Wesley frowned. “Then pardon my language, Miss Robbins, but who the hell would free him?”
“Hyde has three kinds of magic,” Sebastian said quietly.
They all turned his way.
Sebastian looked up from Gwen’s telegram. “Hyde cannot control his own shape-shifting because he was warped by a relic’s magic. So he has his own magic, the relic’s magic, and Rory’s magic.” He took a breath. “And to unlock the medallion with hunting magic, you need to murder a paranormal with at least three kinds of magic.”
“The same medallion relic that was made by the original Duke of Valemount,” Wesley said, in understanding. “This is why we’re rushing back to England.”
Zhang nodded. “We have to find where Hyde has gone. And we have to follow all our leads. We can’t wait any longer to investigate the current Duke of Valemount.”
Downriver, another ship blasted its horn, a deep reverberation that echoed around Manhattan’s edge.
“Find a way to meet the duke but besafe,” Jade said firmly. “Jianwei and I are leaving tomorrow on a ship to Lisbon. From there, we’ll work our way to Gwen and Ellis, and then back to you.”
Chapter Six
The dockhands disappeared with their trunks, which would be waiting in their cabins. After getting Sebastian’s forged documents from Jade, and making promises to Arthur to find a way to check in, Wesley followed Sebastian up the ramp and onto one of the decks of the ship. Despite the cold and continuing light rain, there were several groups of people standing in tight knots against the railing, waving down to the people on the pier below. A group of suited Englishmen were boasting loudly of their American investments while a trio of exquisitely dressed French women were sharing cigarettes.
Wesley snagged Sebastian’s sleeve and tugged him in the opposite direction of the women. “Pity our cabins aren’t connecting,” he said, as he opened one of the doors off the deck. “Though I probably should be grateful we’re on the same floor, given the timing.”
They stepped into the first-class reception room, which spanned the width of the ship. The carpet was patterned in brown and gold, with white walls and arched tall windows lining the sides. Several passengers were lingering in chairs and at tables, entertained by a string ensemble.
They crossed the room, heading for the arched openingat the far end. “I want to come see where your cabin is.” Sebastian took off his cap and ran a hand through his hair, which was still a bit wild after Wesley had gotten his hands in it the prior night. “Then I guess I have to clean up for dinner.”
“Oh duck, you can’t make that sour face about wearing proper clothes,” Wesley said, amused. “Not when you’re the glamorous international bachelor Don Sebastian.”
Sebastian groaned.
They passed the main dining saloon, filled with rows of white-clothed tables set amongst columns under a gilded ceiling, then stepped into a lobby. A chandelier hung from the dome two stories above, and a wide staircase with white steps and dark railings of oak and intricate ironwork led both up and down from the lobby. They took the stairs up, and Wesley found his stateroom on the C-deck. No private sitting room or private bathroom, but he did have a small desk and chair, a marble sink with running water, and a slim but elegantly appointed single bed set against the wall beneath a large porthole window.
“My room will be like this, I think; it’s just down the hall.” Sebastian leaned on the closed stateroom door. “I will go find it after we set sail.”
Wesley raised an eyebrow. “Are you implying we’re going to join the crowd for the ship’s departure? As in, we’ll watch from the deck outside, where it’s three degrees above freezing and raining?”
“Yes,”Sebastian said. “We’re not going to see land for a week, Wes; we want to say goodbye to the skyscrapers. The tops may even be up in the rainclouds today.”
Wesley sat on the edge of the bed. It was narrow enough that trying to fit in it with Sebastian would likely result in one of them tumbling to the floor, but Wesley was game to try. “Couldn’t Brodigan simply use his own ring relic to blow the clouds away? Actually,no, tell me he wouldn’t attempt to change the weather while we’re at the mercy of the ocean. In fact, given how quickly I get under his skin, it’s probably best if he never wears it in my vicinity at all.”
“We’re perfectly safe with Rory,” Sebastian insisted.
“You’re truly incorrigible, with your reprehensible faith in others,” Wesley said. “That surly urchin controls the wind. I look forward to sayingI told you sowhen he blows me overboard in a fit of pique, although at that point I suppose I’ll likely be a meal for a giant squid.”
Sebastian stepped closer, bumping up against Wesley’s knees. “I won’t let you become squid food.”
“Oh, you’ll protect me, will you?” Wesley said, letting Sebastian fit himself between his legs. “Does aquatic life have the same fondness for you as land animals? That would fucking figure, wouldn’t it?”
Sebastian grinned. He tipped Wesley’s hat back, and then leaned down to fit their lips together, both his hands cupping Wesley’s jaw. The ship’s horn went off as they kissed, two deep blasts that vibrated in Wesley’s chest.
When Sebastian pulled back a moment later, Wesley blinked. He didn’t seem to be starting anything more. “I don’t know what you just tried to butter me up for, but yes, you can have it,” Wesley said, to cover his discombobulation.
Sebastian laughed. “I’m not asking for anything. I just like to kiss you.”
Yes, but I also like to kiss you, Wesley wanted to say,so what the fuck is your secret for giving affection so easily and won’t you bloody teach me already?
“The ship is leaving soon,” Sebastian went on, oblivious to Wesley’s ruminations. “Let’s say goodbye to Manhattan.”
“And there it is,” Wesley said, as he let Sebastian pull him to his feet. “Youareasking for something; you’re asking me to come look at the view.”
