Langford thought Sebastian had bespelled Wesley. But he was safe and that was all that mattered.
Sebastian didn’t have time to feel relieved when Langford stepped forward, gun never wavering. “Get walking. We’re going up.”
Wesley had gone over every inch of his small barracks room and come up with nothing. No cracks in the walls, no weakness in the sink, no way to break apart the metal bunks with his bare hands.
But then, he hadn’t expected to find anything. Logical to still check, but if there had been a weakness to find in the rooms, Arthur would have already found it.
Arthur was sitting on the floor of his barracks room, in front of the barrier. He’d been watching Wesley and occasionally calling out ideas, but mostly looking unbearably despondent. Wesley couldn’t blame him; Arthur had been here three days with no news of the others.
And now Wesley was here so they could both be fucking useless.
He sat down across from Arthur. “This is a terrible kind of torture, being safe oneself but not knowing how the others are faring.”
“Langford truly believes we’re enchanted. I suppose he can’t imagine someone could have discovered magic is real and been delighted.” Arthur huffed. “Why is it alwayscontrolordestroywhen people find something new? What’s wrong withbefriend?”
Wesley blew out a breath. “Find the answer to that and maybe no one else will ever have to go to war.”
“What, really?” Arthur looked up. “The Viscount Fine isn’t going mock me for my sentimentality? Are you, in fact, actually enchanted after all?”
Wesley couldn’t be insulted, because that was fair. A month ago, he certainly would have mocked Arthur. “Sebastian’s a terrible influence.”
Arthur snorted. “Jade said you let your cook’s daughter adopt two cats because of him. I didn’t believe her.”
“They’re called Crumpet and Flan and they live in myhouseand it’s entirely Sebastian’s fault. He’s as incorrigible as he is handsome.”
The corner of Arthur’s mouth quirked up. “You noticed that part, did you?”
“Hard to miss.” Wesley ran a hand over his face. “Sebastian’s going to go to that masquerade, even though he can’t use his magic. Going to end up walking right into their trap.” He clenched his jaw. “Langford and Alasdair said they want to use him, somehow use his magic in their plan to destroy magic. Or hisblood.”
“A paranormal once told me there’s very little stronger than magic made with blood,” said Arthur. “Pavel Ivanov was once able to usemyblood to work his alchemy just because Rory’s magic is in my aura.”
“And that still doesn’t let you use Rory’s ring?”
Arthur shook his head. He was frowning again. “I really don’t believe Alasdair could have heard the ring through the lead box. I’m telling you, Gwen said no magic gets through lead and she knows what she’s talking about. She wouldn’t be wrong about this. Alasdair must have heard something else.”
“There’s nothing else magic on me to hear,” Wesley said.
“Are you certain?”
“I think I would know—” Wesley cut himself off. His eyes had fallen on the cuff of his sleeve, on the rust-colored stain where he’d wiped blood away from Sebastian’s face so he could check the cut below.
Arthur was watching him. “What is it?”
Could it—no. Wesley shook his head. “Flight of fancy. It can’t be what Alasdair heard, it can’t possibly.”
“What, Wes?”
Was Wesley actually considering this possibility? He’d well and truly lost his mind. He held up his wrist, showing Arthur his stained sleeve. “This is Sebastian’s blood.”
“Sebastian’s?” Their eyes met, and Arthur’s eyes had the most life in them he’d seen yet. “As in, the Sebastian de Leon with the enervation magic that weakens other magic?”
“I was trapped by a barrier somewhat like this once, and Sebastian obliterated it.” Wesley’s heart was pounding. “But Arthur, really, what are the chances it works?”
Arthur was already on his feet, pressed against the barrier. “It’s magic, isn’t it? Come on, fucking try it already.”
Wesley stood as well. This was absolute madness. It was a small patch of blood. But he reached out with his hand again, putting his fingers against the invisible wall just beyond the door.
Maybe my magic just likes you, Sebastian had once said.
