Sebastian rolled onto his back and brought the revolver up, tightening his fingers on the trigger.
Wesley’s voice whispered in his head, a memory from a ship’s deck in the middle of the ocean.Square your shoulders. Focus on where you want the bullet to go.
Sebastian took a breath. And then he fired.
The bullet went true, exactly where he wanted it—
Right into the left rear tire of the H6.
There was a loud squealing scrape as the H6 veered to the side. Sebastian fired another shot, aiming for the other tire. This time the bullet went wide, but the H6 was already careering off the drive and across the moor as Alfred struggled to keep control.
Sebastian ran after the car, gun at his side.
The H6 finally spun to a stop, but Alfred was climbing out. “You shit.” He had Wesley’s revolver in hand and was coming straight for Sebastian. “I see you’re simply determined to die.”
Sebastian tried to bring the gun up, but Alfred sent him reeling with a vicious shove that sent the gun careening off into the moor. Sebastian tried to dodge the next blow, but the moor was slippery with mud. As he stumbled, Alfred kicked at Sebastian’s leg, which crumpled under him so that he hit the ground in a painful heap.
Alfred stepped over him, Wesley’s revolver in his hand. “A quick death is more than you deserve.” On Alfred’s wrist, the golden cuff flashed bright in the gray light. “But at least I can use your death to unlock this relic. And then I’ll have all the time I want to curseyour paranormal friends and family. Perhaps I’ll even curse Lord Fine.”
Alfred brought the gun up. “I’m sure your friends are still coming for you. But they’re going to be too late. Too bad you didn’t shoot me when you had the chance—”
A crack rang out, something zipping between Sebastian and Alfred faster than an angry bee.
Sebastian’s eyes widened. Alfred touched the brim of his hat, his finger slipping into the new hole exactly the size of a bullet.
Wesley’s voice came from a distance. “Back away from Sebastian.”
Sebastian jerked his head toward the sound. Wesley was by the kennel, a new revolver in his hand and aimed directly at Alfred. Behind him, Arthur and Rory were also hurrying across the moor toward them.
“Maybe he won’t shoot but I assure you I will,” Wesley said darkly. “Gun on the ground. Hands in the air. This is your only warning.”
Sebastian held his breath as Alfred’s gaze darted from Wesley, to Arthur, to Rory, and then back to Sebastian. And then, finally, after a long moment, Alfred raised his hands and stepped back.
Sebastian’s breath left him in a rush of relief. A moment later, Arthur and Rory were grabbing Alfred as Sebastian sat up, just as Wesley came to him.
“Hey,” Sebastian said adoringly, with a soft smile.
“Don’t try to be cute. You’re in so much trouble.” Wesley bent down and stuck out his hand to Sebastian. “I told you to wait for me.”
“If I’d waited, Valemount would be halfway to thevillage by now,” Sebastian pointed out, as he let Wesley pull him to his feet. “Andyougot kidnapped when you were supposed to stay in your room with the door locked.”
“You’re adorable, thinking logic could work on me right now.” Despite his words, Wesley’s fingers were gentle as he brushed some of the mud off Sebastian’s face. “Did you shoot the H6’s tire out?”
Sebastian smiled, a little sheepish. “I had a good teacher.” He squeezed Wesley’s hand. “Are you okay? What happened in the chapel—where did you get another gun—”
“The gun is Geoffrey’s,” Wesley said. “The others appeared just as I got my legs free. Arthur and Rory did find Mr. Hyde’s grave in the graveyard; it seems Alfred and Louis Fairfield used Hyde’s death to bind the medallion relic to Louis. The three of us ran across the moor while Geoffrey and Nora stayed behind to get Louis back to the manor and send for a doctor. As for what happened in the chapel before all of that, well…”
He reached for Sebastian’s other hand and turned it over. Sebastian’s eyes widened; on the inside of his wrist, the tattoo was a brilliant swirl of color that seemed to pulse with life. Andnowthe rush of emotion couldn’t be held at bay, seeing the bright glow of his magic in his eyes, feeling the familiar stampede rushing in his veins. His magic was really back.
Wesley brushed his thumb over the tattoo, and Sebastian caught his breath, the touch ricocheting across every inch of his body.
“Would you look at that,” Wesley said, with a tiny smile. “Maybe sometimes hope does win.”
Chapter Twenty-Four
Between the four of them, they had the cuff relic confiscated and Alfred secured just as the police arrived.
“We were called by a Mr. Collins,” the head constable said to Wesley. “He said there was an attempted murder today and there’s a fresh corpse buried in the Valemount graveyard. What a right mess.”
