Sebastian sat in the backseat with Zhang as Wesley drove the Bentley from York to Malton, and then to the tiny village closest to Blanshard’s mansion. The top was still down since Sebastian had driven to York that morning, and it was cold as the wind whipped across the car. The others spoke in quiet voices as Sebastian stared out at the soft browns and greens of the gently rolling landscape and tried not to lose his mind.
If Lord Blanshard had his little brother—
Sebastian couldn’t think about it, or he’d lose all focus.
The country roads were in need of repair, and the trip took more than an hour. When they finally reached the village, Zhang opted to stay in the car, to be able to search in multiple places across the astral plane at once without drawing too many stares.
Jade pointed at the tiny pub across from the car. “We should see if we can get any gossip from the locals. Who’s been at Blanshard Hall, that sort of thing.”
“I’ll come with you,” Wesley said to her. “Your tattoo should be messing with anyone searching for us with magic, yes?”
Sebastian resisted wrapping a hand around his own wrist. Wesley had seen the lion.Washis magic still working as it should?
Jade started walking. Wesley lingered a moment next to Sebastian and said, in what was a very sensitive tone—by Wesley standards, at least—“We’re going to find him.”
Sebastian looked up into Wesley’s now-familiar face. “I am grateful,” he said quietly, “but the paranormal world is such a dangerous place, especially for a man without magic. It is such a risk to you to help.”
“I had a brother too,” Wesley said quietly. “Colin was an entitled, insufferable prat who made me look pleasant, and I’d still move the earth if I could have him back. Of course you have my help.”
Jade and Wesley disappeared into the pub. Sebastian leaned against the car outside to wait, running his hands over his face. He had to keep calm. It wouldn’t help anything if he panicked.
In what felt like an eternity, but what was surely only minutes later, Jade and Wesley returned.
“No one matching your description has been in the pub,” Wesley said, “but Jack Mercier has, as recently as two weeks ago.”
In the backseat of the convertible Bentley, Zhang’s eyes were moving, like he was dreaming. “I can’t get onto the grounds of the mansion itself,” he said. “The grounds are warded against magic.”
“Not for long,” Sebastian muttered, through a clenched jaw.
They all climbed back in the car and started out of the village. “Sebastian can get us past any guardian magic, but do we have a plan for getting inside?” Jade asked.
“I say we simply knock,” said Wesley, as he turned from one narrow road to the next. “I’m on the guest lists for the earl’s parties—for everyone’s parties, God help them—and I certainly have every right to show up at Blanshard’s door and expect hospitality. His staff will let me in, and it will be easy enough to explain the rest of you. After all, Miss Robbins and Mr. Zhang are, in fact, successful American business owners.”
“And what about me?” Sebastian said.
“You had best keep your head down and your hat pulled low,” said Wesley. “If you look enough like your brother for the waitress to have been mistaken, the staff might see the resemblance as well. I’ll try to be aggravating enough that their eyes stay on me, not you.”
Which meant Wesley putting himself even more into the line of fire. Sebastian leaned forward. “I thought you were going to wait in the car, Lord Fine,” he said quietly, using Wesley’s title in front of Jade and Zhang. “You don’t have magic.”
“I don’t,” Wesley said, “but I have a revolver and a vendetta, so don’t confuse me with someone helpless.”
“I don’t think you’re helpless,” Sebastian protested. “I just—”
“You’re just so used to being alone you’ve forgotten what it’s like to have allies.” Wesley pulled the Bentley into a tight turn, and sped down the country road.
The daylight was just beginning to fade as Wesley pulled up to the iron gate guarding Blanshard Hall. The gates were closed, secured by a chain with a large and prominent padlock.
Wesley leaned out the window, but there were no staff in sight. He made a face. “Now what? I had assumed Blanshard would keep a gate guard like a civilized man.”
“The magical barrier encircles the property’s entire perimeter,” said Zhang, from the backseat. “I can’t cross on the astral plane.”
Sebastian leaned forward, so his head rested on folded arms on the back of the front seat. “Tell me when you’ve braced yourself,” he said quietly, just behind Wesley’s left ear, sending shivers over the back of Wesley’s neck.
Wesley put the parking brake on, just to be safe, and then nodded.
Sebastian’s magic swept out from the car like a dam unleashed, with the strength Wesley remembered from the alley in London. He went instantly boneless in the driver’s seat, his eyes closing on their own as magic rushed him.
Then abruptly, it stopped. Wesley straightened, opening his eyes and glancing into the backseat.
