Wesley’s mind simply couldn’t process the onslaught of thoughts and feelings that threatened to swamp him. Love was a fiction that was always going to be out of Wesley’s reach—
I love you so much.
Wesley’s body abruptly took over, because maybe his mind couldn’t comprehend the words but every muscle and inch of his skin knew how it felt about being loved. And all at once Wesley didn’t care that he was covered in mud, or that he was getting the bed and Sebastian covered in the same mud, or that there might still be danger or that they had an entire mystery on their hands. He was kissing Sebastian in return, rolling him over onto his back and pressing him down into the mattress.
“Thank you,” Sebastian said against his mouth. “Wes, I can’t believe—wait, wait wait wait, someoneshot at you.” He pulled his lips away. “Someone tried tokillyou?”
“Possibly,” Wesley said impatiently. “But we can talk about that later—”
“No we can’t.” Sebastian was squirming out from under him and sitting up. “Tell me everything that happened.”
Wesley sighed but relayed the events of the hunt.
Sebastian’s eyes had gone wide again. “And you really think it was my magic that knocked you over?”
“I know it was,” Wesley said, getting to his feet.
“But Wes, I don’t have any magic anymore. I couldn’t feel anything now, with Rory and Arthur.”
Wesley paced as he listened to Sebastian describe Rory’s inability to scry the glove, Arthur’s suggestion that Hyde could be dead, and the sensation of magic as they’d gotten closer to the graveyard. When he’d finished, Wesley frowned. “Where are Arthur and Brodigan now?”
“I told them to go back to their inn,” Sebastian said.
“Oh, is that what they said they were going to do?” Wesley steepled his fingers. “Tell me: do you actually believe Arthur listened and acted in self-preservation, like a sensible man?” He gestured to the room’s large window, which overlooked the gardens. “Or do you think it more likely he and Brodigan are still lurking out there somewhere on this estate, prepared to do something brave but completely foolhardy? Which one sounds like the Arthur you’ve met—”
There was a polite knock on the door. “Lord Fine? Don Sebastian?”
Wesley and Sebastian exchanged a look. “Lady Nora,” Sebastian said.
Wesley pursed his lips but went to the door. He opened it to reveal Nora, standing alone and wringing her hands. “My apologies,” she said. “But I was hoping to have a quick word with Don Sebastian. I’ll give him right back,” she said to Wesley.
She certainly didn’tlookill. “Of course,” Wesley said, even if his jaw was slightly clenched. He didn’t exactly want to let Sebastian out of his sight.
“Thank you,” Nora said graciously, stepping back from the door to wait.
“Pero mira, Wes,” Sebastian said pointedly, under his breath, “perhaps you should not be alone after someone tried to shoot you—”
“What kind of fool do you take me for?” Wesley said, just as quietly. “She asked for you, not us, and she might not be willing to talk if I’m there. Ask her what she knows about Dr. Wright.”
“But—”
“No one could fire a gun in the middle of the upstairs hall without alerting half the manor,” Wesley said. “Go on. I’ll stay in here with my bloody door locked until you return.”
Sebastian frowned, but finally went out the door, his frown changing into one of his unfairly charming smiles as he offered Lady Nora his arm.
As they disappeared down the hall, Wesley firmly shut the door. This was fine; everything was fine. Nora wasn’t going to proposition Sebastian, or even if she was, it didn’t matter, because Sebastian lovedhim.
Christ. Sebastianlovedhim—
There was another knock on Wesley’s door, much louder and more demanding than Nora’s had been.
“Lord Fine? It’s Dr. Wright. Lord Valemount has asked me to come see to you after your fall.”
Wesley scoffed out loud. Oh please. How gullible did Valemount think he was? “Thank you, Dr. Wright,” Wesley said, with a hint of mockery, “but your services are not required at this time.”
Then Lord Valemount’s voice came from behind the door. “Dammit, man, don’t be a stubborn fool. I can’t have my guests breaking limbs and whatnot. Open the damn door.”
Was Valemount actually standing at Wesley’s door,doing two different voices? That truly was beyond the pale and Wesley was going to catch him in the act.
