat with his whiskey in one of his leather club chairs. On the small side table, his reading glasses were balanced on Wells’sThe Outline of History, and his illicit pack of Woodbine sat next to the ashtray.
He was in no mood to read, and he wasn’t reaching for the cigarettes either for a change. He was distracted—by Sebastian de Leon.
The man was a bootlegging kidnapper. A handsome one, fine, but that only made him more dangerous. After all, Jade Robbins was a lovely and levelheaded woman, and even she’d been suckered in. Perhaps he’d told Jade some sob story and she’d fallen for it, because a man that gorgeous probably enthralled every skirt he met.
Jade had told him to cable Arthur, had seemed to think Arthur had also forgiven de Leon, but that was preposterous; he would never have fallen for such an act. Arthur was immune to beautiful people because the bastard was one, that exact kind of man so handsome he made other people behave irrationally.
Wesley should know. After all, the heart in his own chest was cut from the same stone as the statues in his garden, and yet he’d once taken a ship all the way to America in an attempt to win Arthur back, like the bloody Greeks sailing after Helen of Troy.
Because Wesley had actually fooled himself into thinking he could learn to have feelings for a man he only ever fought with, instead of admitting he was a shallow prat who just liked the way Arthur looked in his bed. He had behaved no better than all those frivolous idiots who were everywhere now, who clung to pretty clothes and baubles because they were too soft to bear the memories of the war.
No, Wesley had learned his lesson about handsome men. They made other people stupid, and Wesley would not be stupid. He would stick to company like himself, unpleasant in every aspect, and not trust so easily as Jade.
He sat back in his chair and raised the whiskey to his lips.
And remembered de Leon’s ridiculously handsome face, panting against the wall, no fear or anger, only sorrow in those big eyes.
Six months ago, in the antiques shop, you were in terrible danger, yes. But now, the most danger you face from Sebastian is getting mange from one of his strays.
Oh, for fuck’s sake.
Wesley set his glass down on the side table so hard whiskey splashed over the side, and stood.
One single fucking cable,he told himself, as he thundered down the staff stairs.And Arthur will tell you that Jade is mistaken and of course he didn’t forgive that de Leon bastard, what was he, born yesterday, and you can put this entire sodding night behind you.
Wesley reached the basement, and knocked on Ned’s door.
